The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-10-26
Governor Hatfield Propounds
Some "StunnerS" to the
Democratic Nominee.
LATTER is SPEECHES.
CornweII Finds Himself Unable
to Meet Facts and Figures
Given by Governor.
tS.EerAl TO rnE rrLresAs,

tOPEctAL TO THE TILEcRASi
CHARLESTON, Oct 26.-John j.
Cornwell backed down last night in his
speech here and failed to reply TO an
open letter addressed to him by Gov
ernor H. D. Hatfield submitting GER
tain questions TO him tor answer in
connection with Cornwells widely her
aided statement that his predictions OF
1904 as to the failure of the Dawson
tax law system had been realized,
Governor Hatfield pointed out in his
letter that Mr.. Curnwell had refused
TO meet him in joint debate and he took
the opportunity to ask him about GER
tain facts bearing on the statements
Of Cornwell as to his predictions OF
failure Of the Dawson tax system.
Cornwel made no effort TO answer
the governors statements in which 1t
was pointed out among other things
that II tho same system of taxation
prevailed now. as during the Demo-
cratic regime in the state ending in
1897. the direct levy today would be
S.129 cents on each 500 valuation in
stead Of nine cents.
A large crowd of Republicans was
attracted to Cornwells meeting expect
ing him to reply to Governor Hatheld's
interrogadons. but he passed them over
without making any effort to reply
The letter OF Governor Hatfield to
Cornwell. which was published in the
local newspapers yesterday, is as fol-
lows:
Charleston, W. Va.
October 25, 1916.
mir. John J. Cornwell.
Charleston, w. Va.
Dear Sir: You have recently re-
fused to accept my challenge TO meet
me in jolnt debate for a discussion Of
the issues OF the campaign in West
Virginia, which you have seen fit to
raise. BY reason Of the fact that you
made made certain statements regard
ing the present state administration
and YOU have refused to meet me for
a discussion Of the statements | de-
sire to submit to you the following
questions, and hope that 1t will be
your pleasure to deal with them in
your speech in this city.
Very truly yours.
''H. D. HATFIELD.
The following are the questions that
were submitted to Mr.. COrnwell:
You have in your present contest
for governor attempted to sustain your
forecast when a candidate for the
same office in 1904 Of the failure OF
the Dawson tax system, at which time
YOU opposed tax reform and have de-
clared that the predictions made in
your former contest have been realized.
II so how do you explain this recorded
fact2
1.-THE average last ten years Of DEM
ocratic administration in West Vir-
ginia for state and state school tax
was thirty-fve cents, twenty-five
cents for state and ten cents for school
PURPOSES, making a total OF thirty-fve
cents, while under the last ten years
of Republican administration the aver
age direct tax for state and state
school purposes was 90 on the 800
sending back three and one-half cents
of this SO levy for the support OF the
free school system, leaving "a for the
maintenance of the state government
"The direct tax collected In 1887, the
last wear Of the Democratic administra-
ton, was $4,000 on twenty-five
cent direct levy on the 100 valuation.
"In 1916 five and one-halt cent levy
out OF the nine cents was laid for state
purposes, which raised $643,OOO, only
$4,000 more than was raised by the
twenty-five cent levy for the same pur'
pose in 1897, Notwithstanding our state
institutions have more than trebled in
capacity, with nine additional new
state institutions together with the
creation Of the tax commissioners
office. board of control. compensation
department, public service commits
sion, agricultural department, health
department and with an Increase in oul
states population OF 100000.
GLOW do you account for the fact
that only $4,000 more in direct levy
was necessary to take care of all this
progress, If the Dawson tax laws have
proved to be failure, as you woulc
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