Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-12-19


Editor Free Press
Charles Town, W. Va,
Dear Sir:-I read the article from
your Virginia correspondent in recent
copy of the Free Press, about the eff
forts Of the machine in that State to
grab al the Offices, and as l have q
chance to read the weekly papers, not
only from lower Virginia. but from the
Western part Of your State. can see
that the same attempt Is on foot in
West Virginia. with whose politics and
politicians | have been familiar for
very many years.
] dou't want any Office myself, being
too old for one thing. and then if ] did.
/ was for another candidate than Will
son before the Convention, and natural
ly would expect to see his supporters
receive first preference. The following
article from paper published in the
western part of the State, which cut
out and kept at the time, from what I
know Of things, is we'll timed. ] have
watched the course Of many of those
now fighting their way to the pie coun-
ter, for many. years.
1.-THE Democrats in this State who
are now most active in working to Sc
cure appointments to some of the good
paying places under the next admins
tration, are some of the men who were
most active in trying to compass the
defeat of Woodrow Wilson for the
Presidential nomination at the Balti>
more Convention. In fact, about the
only men in this State who are making
any effort at all, as far az we know, to
secure Office under the Wilson Admin
| istration are some of those fellows who
did everything in their power to defeat
Bryan and to hand the party, over to
| the Belmonts. Morgans and Ryans.
Some of them were SO hungry that they
could not wait until the election was
! over before entering upon campaign
in persuit of the appointive offices, hut
they began to try TO inEratiate them
| selves into the confidence and good will
| of the Wilson organizers months before
| the election, with view to sharing in
| the spoils
1N0WT tlICy e1AO OCSA1Ak OlA1OO 6b xklC
hands of the man, against whom they
did everything they could to defeat for
the nomination for Presidents, with all
the zeal and hunger displayed by half
starved coyote Il pursuit OF Jack
rabbit. !.
And these are some of the very men
who have kept the Democratic party
out of power in. this State for at least
the past four years if not longer.
1.-The rank and file of the Democracy
of West Virginia are awakening, thank
God They are becoming sick and
tired of the kind of politics that has
been practiced by nearly all their party
leaders in this State for SO many years.
They want new deal. They want new
men to take the leadership; young,
clean, men; men with visions and lofty
political and civic ideals; men whose
hearts beat in sympathy with the great
/ throbbing heart CT the masses. They
know that they are not going to make
4 West Virginia Democratic until they
drive to the r ar the tories, time SER
vers, bosses, charlatans and rascals ano
place new leaders in charge of the par
/ ty organization. And one of the very
worse things that could possibly he done
as far as the best interests of the, party
in this State are concerned, would be tc
fill the leading Federal positions in the
/ State with members of this old dis
credited gang of politicians or to give
them any considers BILE share of the pa
i tronage of the Administration. :
So far as have been able to notice
every West Virginia candidate for 8
job has already had one or more, or il
now holding down one and reaching Out
for another, and none of them were
for Wilson until they got on the bant
wagon after the Baltimore Convention
/ In their. actions they remind ne o.
certain animals which at feeding time
always try to get both feet in the
trough at once.
Another thing | notice is that none
but lawyers seem to have applied
When the Offices to be filled require
legal talent, lawyers should be selected
but they seem to demand monopol,
of all the offices whether they ar,
trained to fill them, by business ea-
i perience. or not.
It would be goodly thing to see fol
once some capable farmers. merchants
bankers, or other business men, WHIT
are not in politics everlastingly for Of
fees, get some of the important ap
/ pointments.
Let it be hoped that Woodrow Viii
son viii not be cursed with reactionarie!
and traitors as Cleveland was.
The Democratic party in West Viz
ginia has great opportunity just now
although out of power for the time.
The Republicsn-Bull Moose split will
be widened by the fight for Senatol
| Watson's toga,
i The party should be true to its pledge
and it certainly will be returned t.
power and control, ! hope to see tn,
Income Tax and Direct Nomination O.
Senator amendments pass the Wea
Virginia Legislature, as we are bount
to them by our national platform.
/ congratulate you on keeping thu
Free Press up to the high standard Sc
by the GalIahers.
Yours very truly.