Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1916-08-17
Chairman Lewis Calls For House.
Cleaning.


Because OF the mocking OF editorials
which are at present appearing in the Re-
publican papers of this State, c. c. Lewis,
Jr., chairman OF the Democratic State
Executive Committee, was asked for an
expression OF opinion on the matter. Mr.
Lewis said in part:
"The Republican papers of the State
are showing in their editorial comments
tendencyto make fun OF the State Demo-
cratic platform and our nominees. As a
sample OF this, il is right TO quote from
the State Journal OF Parkersburg. Speak
ing OF our candidates, il says:
Their candidates. will at any rate
not remain long in the public eye, and the
honor is an empty one
''If the Republican editors mean, in all
seriousness, the sympathy which they are
expressing for Democratic candidates as
figureheads, then il is quite evident that
the Republican editors have not sensed
public opinion in West Virginia.
"If on the other hand, their humorous
comments upon our tickets and our pur-
poses are merely intended as mockery,
then with equal force, il can be said that
these editors do not sense public opinion.
"This is not the time for mockery, nor
for turning aside the will OF an aroused
people by flippant paragraphs. We
Democrats feel in relation TO this CAM
paign as relentless as death. We mean
TO get the political blood OF those who
have lost sight ofthe State and its interest
in a machine. repeat that this CAM
paign is as relentless as death.
without boasting, without hurrah,
without turning aside for moment from
the purpose that aCtuates us we are GRID
ing ourselves TO clean out those who have
regarded public service as private snap;
who have regarded family claims as just
grounds for office holding, without regard
to merit; and who, drunk with power,
have become mad with the delusion that
the State will continue 10 stand for that
which they represent.
al am not saying single word against
the Republican party. Honest parties
serve great purpose. They have been
essential to the development Of free gov
ernment in the United StateS-their play
against each other has corrected abuses
that otherwise could creep in. In this
conflict if is not between the Democratic
party and the Republican party, but be-
tween the office-holding trust and an
aroused popuIace who despise the methods
that have been used, who feel the gaff OF
repeatedly increased taxation, who know
deep down in their hearts that the govern
ment we are laboring under in West Viz
ginia is not the government OF a free
people.
Thousands and tens OF thousands OF
honest men in both parties throughout
this State will use the Democratic party
on November 7th as means OF killing the
form OF Encouragement under which
West Virginia has staggered for twelve
years at least. We all have been affront-
ed and Inundated by men who in public
behavior, political and otherwise, have
given notoriety to our State their per-
conaI cnnfIicfc their fict fiOhfc their
threats OF gun play, and their ruthless at
titude towards the money Of the taxpay-
ers have brought the State Of West Viz
ginia into dishonor and made us laugh
ing stock among our sister States.
81 want to assure the editors OF the
Republican papers that this is no time in
the history OF the State for gibes and
jeers-we are after the body OF the crime
that has been perpetrated in West Virginia
and we will not be denied"