Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1913-02-13

that resolution by tabling it, because in
the meantime the absurd story OF Mr.
Shock about the money having been
taken away from him by two unknown
men had been made so public that II was
known to all senators and representa-
tiyes. and the charges OF corruption winch
had teen mainly based ON il were then
treated as an absurdity. This explana-
ton which we make to the Senate is tne
same as was made to Senator Chiffon oy
Hon. D. e. French, copy OF which Is
attached and original of which we Tile.
Mr.. French was then leading member
of the State Senate. and was unanimously
nominated by the Democrats at the pres
emf session OF the Senate as their candi-
date for president Of the Senate. me
allegation that we prevented the adop..
ton of that resolution by the Senate VIII
be completely negatived when your COM
mittee reflects that the State Senate was
composed OF Is Democrats and 10 Re
publicanS, which made II an easy matteI
for the investigation to have been ordered
by vote of the Republican Senators,
with the vote of even Senator Bland, and
as there were several other Democratic
Senators active, aggressive, and even
bitter opponents of the two nominees the
investigation would have been ordered,
except that every reasonable man IN Inc
Senate was then thoroughly convinced
that the charges were unfounded.
The committee will, of course, remem-
Der that the Legislature OF West Virginia
NOT only completed the regular session
al which we were elected, but that II was
session, which lasted 45 days; and dur
ing all that time, though we were IN our
seats at Washington, not even Sugges-
ton that we were not entitled to our seats
was made.
The fourth and last allegation in the
memorial is that our election was orougnt
about by a combination OF the railroads
and the Standard Oil Co. The committee
will, of course, perceive by gancing at
the memorial that this charge has no
other or better foundation than the II
RESPONSIBLE comments CT some news
papers, and we would well dismiss them
as entitled only TO the consideration which
every Senator's experience warrants him
in giving to them. The charge, how
ever. is so contrary to the facts that we
crave the indulgence Of the committee
while we show how thoroughly il is the
reverse OF true. In the first place the
opponent of Senator Watson was then
and is now the general counsel in West
Virginia OF the Norfolk & Western Rail-
road which was then and is now owned
and controlled by the Pennsylvania Rail
road, while Mr.. McGraw, the OPPONENT
of Senator Chiffon, is the owner OF the
West Virginia Midland Railroad, which
connects with the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad, and the attorney OF Mr.. NC
Graw's railroad, member OF the State
Senate at that time, is the same gentle
man who prepared the statement OF one
L. J. Shock.
More than this, Mr.. Hubbard, from
whose speech the memorial makes a
garbled quotation, was then and is now
an attorney for one Of the Pennsylvania
Railroad lines in West Virginia.
The falsity of the charge that we were
supported and elected by the Standard
Oil Co. will appear to the Senate when
they are told that this same Senator
Bland, from whose statement at the JOINT
session the memorial quotes so elaoo-
rately, was then and is now the attorney
of the Hope Natural Gas Co., a subsd-
larry Of the Standard Oil Co.
This statement makes II plain that we
were opposed rather than supported by
those special interests.
There is one statement made in these
newspaper clippings TO which we feel
called upon 10 reply particularly. ne
memorial reciteS an editorial from the
Monroe County Waterman. IN which the
editor OF that paper quotes letter from
one OF his correspondents, who IS repre-
scented as saying, I'VE have positive in
formation that $4,000 was expressed
here last week for the purpose OF corrupt
ing the delegates. his information
comes from such sources as render II
absolutely reliable and proof IS ootdlna-
Die 10 a moral and legal certainly"
In reply 10 this assertion we state upon
our honor as men and as Senators that
neither $4,000 nor any other sum was
expressed 10 Us or 10 any OF our friends
for the purpose OF corrupllng the dele
gates or tor any other purpose.
II Can not be Leemed inappropriate tor
us to say that the sinister purpose OF this
memorial is apparent from the tact that
it was presented 10 the Senate on the
last day OF its last session when there
could be no possible explanation OF any
action on II before tile general election IN
November. Neither will II be out OF
place for us to say that alter these chafg-
IS, vague and indefinite as they are, have
been circulated lnduStriouSly throughout
West Virginia, for two years, Senator
Watson has been renominated by the I'M
anlInouS vote of the Democratic caucus
to succeed himself, thus expressing 10
the Senate and to the world the judgment
of the people who have the best oppor-
tuniIy and are in the best position to
know the truth or falSity OF them.
Reading this memorial in connection
with our answer, we feel confident that
your committee Will promptly report to
the Senate that no ground for an investl-
CATION has been shown. II any reason
aule cause to challenge our election were
before you, we would Immediately de-
mand an investigation as matter OF JUS
tice to the Senate, TO the State of West
Virginia, and 10 ourselves, but we do not
believe that the time OF the Senate ought
to oe wasted, the name OF our State
brought into question, and our attention
diverted from our duties by proceeding
instigated by political revenge and sup
ported by accusations which we have
shown to be utterly unfounded.
c. w. WATSON.
W. E. Chiffon.