The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-07-05
Only One Statement Men,
tions the Receipt of
d Contributions"
POLITICS NOT COSTLY
Modest sums Were Expend-
eddy Most of the As
pirants.>

The Post Primary expense state
ments required from all candidates
who participated in the election have
been slow in coming In and there
are yet several candidates on both
tickets who have only until tomorrow
evening TO file their certificates with
the county clerk. From the state
ments that have been filed it seems
that the greater portion OF the ex.
pense of being candidate is incur.
red before the election. Many OF the
candidates spent nothing whatever OK
cept the required announcement fee
which is paid to the sheriff.
Only one man in the statements
filed both before and after the cleo
tion has stated that he received CON
tributions. This Is William w. Coma.
way, Democratic candidate for Jus.
dcetof the Peace In Fairmont district
Conaway states that he received con.
fributions OF free advertising from the
Colonial theatre and the Dixie theatre
amounting to $3.50 each, and $2.0O
contribution from the Ideal theatre.
ment contributed four lantern slides
estimated at $500. This makes a total
of $500 Conaway received In con.
tributions, George Nelson, owner Of
Nelson theatre. did not contribute SO
he was paid $3.50 TO show the slides
In his theatre. This makes the total
spent by Conaway S1l.50. His prev.
ious statement being S3l.50-and the
total $4,000.
r. Leigh Fleming, another Demo
cratic candidate for Justice OF the
Peace in Fairmont district, spent
about the same amount. his total be-
ing $685. The previous statement
filed by Felming was s3S.25. His last
lists SIS paid to the Index Printing
company for cards and "communica..
tion." Whatever a communication"
isiit costs about s12, but failed to do
theswork and Fleming was defeated in
the race for the nomination.
Another remarkable exhibition OF
the along arm OF coincidence" as the
popular writer's put II, is the case OF
two Democratic candidates for asses
sor. The total sum spent by the de-
feated candidate G. ii. Bartlett, was
S165.S5, while the successful candl-
date, ]. w. Davis, spent $17550, ac'
cording to the statements. Davis
Is the generous man who provided
smokes for the public" and "circus
tickets for the public" He has taken
a leaf from the books Of successful
politicians OF the Roman Republic
who believed In entertaining the pub.
lie The extra ten dollars spent owl.
IDENTIFY did the work. None Of Davis
expense, which was set forth IN great
detail, was for himself while Bart
lettllists Board and Carfare," presum.
ably his own. Yet in support OF the
contention that money is not the chief
factor in an election We have the still
more remarkable instance of the
three Republican candidates for sher.
iffl W.SH. Veach, the successful cah-
didate lists total OF ss9.SS while p.
D.Burton has total OF s99.i5. P. B.
Swearingen states total OF Sl26.e5.
Both yeach and Burdton listed most
ofitheir expense In before the primary
statement. Swearingen, however. In
his first statement lists s65.S5 while In
the last he gives s60.S0.
IS. =. Burnett, Democratic candidate
for county commissioner, with great
attention to detailing each item down
In s cents spent for postage. gives
total of S6S.35, $15.S3 OF which Is In
the last statement and s5252 in the
first.
There are number of other candi.
dates on both parties who listed moth.
ing except their announcement fees
which were paid to the sheriff, and
none of the men who were candidates
for the various district school boards
sent any monew according to the state.
merts filed to date.