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. "a cow
urdly refusal" Is tho comment OF
Governor Hatfield in statement
given out replying to John j. Corn
we'll. Democratic nominee for gov
rruor. who refused to accept the
challenge issued by Governor Hat
field Tor series OF Joint discussions
on the issues that have been raised
by Cnrnwcll In attacking the record
OF the Republican state ADMINISTRATION.
Cutnwclls reason assigned for de-
clining was too much occupied" to
accent the challenge and that no did
not desire TO undertake the burden
Of securing for the governor audi
Cnces before which 20 defend his adj
mlnistratlon."
Governor Hatfield brands the
Cornwcll abb MS weak defense and
declares that II liz "palpably insin-
core on It's face" He charges Corn
well with being afraid TO meet him in
Joint discussion and rldicules his
plea ms a drawing card for crowds"
Riding on Passes.
He lays down the gauntlet to
cornwcll. charging him with MAX
ing malicious statements from the
civil contingent fund. He also
charges Cornwcll 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 sucn
action.
In regard to payment made in
connection with the legislative
bribery cases 10 Guy u. Biddinger OF
S1.g57.S4. Governor Hatfield gives
out In his statement the, letter In
which Judge William S. O'Brien. n
Democrat. who presided at the trial.
approved the Bldldnger 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 nm inslnuation by Corn
well that public funds had been used
for running down state officials, was
requlsition 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 or Kanawha county for at
tempted bribery or two members or
the public service commission. This
expenditure was authorized, II is ev-
ldenced by the governor. by COM
mlttee OF the legislature of 1915
composed OF Democrats and Repub-
licans. and II is also pointed out that
the amount was turned over in Its
entirety to T. c. Townsend, prose-
cutting attorney OF the county. At
tentlcn Is also called TO the fact that
an investigating committee OF the
legislature composed OF Democrats
ana Republicans approved the expen-
diture and declared that no portion
OF the $4,000 has been misappropri-
atcd.
In conclusion Governor Hatfield
states that he will take the stump
to defend his administration and will
be glad TO meet Mr.. Cornweil at any
time he chooses to do so. His
statement is as follows;
Governors Statement.
In his cowRrdly refusal to accept
my challenge TO meet him before the
people OF the state In joint discus
sion OF the issues that he has raised
in connection with the record of my
administration as governor OF West
Virginia. MIR. John ]. Cornwell, the
Democratic nominee for governor
has seen At to continue his malicious
insinuations as to certain expendi-
lures made by me as governor OF
the state.
Mr.. Cornwell declares that hif
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 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, II would appear that II
he hoped TO gain anything from such
a discussion he would be glad e
have as large q crowd as possible
present, And so far as concerns the
size OF the crowds that have beer
hearing Mr.. Cornwell, l am reliable
informed that there Is no reason &c
anticipate any tumultuous outpours
ing of the people, MS for instance
when the Democratic candidate spoke
at Madison last week he was hear,
by thirty-seyen persons. approximate
ly one-half Of these being prisoners