West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-05-18
Some More Misrepresentation


ten matter purporting to be extracts
from editorials which had appeared
in these columns, which had been first
handed around over the state quietly
and later mailed to Democratic voters
generally. He pointed out the UNI
fairness of thus garbling newspaper
articles and that the circulation of
such garbled matter was not only un-
democratic and reprehensible. as evil
denced by the fact that those guilty
OF II were unwilling their identity
should be known, but that the circu-
lation OF IL anonymously was a plain
violation of the Corrupt Practices act.
the penalty for which was disfran-
chisement and disqualification to hold
Office for a period OF five years. HAY
ing thus violated the law and the
amenities OF decent politics, the au-
thors OF these anonymous circulars,
could not come out openly and reveal
their identity by undertaking TO elab-
crate on them, consequently they pro-
torial in THE Weston Democrat"
With IL, in the same issue, appeared a
number OF articles purporting to have
been copied from the Review in an
attempt to establish the anonymous
charge that this paper and its editor
have been hostile to President Wilson
and his administration.
Two of the articles in question were
published in the Review prior to the
time when President Wilson was even
nominated, when we were discussing
the relative merits OF the two candi-
dates for the Democratic nomination
for President, in which we alluded to
Mr.. Wilson as a student, a scholar
and a kid-gloved gentleman" Demo-
cratic voters are asked to construe
that into an attack on the Democratic
President and the Democratic admin
istration.
Another article they are asked to
construe as a criticism of the new
banking and currency law, while, as
matter of fact, it was Il discussion
of the original bill in the shape in
which ii was introduced into the
House of Representatives. That bill
was criticised by Democratic news
papers and business men generally,
as well as Democratic Senator's and
Congressman, with the result that IL
was entirely changed by the Senate
and the Joint conference committee of
the two houses. AS passed, we repeat
eddy declared il to be the greatest
piece of constructive legislation plac-
ed upon the Federal statute books
within the last fifty years. Yet, many
thousand copies of that Weston news
paper are distributed over West Vir-
ginia in an effort to convince the Dem
ocratic voters that this paper and it's
editor have criticised the banking and
currency law as enacted. What do
Democratic voters of West Virginia
think of such methods?
This Weston newspaper, it's editor
and those responsible for the Outburst,
seem grossly offended that we should
have discussed the Mexican situation
some two years ago, when our gov
eminent was pinning faith to Villa,
and that we should have called Villa
bandit and Carranza a cattle thief.
Did we not have Villas correct meas
ure?
Two articles discussing the contro-
versy between the Comptroller of the
Treasury and the Riggs National bank
in Washington, are reproduced and
the statement circulated broadcast
that the vice president of the Riggs
National bank is a son-in-law of the
editor of this newspaper, a falsehood
The editor of the Review has no apol-
ogy to make for anything he said i'm
connection with that matter. He knew
whereof he spoke. and he does not be-
lieve that the Democratic voters of
this state want to penalize independ-
ence of thought and frank and cour-
ageout discussion of acts of public
officers, state or national
These Misrepresentation and this
reprehensible method OF campaigning.
new to the Democratic party in West
Virginia, have reacted and letters are
pouring in from every section con-
demning it. Many Democrats are Sc
we're in their condemnation because
the nomination of the editor OF the
Review is conceded by every we'll in
formed person, in both parties. in the
State.
We have been advised by many
friends to ignore these things and
make no reference to them, either I'm
these columns or in public addresses,
but our habit of speaking frankly and
openly will not permit us to pass them
by without entering a vigorous pro
test. II the editor of the Review we're
not a candidate and il he were sup
porting persons responsible for such
methods, ne would at once roundly
| condemn them lie pledged himself
when he became a candidate, 20 con
duct a fair, decent Democratic cam
/ paign He assumed that those who
might oppose him would do likewise
The Democratic voters will pass on
these questions at the primary on
June 9Th and their verdict will so
| strongly condemn such methods of
campaigning that we believe it will be
long time before they are renewed
bro the Democratic party in West vir-
ginia Hampshire Review.
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