The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1914-07-09

pressing the sense of Congress that
the debt should be paid That [
was willing TO have the Federal Gov.
eminent recognize the debt, but ap-
parently' unwilling that provision
should be made to give the state re-
lief on the strength of such recogni-
ton. The lion skin is now entirely
removed and the true nature of the
animal disclosed, and the picture Is
not a glorious or sublime one. Has
this profound instructor been all this
time writing about n resolution which
he has not read? The very gist and
effect of that resolution as appears
by its language was to have the Gov
eminent to assume and pay whatever
snare OF the debt, If any, should be
found to be equitably chargeable to
West Virginia. III this man has the
slightest understanding of the English
tongue, the above statement by him
can only have been made and circu-
lated with the intent and purpose to
mislead his readers. A tryo In parlia.
mentary law and procedure knows
that appropriation bills come from a
committee of the N1ouse. especially
appointed for their preparation ana
that even that committee cannot put
therein, so as to Withstand the fore .
OF point of order, a single item un
less the expenditure has been prev
iously authorized by law or by neces
sary legal implication. The appro-
priation committee cannot allow A
claim, but can only provide for the
payment of claim already fixed by
law My object was to have the Gov
eminent assume this debt as its own
liability and a joint resolution passed
by both houses and approved by the
President is the only way in which it
could have lawfully been done. These
resolutions are constantly used for
the unusual matters arising in Con
gress,-to assume oLligation-to sub
NIT constitutional amendments, TO
declare wars, create new states-and
in fact for all the manifold matters
of an extraordinary or uncommon ma
ture. In such cases IL is the highest
form of legislation.
The article states that my tinker
ing with the debt case Y as decigned
to prejudice the right of West Vir.
ginia. If there had been the slight
est foundation for this statement.
would Governor Hatfield have ap-
pointed me to membership on the
Debt Commission authorized by the
Legislature-the most important com
mission appointed in this state for
many years? Is it at all likely the
Judge Mason, the chairman Of Il
Commission, would remain blind l
the fact that | was tinkering or had
tinkered with design to injIre West
Virginia, and appoint me upon the
subcommittee to formulate and PR
pare the report of that Commission t
the Cover or and Legislature; and
would the Governor have sent me on
the very date of the editorial to which
am referring, this telegram:
What Hatfield Said.
I'VE have won the victory. The
Supreme Court today entered order
re-opening Virginia Debt case and re-
ferring our contention as to credits
bac.. TO Master by report as to their
validity CONGRATULATIONS to you.
II. ID. HATFIELD"
am native of the territory OF
West Virginia. have never lived
without its borders, what little prop
erty | have is situated within its
limits and all my children live hei =.
! have never believed that the state
should pay a dollar of this debt. All
statements that | have endeavored to
of il are not only absolutely false,
but extremely stupid as we'll. Stupid
because no man at all conversant with
the circumstances will believe them
and because of that the reason for
their inference will fail. and they shall
return upon the heads of those who
instigated them with the just condem-
nation which they deserve.
This, hQweVeF, is not the irst time
that similar unjust insiTuaticns have
been made against ne relative 60 this
debt Two years ago. when I was
Il candidate fer Congress the same
course was pursued. and as | have
always thought, with considerable eff
feet Near the close of the campaign
two years ago, when | had canyassed
most of the counties. found. at
Wiiiamstown, IN this county. cir
cular or poster. headed Moss and
Hamilton on the Virginia Debt This
circular contained ia erect the same
matters which are now being untruth-
fully stated. I had little trouble in
commencing its erect in counties
which ! had not then canvassed. but
know not what harm was done me in
sections which had already gone
through which composed by far the
ldiAtI part 81 the uiaNIltI. HIleI-
wards ascertained that this circular
had been nailed throughout the dis.
irict, and numbers OF them were sent
20 me by those who had received them
They were enclosed in plain envelope
which bore the postmark "Parkers-
burg, ". Va, October 28th, l0f2'-c
very few days only before the election
occurring as / remember on the Bird
day Of November following
A few days after the election an
editorial appeared In this same Dis
patch-News, stating I'm substance that
much had been said in tie late CAM
palgn in reisreuce ga the Daht cues
ticp, 20 the eject that this state owed
nothing TO the mother state, that such
statements were made before a pro-
leteriat. which by the dictionary ] end
90 mean the common people. Never
thelcss,' 1t continued. Eve are CON
fr0nied by q condition and not a
theory and the Supreme Court has
said ip efieci that we owe something
end les Virtually fixed huge
amount" This was an acknowladL
ment that .here had been much "clap.
trap" as the editor has named H..
about this matter
Moss Behind ~
/ was at a loss to know who or what
had prompted this assault upon me.
at a time when ! was not up for Office.
or at least had received no Eomiua.
ton. But a day or two later. my at.
IGNITION was called TO the Congress
Id In