West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-03-09
HIS WARNING FULFILLED


Many will recall how the Hon. John ].
Cornwell, who was the Democratic can
didste for governor in 1904, warned the
people that if they adopted the Dawson
tax laws they would live to rue il; that
II they did not elect a Democratic legis-
lature the Republican machine would
saddle the Virginia debt upon the tax
payers OF West Virginia. This WAS an.
swered by the Republican press and
stump-speakersa as Democratic campaign
lies" Today the people of West Vir-
Rinia know that John J Cornwell told
them the gospel truth. Tie writer had
the pleasure OF hearing Mr.. Corn
well speak in 1904. He spoke in most
every county in the state. In one of his
speeches he said:
1t does net take prophet to tell
what is going to happen to the taxpayers
of West Virginia il they adopted the
Dawson tax laws. The adoption OF these
laws means a steady increase in taxation
from year to year until it becomes 90
great that the people will revolt. Ii
means the building up of one of the
most powerful political machines that
this state has ever known, so powerful
that nothing short Of revolution can
dislodRe It from power. IL means the
appointment Of hundreds of political
henchmen to Office whose sole duty will
be 20 work for the machine that it may
be perpetuated in power. Thus will taxa
ton be 30 enormously increased that
those who vote for the Dawson tax laws
will within the next ten years feel like
organizing vigilant committee and going
90 Charleston and hanging the men who
have so grossly deceived them. / chal-
ienEe those within the sound Of my voice.
Who question the accuracy Of my charge
against the Republican machine, to haul
me before the bar Of public opinion
within the next ten years and prove me
q iaisitier. / challenge the Republican
machine and its followers TO convict me
Of bearing false witness against the ma
chine II the people DO not elect a Demo
cratic legislature that the Republican
machine does not saddle the Virginia
debt upon this state They tell you the
Dswson tax laws will reduce your taxes
and that the Virginia deht will be de.
cided in favor OF West Virginia. warn
you that just AZ sure az you elect the Re.
publican state ticket and a Republican
legislature your taxes will he increased
and the Virginia debt decided against
NNr~t Anrdrfr.fa IL
age Of mankind you will know who has
lied 10 you"
Can anyone deny that John CornwelI
did not Tell the people the truth in IgO42
Have not the Dawson tax laws increased
our taxes enormously? Has not the
Virginia debt been saddled upon us2
Have they not built up the most corrupt
and powerful political machine that has
ever operated ia this state? Have they
not appointed hundreds of seryile bench.
men 70 Office whose cole duty is travelling
over the state working Tor the candidates
Of the state house machine2 Is 10 not
true that the people have become 30
mad at the increase ia their tax tickets
they do feel ike Organizing a vigilant
committee and going 10 Charleston and
chasing the gang into the Ksnawha riyer2
II II no longer denied that the Rspu5.
iican machine through fraud in the
black belP' stole the governorship from
John Cornwell in 1904 In fact. many
Of The members Of The machine boast Of
boW they robbed C0mwell Of the gov.
ernorship. He is q candidate for the
Democratic nomination for governor in
1916. Should be be- chosen the indepen-
dent Republicans will have an oppor.
tunitg 70 vote Tor Mr. Cornwell. the man
who warned them in 1905 what would
happen 10 them IL they adopted the
Dawson tax laws and elected the Repub- |
iican state ticket and legislature. The |
accuracy Of bic warning is nov q part Of 1
che history Of the state Even the most
servile hatterers Of the Republican ma.
chine WI not dare ay that Mr. Corn
Well did not iell the people TO 1904 tl,e
rsoie wuih and uotbing but lhe truth.