The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-12-03
Congratulations by J. q. Depue.
To the Voters of Sheridan Di,


| wish to extend my most
hearty congratulations Cor their
support to me for the office of
Justice of the Peace, which Of
nee | never sought or asked for.
Neither did l solicit or in any
way ask a single vote, either for
the nomination or election to said
office and never agreed to accept
the nomination unless given me
by the people without my asking.
And II nominated it should not
operate to restrain me from vot-
ing my honest sentiments for
any of the candidates running
for office on the whole ticket and
that it must be understood that |.
myself, did not want the office.
but II the people desired my can
didacy, and nominated and elect
ed me would serve them to the
best of my skill and judgment.
And since they have elected me,
Notwithstanding many in the dis
trict did not know l was a candi-
date, and some from good au-
thority thought / was going to
leave the State, yet | was made
second best of four, and over
two of whom | considered better
qualified to fulfill the duties of
the office than | was, and erased
my own name and voted for one
OF them, but held fast to one on
my own ticket.
Now | will enter into a cove
nant with the people that | will
perform the duties of the office
honest and faithful, without re-
gard to any par ty affiliations, and
since by their vote they have
manifested a better regard for
my qualifications as to fitness
than | had for myself, that if /
err in my official duties, please
count it an an error of mind and
not Of the heart We cannot all
see and believe alike.
But | an of the opinion if our
nation In selecting officers would
submit the right of choice to the
people to serve them, instead of
the reverse, as is the common
custom we would all fare better.
The prevailing sentiment indul-
ged in by large majority of our
people that we cannot be sue
cessful in electing our official
servants unless using large guam
titles of whiskey and money is,
in my judgment, erroneous, and
should be cut out by all honest
people.
Realizing the fact that it is a
constitutional violation Of the law
to use monev, whiskey or any
thing Of value to influence men
to vote other than their honest
sentiments, then why could, we
expect an honest administration
from those who will boldly and
openly violate this law. We oft
times hear Judges, juries, etc.,
charged with having been bribed
and thereby men of honest mo-
tives having to suffer. / would
ask when Judges, Prosecuting
Attorneys and jurors have been
known to bought their nomina-
tions and elections, is it not posi-
BILE for us to be justified in think
ing our rights are in danger
when entrusted to their care
from the fact that man for the
sake of office will violate the law,
and oft times his oath? And
don't we all believe that when
a man buys he will sell again, to
speculate on his investment?
Some say l have as good right to
buy and sell votes as / have
horses and cattle. Can we be-
lieve this and then be loyal to
our country? say no. And i
say right here frankly that if |
would have to buy my nomina-
ton and election to Office / will
never have one.
But | hear one say then. my
friends, you will never get an Of
flee, then [ say agUio, is it not
truly bad that because a man
will not enter into these consti-
tutional violations that we can't
have a say in the administration
of justice. This believe to be a
,,,foto1,c,, sJoo ODD fLot &c a.