Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-01-09

ruth Of Shocks story, blu het was an
aged and refined man, whose life had
oeen an open b Ok in West Virginia,
and he shrank at the thought of being
mixed in a scandal. He had hearc
Turing his life Of such occurrences i
politics, but this was the first time he
lad come in actual contact with cor
ruption, and he did not know the OBJ
'ect of the meeting when he was called
INTO conference.
There was determined but ineffect-
i've opposition to both Chiffon and
Watson on the. legislative ballot. Ten
+ Democrats voted against Watson ard
several against Chiffon. These mem
oers were convinced that bribery had
been resorted to. Some of the mem.
bers voted for Watson and Chiffon on
the promise of former Governor M
Corkle made on the floor of the S. +:
ate, that the chages woufW be homes
" and fairly investigated.
Delegate E. F. Moore, Republican
of Marshall County, offered a resolu-
ton that Whereas, it has been public
~ charged and circulated, and is of
general report and common belief in
the city of Charleston and throughout
the State, that large sums of money
were improperly used by the candi-
dates who secured the nominations for
the United States Senate in the
Democratic caucus :. . !. and that the
action of large number of the SAID
Senators and delegates was influence
by such improper motives" that a
committee be appointed to investigate.
This resolution was modified, and
substitute finally adopted calling for
an investigation of Shocks charges;
but one week later no committee had
been appointed. and the Legislature
finally adjourned without any investi-
cation.
In accepting office, Watson said:
cat this time let it be distinctly I'M
derstood that if reasonable proof, not
rumor is shown to me or to you, that
improper influences have been USED
by me or by my friends in this cleo
ton. l will not accept the office"
Chilton's speech was more rhetoric
al. 81 understand" he said, that 1t
has been intimated her that possibly
have been guilty of some corruption
in connection with this nomination.
Let me say here, fresh from dear old
mothers bedside; let me say here to
you, fresh from the purity, of family
that 1 love; let me say to you, here
and now, in the solemn presence of
good Democrats, and as God is my
Judge l have done nothing wrong in
this canvass"
Governor Glasscock presented to
Senator Elihu Root, petition asking
for a Senatorial investigation. Moth
ing was done-the Governor resubmit-
ted the charges later, when Informed
that there was other evidence, posi-
tive and direct, in addition to the
Sohck incident They are now pending
in the Senate.
Though Watson will not be returned
to the Senate next January, Chiffon
still has four years to serve.
He was zone of the active partici-
pants in the legislative canvass which
resulted in his election, and it is gen
orally asserted in West Virginia that
This political record is far less credit
able tina nWatson's. He is a servile
tool of the forces that have corrupted
West Virginia.
And then, again, bribery is likely to
be repeated in the Republican Legis-
lature of West Virginia this winter.
The same coal barons, with whom
party loyalty is an iridescent dream
and trade loyalty an axiom, are again
living up for the legislative advantages
by which they monopOlize the necessi-
ties of the people.