The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-09-26
THOMPSON ON THE HUsTISGs
Lays Bare the Corruption Of the
Old Republican Machine.

William R. Thompson, Democrat
ic nominee for Governor, and Thorn
as A. Bledsoe, Democratic nominee
for attorney-general, started the
weeks work at Pennboro Monday,
speaking there at a night meeting
during last weai they spoke at
Summersville, Webster Springs. SUIT
ton, Chenille, Grantsville and Eliz-
abeth. They thraVeled by rail, on
steamboats,, in automobiles, IN
horseback and even part of tine way
on foot to fulfill their engagements
and everywhere the greatest inter
est was manifested in what they had
to say to their audiences.
At Elizabeth Saturday the beau
tiful new, court house of Writ coun-
ty was well filed, fully one half Of
those present being members of Ell
ther the Progressive or the RepIb-
lican party. These men listened
with interest to the speakers and
after the speaking assurances We're
given by many Republicans and
Pragressives that they would vote
the Democratic ticket straight in
November.
In their speeches last week Mr..
Thompson and Mr.. Bledsoe dis
cussed the extravaganza of Repub-
lican administration in West Vir-
ginia, contrasting the cost of run
ming the State government under
Democratic and Republican admin
istrations and showing that while
the population has only increased
about 40 per cent since the last
Democratic administration in the
State, the expense of running the
State government has increased
nearly 200 per cent while the ex-
|penses for clerk hire at the capitol
has increased about 400 per cent
They discussed the entreaties of the
present Governor for more money
with which to still further increase
the expenditures; the building UP
of a big political machine through
| the creation of appointive Offices re.
sponsiye to the appointive power
They discussed the negligence OF
1.-THE State officials who are seeking
Prediction, as shown by their hav-
/ ing $4,000 on deposit with worth
less security when the Fidelity bank
failed at Bluefield They discussed
| the manner in which the Virgisia
debt case had been handled by the
Republican administration and the
hundreds of thousands of dollars
the case has cost the State for ex
ira lawyers, including w. M. o
Dawson at $4,000 a year, with the
result that verdict has been giver
against West Virginia, which ma,
reach $2S,0o0,0OO. They quoted
the unanimous report of Republic
cans and Democrats alike on tht
elections committee of Congress tt
the effect that there was strong
presumption that the election il
4 McDawell county two years ago il
the management of which DR.. Hat
field was very active. was not in
4 tended to be either fair or honest.
They deplored the bringing of tn,
State Board of Control into polite
by the selection of James s. Lakir
for Republican State Chairman
/ They called the attention. of the vo
tiers to the statement Of Mr.. Roose
welt that the new party was mad
necessary by the corruption an,
bossism which dominated the oil
4 Republican party and inquired hov
the Progressives were getting ava.
from that with Dawson running thei
party and handing them over to tn,
Republicans again, leaving the sam,
old crowd Of bosses in control o
both parties.
! This week Mr.. Thompson and Mr.