The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-10-02
Hatfield again Lays Down the
Gauntlet to Democratic Can
didate for Governor.
MAKES AN UGLY CHARGE
Governor Shows a Democratic
Judge Urged Payment of
Biddinger Claim.


CHARLESTON. Oct. IA cow
nrdly refusal" ls the comment OF
Governor Hatfield in a statement
given out replying to John j. Corn
vol. Democratic nominee for gov
ornor. who refused to accept the
challenge issued by Governor Hat
field for series of Joint discussions
on tho Issues that have been raised
by Cornwoll in attacking the record
OF the Republican state ADMINISTRATION.
Cornwcll'S reason assigned for de-
clining was too much occupied" to
accept the challenge and that he did
not dosire Ito undertake the burden
OF securing for the governor audi
ences before which to defend his adj
ministration.
Governor Hatfield brands the
Corpwcll alihi as a weak defense and
declares that II Ia "paipably insin-
core on Its face" He charges Corn
we'll with being afraid to meet him in
Joint discussion and ridlcules his
plea MS n drawing card for crowds
Riding on Passes.
He lays down the gauntlet to
Cornwell charging him with MAX
Ing malicious statements from the,
civil contingent fund, He also
charges Cornwell and denes him to
deny that he Is riding about the
state on railroad and Pullman passes
and put the question to the Demo-
cratic candidate for governor as to
his opinion OF the propriety Of such
action.
In regard to payment made in
mn taNs -. At.kS.
bribery cases to Guy B. Biddinger OF
$1,957,S4. Governor Hatfield gives
out in his statement the letter In
which Judge William S. O'Rrien,
Democrat. who presided at the trial,
approved the Bididnger bill and urged
its payment. He also calls attention
to the fact that this expenditure had
been reported to the legislature OF
1915 and had been approval.
Another expenditure which was
the basis OF an insinuatlon by Corn
well that public funds had been used
for running down state officials, was
requisltlon for $4,000 which had
been drawn from the civic contingent
fund for use in connection with the
criminal prosecution of A. Leo Well.
under indictment in the intermediate
court Of .Knnawha county for at
tempted bribery Of two members of
the public service commission. This
expenditure was authorized, 1t is ev-
idenced by the governor, by q com
mittee of the legislature of 1915
composed OF Democrats and Rapub-
llcans, and 1t Ia also pointed out that
the amount was turned over In its
entirety to t. c. Townsend, prose-
cutting attorney Of the county. Ate
an investigating committee Of the
legislature composed OF Democrats
and Republicans approved the expen-
dlture and declared that no portion
of the $4,000 hGs been misappropri-
ated.
In conclusion Governor Hatfield
states that he will take the stump
to defend his administration and will
be glad to meet Mr.. Cornwell at any
time he chooses to do so. Hir
statement Is as follows:
Governors Statement.
I'm his cowardly refusal to accept
my challenge TO meet him before the
people OF the state in a joint discus
sion OF the issues that he has raised
in connection with the record of my
administration as governor OF West
Virginia, Mr.. John j. Cornwell, the
Democratic nominee for governor,
has seen fit to continue his malicious
insinuations as to certain expendi-
lures made by me as governor Of
the state.
Mr.. Cornwell declares that his
time is too much occupied with this
campaign to undertake the burden Of
securing for the governor audiences
before which to defend his admins
tration." So palpably insincere up
on Its face is this kind of a statement
that 1t must. be apparent to all per-
sons that Mr.. cornwell Is afraid to
meet me in joint discussion of the
record Of this administration. So
far as the size Of the audiences Is
concerned. 1t would appear that if
he hoped to gain anything from such
a discussion he would be glad to
have as large crowd as possible
present. And so far as concerns the
size OF the crowds that have been
hearing Mr.. Cornwell. am reliably
informed that there is no reason Co
anticipate any tumultuous outpour-
ing OF the people, as for instance,
when the Democratic candidate spoke
at Madison last week he was heard
by thirty-seven persons, approximate
ly one-half OF these being prisoners
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