Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-05-16
Communicated.
Romney, w. Va, May II, 1871

Romney, w. Va, May ii, l9lZ.
To the Voters of Jefferson County
Mr.. Hump, in his letter in the last issue
of the Advocate, says my statement tndl
he is candidate OF the whiskey ring IS
false. and that have no basis in tact 10
make such charge, and that 1t is only
and INV friends who have endeavored to
inject that question into the campaign.
/ deny that il was first injected by me
or aov friends OF mine. 1t was first made
an issue against me by certain parties IN
Martinsburg who represent and speak
for the saloon and other whiskey inter
ests there. The fight against me by
these interests began just as soon as my
candidacy was announced. Those par
ties in MartnSburg said to two gentle
men. who gave me the information, that
the liquor people were so opposed to my
nomination, that it would be so offensive
TO them, that must not be nominated.
II was because OF that fight, based upon
that reason, with that question thus IN
lected by them, that wrote my letter:
Yes. they first raised the question
against me, and declared that | should
NOT be nominated, for no other reason
than that voted for the submission OF
the prohibition amendment to the people
and If was right and proper that ! INFORM
the people OF their attitude. that they
might know to what extent they are
going, in order to control this district ana
dictate who the peoples representatives
shall be. If it is to be deemed unfair and
ill-advised, from party standpoint, 10
oppose such conditions, pity the party
and the people. ! repeat, did not raise
this question until the position and an
nouncement of those interests made 1t
proper and right and fair that Should do
| so.
There are the facts.
They, and the influences controlled by
them, are working day and night to de-
feat me and to elect Mr.. hump. They
have their agents in the field to accom-
plish that purpose. Then am not juSt-
| fed in saying that Mr.. hump is their
candidate : II not, why are they work
ing so hard - elect him and defeat me?
He says he was not brought out by
them. That may be true, and yet they
are backing him, and with him seeking to
defeat me. Are the people willing to
submit to their domination ?
II il be true, as he says, that my candl-
dacy is not meeting with favor, it is be-
cause the democratic people OF this dis
trict are content TO remain under the DOM
nation of the liquor interests and permit
them to name their representatives. Let's
see if they are.
Now as to Mr.. Humps reference to
other unpleasant personalities" and
insinuationS and charges imputing un-
worthy motives to him, would say that
he cannot produce evidence OF any such
expression by me, either written or
spoken. have said nothing unklnd, or
that reflects on his personality, have
treated him with the utmost courtesy
throughout this campaign; and yet he
now uses language concerning me that is
discourteous in the extreme and unWar-
ranted.
AS to these references to myself and to
| Mr.. Zimmerman, and the language used,
| submit that the method OF campaigning
ought TO receive and will receive al the
hands of all far-minded people the treat
ment il deserves. have said nothing to
warrant such discounesy, and he ought
to be ashamed Of it.
And what is Mr.. Zimmerman offence
Simply that he is for me and has openly
said so, as he had right to do. Haven't
| the friends of any candidate right to
speak in his behalf and to express their
opinion as to political conditions? Hadn't
| MIR. Zimmerman as good right to say
that the vote or Hampshire county would
be for me, as Mr.. Kump had to say that
his friends assured him it would be for
him &? Why shouldn't any friends OF
mine speak as to that matter as well as
his friends If any friend OF his believes
that Hampshire county is for him, why
hasn't he openly said so?
| Mr.. Zimmerman has been prosecuting
attorney OF this county for about nine
wears. He is as well posted as to politl-
| cal conditions in this county as any man
in it. He knows that practically the en-
| tire official body of the county are Tor me.
the Judge of the circuit court and the
clerk of that court, the sheriff and both OF
his deputies, the assessor and at least one
of his two deputies, and himself, the
prosecuting attorney. He knows that the
| last time Mr.. Hump was a candidate Tor
reelection to the House OF Delegates he
received less than five hundred votes out
OF total OF over fifteen hundred Demo-
cratic votes, and was defeated; while |,
as candidate for the Legislature, at the
next election, was elected by vote OF
two to one over my opponent, who made
very active campaign, while | made
practically none, and that | was again
elected at the last election without oppo-
Sition.
Do not these facts justify Mr.. thinner
mans opinion as to Hampshire county ?
And how does Mr.. Hump meet them
Simply by his resort to some cheap ridi-
Guile and attempt to discredit the integrity
of Mr.. Zimmerman and myself. Such
appeals TO the prejudice OF the voters may
avail with some to whom we are Strang
erS, but | am persuaded that no intelll-
gent, fair-minded man will be influenced
by them.
Mr.. Zimmerman needs no defense at
nv hands where he is known; but TO
those who know him not | will say that
Mr.. hump knows, and all those who
know him know, that there is not more
honest, pure-minded man or more high
toned gentleman to be found anywhere
than Mr.. Zimmerman that his conduct
is always of the most diSintereSted char
aCter, a man who could not be influenced
to any action by any improper conSidera-
ton whatever. His people know it, and
when Mr.. Hump wrote that charge that
what he has done in my behalf was for
motives OF interest and expectation OF
reward, he knew it was not true, and it
was written for effect on those who do
not know Mr.. Zimmerman and myself.
As to any charge made against me by
Mr.. hump. where we are both known,
care nothing. The people who know us
have taken the measure OF all three OF US,
and by their judgment gladly abide. 1t
L L. L. e. H.
eyes OF those who know nothing OF our
standing among our own people that |
take any notice OF it at all.
very much regret that Mr.. Hump, in
the very last days of the campaign, has
seen proper to introduce unpleasant per-
sonalities, which my self-respect, of
course, compels me to reply to. Such
things have always been avoided by me.
There is no man TO whom they are more
disagreeable than myself. II has been
| 81, 81 49,. E..a