West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-11-30
Correcting the Voters

has the following comment upon the
proposal TO reverse the will OF the
people as expressed in the election. by
depriving John Cornwell OF the rights
appertaining to the Office OF governor:
Candor in discussion OF the propos-
ed Legislative session and its program
OF strictly partisan action compels The
Mail to say that among the scores or
hundreds Of Republicans who have ex-
pressed their opinion either publicly
or privately to this newspaper. only
one, except Office holders, has given
favor to the project a solitary ad-
vocate among so many! II is most
impressive and, as we believe, signifi-
cant circumstance
Let us consider what this solitary
citizen says-for he writes to The
Mail:
II am not an office holder or pro
fessional politician, but as a citizen
and Republican feel that the inter
est OF both the party and the state are
jeopardized by the threats of our gov
ernor-elect, and that there is crisis
demanding action on the part OF Gov
ernor Hatfield and our Republican leg
islature"
What were the threats and what
is the crisis to which our correspond
ent refers?
The threats, so-Called. were those
declarations of Mr.. Cornwell. the Dem
ocratic candidate. that If elected he
would proceed To dismiss certain Off
GERS appointed by his predecessor and
appoint in their places men OF his own
choice.
The crisis in the opinion evidently
OF our correspondent, arises from the
fact that Mr.. Cornwell has been elect
ed and that he may proceed To carry
out the substance OF his declarations
on the stump.
Now this newspaper regrets that
Cornwell was elected II is profound
ly sorry that Robinson was defeated
Consistently alike with it's Republi-
canism and it's Judgment OF personal
values 1t supported Judge Robinson
curing the campaign and with whole
heart and might advocated his candi-
dacy before the public The Mail ac-
cepts the result with no high regard
for the Democratic party as an instru-
mentality of government, but with a
profound Difference to the verdict OF
the people.
Who is our Republican correspond
ent. and who are we, and who is Gov
ernor Hatfield and the expiring Re-
publican Legislature that we should
question this verdict OF popular gov
ernment under which we were born to
live? Question It? Yes, TO this ex-
tent: We may feel perfectly sure the
people, who are never wrong for very
long at a time. have collectively com
mitted an error OF judgment which
will be corrected two years or four
years from now. We may feel equal
ly sure that there is no way short of
essential anarchy to correct the YER
Ni'' piiVi W tic iOlullB OI the next
election
Mr. Cornwell made a thorough going
ampaign-visiting, we believe, every
county in the state and telling the
people everywhere what he expected
70 do as governor i'm the event that
they should elect him. His opponent
pursued a similar course Mr.. Corn
well was elected and Judge Robinson
unfortunately 1--WE repeat our own
strong conyiction) was defeated. We
must presume that the free electorate
gave true expression of their wishes
With certain laws on our statute
books laws which have stood unchal-
lenged for many years-the people
chose COrnwell as the executor Of
those laws. and all others which they
have conferred upon themselves
through their elected representatives.
They elected him to the full enjoyment
OF all the rights, powers and emolu-
ments now appertaining TO the Office
Of governor OF this state-not 10 rights
or powers to be curtailed or abridged
by his political opponents; by repre-
sentatives Of the defeated party. at
the eleventh hour.
There is a crisis" declares our
correspondent When did the crisis
arise? Is there any crisis now that
did not exist prior to the 7th day Of
November? Was not this crisis. such
as il as, sought TO be impressed upon
the minds Of the people by the Repub-
lican managers during the political
campaign?
u was. The people seem TO have
decided, according to their sovereign
right to decide. that there was no
crisis at all II they made a mistake
II is unfortunate, hut there ls no
| remedy consistent with free govern
ment under a democracy. no means
except tyranny. by which the people
may be saved Immediately from their
own error
-h-
Expenditures
you Americans are terribly extrav-
agant," remarked the critical man
| from abroad