West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-04-02
kINcwooD. APRIL z
WHO MIsREPRESENTEp7

The Virginia and West Virginia debt
commissions having failed to agree an
associated press dispatch announces that
the United States Supreme Court will now
take up and decide the amount of in +.
terest that West Virginia must pay, the
court having previously decided that
West Virginia owed Virginia something
over s., 00o, 900. If the court should al
low the full interest, which would be
three times more than the principal, il
means sum somewhere near $50, 900, 600.
This will be anything but pleasing news
to the taxpayers OF state, which. ac-
-cording to its chief executive, is now
facing deficit of more than 81, 200, 900.
Up until the decision of the court those
who were representing West Virginia
were most emphatic in their declarations
that when the case was decided by the
court the decision would be in favor of
West Virginia. That was the optimistic
dope which the people were treated to
by the Republican press and campaign
speakers.
During the campaign of 1905 one of
the brilliant Republican campaign spell
binders, who happened to be identified
with the state administration and one of
the counsel representing West Virginia.
was making speech at Republican
gathering in which he GRATED as follows:
The Democratic press and campaign
orators are working overtime trying to
convince the people that the Virginia
debt will be decided against West Vir-
ginia and pile up debt of from Sl0,-
900, 900 to $50. 1000 O0l Fellow-citizens.
know whereof 1 Che was state Officially
speak when l say to you that when the
decision is handed down by the court the
decision will be in favor of West Virginia !;
that it will be shown that Virginia owes
West Virginia instead OF West Virginia
owing Virginia. Anything emanating
-knom our political opponents on the Vir-
GINA DEBT question just consider it the
usual Democratic campaign liesI'
This, from one who was accepted as an
authority, brought forth great applause
from the Republicans present and good.
natured bantering of the Democratic
brethren. After the meeting adjourned
Democrat approached the Republican
spellbinder and said: Gas one who has
inside information and ought to know
the status OF the Virginia debt case and
knows whereof he speaks, to test your
sincerity and prove that you are not in
dulging in the usual campaign fabrication,
Will bet you 500, and pass 1t into the
hands OF any Republican present you
might name, that when the court hands
down its decision in the Virginia debt
case the decision will be against West
Virginia" The spellbinder smiled sar-
donically and replied, "Not tonight. You
have too much money"
In the light OF recent developments in
the Virginia debt case Is 1t not pertinent
TO inquire which party was guilty of
campaign Misrepresentation, the Repub-
lican or Democratic2 Has not the courts
decision established the fact that those in
control OF the Republican organization
1.-THE oftice-holders) were guilty of mis-
representing the Virginia debt question?
The decision of the court is against West
Virginia, the principal is in excess of
100000, with the interest to be added
which will probably swell it to $50, OOO,-
600. To pay this debt with such an ex-
trayagsnt administration is enough to
make the average taxpayer pray to be
delivered from the Republican state house
machine.