The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-10-02
A GOWARDLY REFUSAL"
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serving terms ir the county jail, who
were turned for that occasion.
Mr.. Cornwell has been making
many statements as to my admins
tration that are contemptibly malici-
GUS. He seems not in the least con-
cerned as to the truth of the charges
he may utter, and his recklessness in
this regard has discredited him as
candidate before the people of the
state.
must repeat the assertion made
in my letters: am convinced of the
righteousness OF Mr.. Cornwell's de
sire to make lbelous statements
about me, as he has about others.
and In this he will not be permitted
to continue his barefaced falsehoods
without due recourse by me. must
insist that he state the truth in his
assertions about my administration
acts in the future thing he has
been unwilling to do in the past.
Mr.. Cornwell asserts some
thing is wrong as to a
certain expenditure OF ST.
957.S4 made payable to Guy b. Bid
dinger from the civil contingent fund.
This expenditure was given the widest
publicity in the state at the time it
was made. II has been approved by
the legislature of 1915 as a Just and
proper one, and and in this connec-
tiOn l wish to quote a communication
addressed to me by Judge William
$. O'Brien, Democrat. judge of the
circuit court of Upshur county, in
which he urges that the payment
should be made by the state In order
that the ends OF justice might be pro-
tected:
Judge O'Bricn's Letter.
"Buckhannon, w. Va,
October 81, 1918.
Hon. II. D. Hatfield.
Charleston, w. Va.
Dear Sir
"Havin gin mind our conversation
in relation to the bribery trials had
during my recent visit to Charleston,
l make bold to write you in reference
to the Biddinger allowance, which 80
far remains unsatisfed by the state
of West Virginia
FROM a personal standpoint have
no interest whatever in payment Of
this claim, other than the satisfaction
which the approval of my action in
the matter would bring to me This
purely personal interest will not be
considered.
II have no special interest in ask
Ing It's approval because 1t was al
lowed by me as the trial Judge and
as the representative OF the state of
West Virginia, in the light of official
duty. l tried to acQuaint you with
the main grounds for my action, and
feel that you approve it.
Then II was right. or in the main.
right, why should the court be left
under undue criticism, for the doing
of the thing.
As you will understand, l should
not Mt present by publication try to
allay criticism These bribery cases
are yet pending in our courts.
There should be no proceedings
had to compel its satisfaction for
such action would, in my humble
opinion, be a proclamation to our
citizenship that the resources of the
state are not to be nrrayed on the
side OF public welfare in the prose-
cution of those charged with official
! graft and bribery and that our legis-
lature is yet to remain an open field
I Of corruption.
!, And now, Mr.. Governor. it appears
to me that the present attitude in
reference to this allowance is causing
those prosecutions to lose benefcent
/ force, and I want to respectfully re-
quest of you, II you feel that you
can consistently do so, that you find
some way to satisfy this claim, out
Of the public funds of tho state, and
that such action be taken without
delay
Il beg of you to believe me when I
say that were l not morally certain
( that this allowance was made with
the best interests OF good and pure
government In view; and that In re-
viewing my action in the premises,
did what the exigencies of the case
demanded; and what did was right,
/ would not make this request.
IF you do. take the step which l
have suggested, feel sure that every
good citizen will in the end commend
you for your action, and that the
state will feel the impulse In civic
Righteousness.
II am, sir, very respectfully,
"SIgned) WIN. S. O'BRIEN."
And After Payment.
And also the following letter re-