The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-10-23
Behold Him as BeheId by His
Friends and What He Did TO
Col. MCGraw in 1911.
STORY OF THE BETRAYAL
BY CornwelI Of His Benefactor
and What McGraW Thought
of COrnWelI in 1911.


There are certain chapters in the
history Of the Democratic party so In
delibly written in the minds OF the
rank and file that all the might, pow
or and Vaccinations OF the present
Democratic machine can not blot them
out. One OF these shameful chapters
Is recalled by the candidacy OF John
j. Cornwell for governor. II relates
TO the betrayal by Cornwell OF Col.
John 7. McGraw. his friend and bene-
factor, and the story itself SO brill
llantly and fervently told soon after the
betrayal took place loses none OF
its pathos as time goes on. There app
peared an article. February "a, 1911,
just after Col. McGraw returned from
the senatorial contest before the legls-
lature at Charleston to his home In
Grafton crushed In spirit and broken
In heart over the shameful ingratltude
shown him by Democratic legislators,
among whom was John j. Cornwell.
That article was commented on far
and wide at the time as setting forth
the actual situation. The article Is
reproduced here lest there be some
who may have forgotten this tragedy
In the political career OF the brilliant
Gratfonian who through long years OF
valiant service and Unreasonable sac
ritlce led the Democratic party out OF
the wilderness only to be turned on by
his benetlciaIles. torn from leadership
by them and cast into the pit OF party
oblivion 40 far as the councils of the
party were concerned. Here is the
article which told the whole, sad story,
and II applies MS much today as II did
when first published:
Passing of COrnwell.
Flrhaps the most pitiable figure in
stf<c politics today is the ex-Honorabie
John j. COrnwcli. Mr.. Cornwell halls
from the village of Romney, in the
eastern part OF the state, where De-
moCracy nourlshes, although II has
ceased 10 have any Significance.
CoTnwcll comes of poor hut honest
parentage. and-hImself inherited their
poverty. He has succeeded In the last
few years in removing this, thdfsole
symptom of heredity.
Early In his political life Corhweil
won the love and friendship OF John
T, McGraw, the impulsiye statesman OF
Taylor county. who never docs things
by halves, and in this cnsc he laylshed
on his friend Cornwell fav0rs In no
stinted measure. He financed his cari-
paign and secured his election to var
ious offices, and six years ago by a
supreme effort he secured for him the
nomination OF his party for the high
office of governor; and this at a time
when prospects for the success OF the
party shone brightly. In order not to
handicap his friend In the race, Coll
onel McGraw was led to oppose the
nomination of another friend who
sought place on the ticket, because
the question OF the character OF his
employment made him weak before
the people. The colonel lost the friend
ship OF this man as a matter Of course
Cornwell whom he delighted to honor
Although he could III AFFORD TO do
SO, Colonel McGraw paid out OF his
own means practically all the legiti-
mate expenses Of the campaign for
his friend throughout the entire state
no small outlay, we may readily sur
mise. Success almost achieved was
the verdict upon his splendid efforts
The prominence and success gained
by Cornwell from the labor and sacri-
fee OF McGraw placed him In position
to secure any reasonable honor from
his party. He was seriously consid-
cred for the United States senatorship.
For all this, what reward was reaped
by Colonel McGraw? We think your
answer is, "at least the lifelong friend
ship and eternal gratitude Of Corn
we'll" That answer Is not unexpected.
but II flows from a belief In the
Golden Rule, not the Rule OF Gold. We
Continued on Page 81