West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-10-05
Governments Prosecution of Elec-
tion Frauds In Mingo County Is
Being Watched With Interest In
Washington - Second Regiment
Not Yet Ready for Service i,
(From Goo. w. snmmeral

p (From Geo. w. Summers.)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3.-Much In
terest is manifested In Washington
IN the trials OF those persons accused
by the Department OF Justice OF fla
grant violations OF tho election laws
In Mingo county. w. Va, and takon to
Huntington for trial In the Federal
court. While tho evidence has been
OF such a character TO convince most
persons that gross frauds were por-
petrated In Mlngo county elections,
nothing more startling has been
brought out than tho facts as ascer-
tanned by the House committee on cleo
tons at the time when Rankin Wlloy
was contestlng tho election to Con-
sress OF James A. Hughes. The tos-
timony In that case was more abund-
ant. more astounding and more In
dicative of brazon fraud than any re-
port OF the Federal court trials which
has yet reached Washington. No moro
startling condition has been unfolded
by the court trial than by tho House
investigation. Taken I'm connection
with each other the two proceedings
merely corroborato the general be-
lief that Mingo county for years has
Deen hot-bod OF political fraud and
that through corrupt practices I'm that
ana other counties elections have boon
repeatedly stolen In West Virginia;
one great difference between tho tes-
timony In tho court trial and that be-
toro Congress Is that the court can
impose penalty. while Congress
merely brought out tho facts and de-
cided that while there had boon fraud
IL was not shown that the result was
affected by them. III convictions fol-
cow In Mlngo county cases, Il may
have u deterring effect on tho contin-
uing OF such practices. Washington
is Interested In the result.
II
Although more than three months
have elapsed since tho National Guard
OF West Virginia was ordered 20 pre-
pare TO go TO the Mexican border. Il IL
not get In condition to be sent. IL has
seemed impossible to get IL recruited
up to the full strengh and persons ia
miliar with the affairs of the National
Guard assert II Is the belief that In
competent officers have been put I'm
charge that keeps men from rishing
their lives under the command of these
oilc RS. The officers OF the Second
regiment arc said to be all Republi-
cans except one surgeon, one captain
ana one lieutenant. Some time ago q
petition was circulated, signed and
presented TO the governor asking him
TO remove two officers OF the Second
regiment because they are Democrats.
There Is great discomfort among the
officers and men OF the First regiment
because they were not given a chance
to go TO the front and because their
equipment and I'm some cases even
their arms were taken to equip the
Second regiment, which even yet has
not reached condition where the War
department Is willing to order Il TO the
border. Politics Is said by persons fa-
miliar with the situation to be the ex-
planatlon Of the situation, and the use
Iof more than s125,OOO a year for the
upbuilding OF a political machine I'm
the name OF state troops is charged.
| +
| The results OF the very active CAM
paign being made in West Virginia by
Senator Chiffon. Congressmen Neely
and LittleDage, John J. CornweIl and
the other Democratic candidates for
state and Congressional Offices is be-
ginning to be seen. Straw votes tax
on In West Virginia by Republican
newspapers in different cities outside
OF West Virginia indicate that PresI.
dent Wilson, Senator Chiffon and Mr..
Cornwell are the favorites I'm the vot-
Ing over Mr.. Hughes, Howard Suther-
land and Judge Robinson. Senator
Chiffon. Mr. CornwelI and Congress-
men Nicely and Littlepage are making
especially active campaigns and the
results are seen wherever they go in
the state
The dispatch OF mail from RowIes-
burg on Sunday evening has been or
dered by the postofIice department,
through the efforts OF Senator Chiffon.
+
Increased allowance for clerk hire
at tho postofice at Newburg Ia being
sought by Senator Chiffon.
+
| Senator Chiffon has recommended
the appointment OF Mrs. Mamie Bur-
ner as postmaster at Brandonvllle.
+
| j. V. Mason, OF Aurora has been
appointed railway mail clerk
=
An increase In the pension OF Thos.
II. Hill, Of Amblersburg. has been OBJ
tained by Senator Chiffon, who Is also
trying to obtain an increase for Lu-
cinda A. Fortney and Lewis Upper
man, both Of Tunnnelton
/ -E---
1 WI. Esrltt Wuvu-