West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-03-04
The RINGS THREAT

Inc Argus 10 trying hard TO connect
Commissioners Jenkins and Sidwell ND
with some Of the rottenness of the Demo
patio county court. The Journal does
\believe that this is true, but il the,
[orshipping at the throne of De-
y let it be known. No commits
Mo attempts to follow in the foot
~ the late Democratic court will be
On the next court in Preston
lhty. Preston County Journal
a II there has been any misgivings on
the part OF the rank and file OF the Re.
publicans OF Preston that the old tyran.
nicai Republican county ring does not
imagine that the last election placed il
back in the saddle to dominate and die
tate Republican nominations, we would
ask them to carefully analyze the brutal
threat that mo commissioner will be
elected on the next court in Preston
county" unless the said candidate agrees
to be governed by the dictates of the
ring. That's strong language to use to
people who are supposed to be free and
independent. But the gentleman who
writes the editorials for the Journal has
long been recognized as the boss and
brains OF the Republican county ring.
And when he says that mo commits.
sioner will be elected on the next court
in Preston county" he is simply serving
notice on all the political asprants who
may seek nominations at the hands OF
the Republican party that they must first
submit their candidacy to the boss and
ring for approval or disapproval, just as
they were compelled to do before they
overthrew the boss and the ring.
What crime has Messrs. Jenkins and
Sidweu and the other Republican com.
missioners who served for four years with
q like number OF Democrats committed
that they are to be DISTINGUISHED 10y the
ring? Is it because they would not be-
governed by the dictates of the ring? L.
1T because they would not violate their
oath oil office to please the ring? VIII,
don't the boss through his official organ
specify what crime they are guilty Of?
As the representative of the ring it il
the compulsory duty OF the Journal T.,
denounce everything Democratic, but in
denouncIng the Democratic members of
the late court of 'rottenness" the Jour
nal a f6t inseBsible of the fact th.t i.s
structures reflect as severely upon the
Republican members of the court, for il
is well known fact that in the matter OF
finances and appropriations the court
was harmonious and unanimous. OF
course the charge of ''rottenness'' is
malicious and without foundation, but
as the people well know this has always
been the tactics of the ring to denounce
every public official that it could not con-
troll ana dictate to. 1t is merely resort
ing to its old tactics, believing, as it,
defiant threat confirms, that it can brow
beat and coerce the present court into
accepting the dictates of the ring, some
thing it can never do. But il it fails,
which it most assuredly will, it will de
nounce the present court just as bitterly
and severely as the late court. What il
cannot accomplish by csjolery it attempts
by denunciation and coercion.
Even the friends OF the ring marvel at
its boldness in serving notice on the
Republicans that they must submit 70
ring domination in the FUTURE