Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-06-10

ident and anonymously distributed on
the streets of the city for the pur-
pose of damaging his candidacy. Hon.
John ]. Cornwell, of Romney, Demo.
cratic candidate for the gubernatorial
S,onination, in an eloquent speech
as has ever been heard in this city,
addressed a large audience at the
Victoria threatre Monday night. Mr.
CornwelTs speech was delivered to
an audience of five hundred people.
his remarks at times being punetured
with yolleys of applause and he made
some telling point either with ref
erence to his own position now and
twelve years ago or to the accomplish
ments of the administration.
Mr. Cornwell was not heard by Mar.
tinsburg people alone, but scores were
present. from jefferson and Morgan
counties.
County Chairman Attorney E. L.
Luttrell called the meeting to order,
after the distinguished speaker had
been escorted from the Berkeley by
the Old City band to the threatre,
and designated George Holt. an old
friend of the speaker as the presiding
officer Mr. Holt in taking the chair
cxproscad tho uay,sa cf hone, I,o foI,
in presiding over the gathering, as
he would over any Democratic gath
ering. 1t was especially an honor
upon this occasion, he declared, and
it was privilege and a pleasure to
introduce so distinguished a citizen
and former neighbor, the Hon. John
j. Cornwell
When Mr. Cornwell stepped to the
front of the stage so cordial was the
reception that he was unable to pro-
coed for moment. He remembered
very well, he said, that he closed
his 1904 campaign in this city, ana
the splendid vote. that Berkeley
county gave him on the next day.
At the outset he said Il want to
consume little of your, time to tell
you why the Democratic party ought
to be retained in power in tie nation
and why it ought to be entrustded
with the affairs of the Government of
West Virginia.
He likened the citizens of the
country to the stockholders of a great
company, each having an interest,
personal interest in the affairs of the
company. He asked if when the
quadrennial meeting was held of
those stockholders it was found that
the affairs of the company were pros,
porous, that dividends had been de-
clared, peace had been prepared with
neighbors and care taken of employ
ees, would you discharge the mana
cement or would you retain each and
every one of your faithful officers
end employees? De declared that the
people were the stockholders who
were approaching the quadrennial
meeting of the greatest corporation
i'll existance, the United States gov
eminent when they would determine
what party and who would manage
their affairs.
The Democratic party, Mr.. Corn
well declared had pledged itself when
elected to do certain things and one
of those things was to revise the tar.
if and revise it downward. The Rep
ublican party had claimed for MAN.
years that the tariff was not a tax
and that if it were a tax the foreigner
paid it finally admitted that it was
a tax and that the consumer paid it,
Shortly after Mr.. Taft had been ell
ected he had called Congress in spec
ial session but had approved a bill
revising the tariff upward. When the
Democratic party came into power,
it id revise the tariff downward and
put it lower than it had been TO-
years because it was a Ok on the
largest families and because it was
on consumption. When they had done
that they substituted for it what? An
income tax, a tax on wealth. Was
that right, asked the speaker? If not
then ask those who advocate
change, said the speaker, if they come
into power whether they will in
crease the tariff and abolish the in
come tax.
Dealing with fintncial legislation.
Mr.. Cornwell declared there never
bad been lawsso vital an importance,
nc matter what vocation in which a
mar might be- engaged as the banking
and currency law Every time there
las been depression in business It