The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-02-23
THE TRUTH Will BE TOLD.
Thefwest virginian has no desire I

TheWestf Virginian has no desire to
prolong the controversy over the new
charter, nor to continue fight after
the battle Is over, as the Times seems
to want to do. but there are certain
Misrepresentation which have been
made here through the Times and at
Charleston by the Democratic repre-
sentatiyesifnst Legislature, and the
lobby OF the Office Holders Trust.
that cannot rest sunchalienged, and It
Will be the purpose Of The West Vir-
gilman in due course OF time to cor.
rect these impressions, not in the
hope OF gaining support for the char
ter, as none Is now needed, but for
the purpose Rof showing the many
good people who were led into the
trap Of signing petitions against the
charter and their own best interests.
by Misrepresentation that they were
being hoo dwinked into doing the worst
possible thing they could do for the
splendid city they call their home.
Nothing will go further to correct
heerroneous impressions OF the char
ter, created by malicious, misleading
and intlammatory publications, Iouno.
ed upon the rankest sort Of prejudice
and promulgated through partisan
hatred and selfshness, than the pub
licatton of the charter In full, and al
though this will be big undertaking
The West virginian will within the
next few days, commence to publish
II in tnstallments from day to day and
continue the work until every provi.
sion of the measure is made fully
known to the people of the city. There
Is not Q line, nor syllable, that the
sponsors OF the new charter are
ashamed of, and their is not one sin.
gle unfair provision in It. No better
evidence of this fact can be produced
than to state that in all the bitter
fight made against the charter and the
personal abuse and criticism that has
been heaped upon those who advo-
Gated the change, none Of its oppo
nents have pointed out a single pro-
vision that is unfair. dangerous or
vicious, as Its enemies have so often
charged that It contained. They have
been satisfied merely with trying to
impose upon the Legislature by say
ing that the people did not want It.
GAA E1dNhSh eu6ll dnsGitiVh Will tut
petitions that were obtained by the
rankest kind Of cheap, clap.trap, mis-.
representations.
When the charter has been publish.
ed and read we ask all the readers OF
The West Virginian to watch its pro-
visions carefully and point out any
unfair thing in 1t. We ask its critics.
and especially our neighbor, the
Times. to point to the provisions that
are not fair and proper. When asked
ifsthey are opposed to the reductions
OF salaries and the wsie limitations
Of OIL salaries for the future, they re-
ply no. When asked II they oppose
the fair system of registration OF yot.
ers provided by the charter which we
have never had In city elections, and
which will prevent the colonization
and repeating of hundreds OF illegal
voters they are too diplomatic In their
opposition to assert that they oppose
this. When asked IL they care how
many Safeguards are thrown about
the elections and how severe the pen.
altles imposed for violations OF the
election law may be, they look off into
space with Q vacant stare and reply
that they are in favor of all these
things. When asked IL they oppose
the corrupt practices act provided by
the charter they are as silent as a
deep sea oyster In fact no critic ut
y'time. or anywhere, has ever been
able TO point to a single unfair pro-
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