The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-10-03

that he Is the State committee Of
the Progressive party, for what he
says is law with that committee and
Hit is he who has guided the Pro-
gressives back into the old Repub.
lican party which they thought they
had left forever. On top of all this
Mr. Dawson is one of the leaders
OF the Prohibition party, and as
treasurer handles the campaign
funds of the Prohibition party.
Party principles and policies cut
mo figure with Mr.. Dawson. He is a
leader of three parties but refuses
to be guided by any one of them. He
processes to be follower of Theo-
dore Roosevelt, yet Mr. Roosevelt
has said: You cant support me and
vote the Republican State ticket /"
In the face OF this declaration from
one of his chiefs, Mr.. Dawson is adj
vocating the election of the Repub-
| lican State ticket He is supporting
the reaetionary State ticket with Mr..
Taft at its head, while claiming to
be Progressive, although Mr.. Taft
has said: "A man cannot be in the
Republican party and third party
at the same time. !" He is handling
the funds of the Prohibition party
and att the same time doing all he
can to Bring about the election of
DR.. Hatfield who voted against the
submission Of the prohibition amend
ment to the vote of the people, and
who persuaded the Governor to par
don negro dive keeper convicted
LOT selling liquor on Sunday, after
trying in vain to have the iuctice of
the peace dismiss the case against
the negro before it came into the
grand iury's hands.
In all this there is about as much.
consistency as there has been in Mr..
Dawson's past political history.
Handling the. Prohibition funds and
supporting the man whose use of
whiskey to carry elections in his
home county is notorious is no more
Inconsistent than is his course in
denouncing bossism and corruption
in politics after accepting a nomjna-
ton for Governor at the hands Of a
convention which
even abolished the credentials COM
mittee and let contested delegates
policy was pursued at the Republi-
can convention where Mr. Taft was
nominated and Mr. Dawson IS join
ing Mr.. Roosevelt in calling it a
fraudulent convention. IF it was
fraud in Chicago it was fraud in 4
West Virginia. But Mr.. Dawson
cares nothing for consistency. He
= Want More Office Dawson and
willing to pursue any course or ev-
en- conflicting courses at the same
time for the Office which he has
long desired. With at least partial I
control OF three political parties in
West Virginia, Mr. Dawson hopes to
land the Senatorship.
Mr.. Dawson's plan to get himself
into the Senate has been carefully |
worked out. but he has mot been
able to conceal his motives or his
methods. After he was compelled I
by Democratic legislature to give
UP the $4,000 year the State was
paying him to assist in losing the T
debt suit he hungered for
office and salary again. But he was
not in control of the party. Senator
wild free-for-all scramble for party
as his successor. Re
,ognizing that Mr.. Roosevelt was
strong in West Virginia, Mr. Daw-
son started Governor Glasscoek in
Ills support of Mr.. Roosevelt, which
'esulted in his becoming candidate
or the Presidency. AS the leader
N the Roosevelt movement in West
Virginia, Mr.. Dawson became chair
nan Of the Republican State con-
tention and was placed in posi-
ion to control the State committee.
When the third party was formed,
ar. Dawson saw his opportunity and
assisted in its formation, being one
II those who urged Mr. Roosevelt
o start the third party. Having de-
iberately split the Republican party
nto two parts the stronger of which
=.
Dawson began his negotiations with
he Republicans. resulting in his en-
lorsement of the Republican State
icket in the name of the Progress
YES The conspiracy had worked
nut as Mr.. Dawson had planned.
rhe Republican party was split be-
iond all hope unless he could de-
iver the Progressives to the Reac-
ionaries But before he would de-
liver the Progressives he demanded
he support of the Republicans for
he Senate.
And there the matter stands now
Dawson divided the Republican par
" and then agreed to bring the
orogressives back and vote them for
he Republican State ticket in ex-
,hange for the Republican support
for Senator. The deal has been
made. All that remains to be done
s for the Progressiyes, who in good
aith left the Reactionary party, TOT
tote as Mr.. Dawson directs them,
or the reactionaries on the Repub-
lean ticket who are fighting Mr.
Roosevelt and for the Republicans
o deliver their votes to the man
Who split their party and put him
nto the Senate. In the meantime,
he Prohfbitionists have been drawn
INTO the conspiracy and their pres
ige is being used to help the other