The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-11-04
And as One Whose Practices
Are in Violation of Spirit
of Election Laws.
(By lEartin ]. McNIcholas.)

My attention has been called to a
statement given out by John ]. Corn
well, Democratic candidates for COVER
nor, which statement was published
In the Fairmont Times, the organ and
moutbpiece Of Senator Watson, under
date Of November 2. 1916. in which
Mr.. Cornwell is quoted as saying in
substance that / tried TO extort a
promise from him. in the event OF his
election. TO appoint nc labor commits
sioner Of West Virginia. and that !
assured him that II he would so prom
Use, / would deliver 10 him the labor
vote Of the state. It is not only as
founding, but almost beyond belief
that a man who aspiTe3 to be governor.
the chief executive OF a great state,
would permit his campaign managers.
or even his political touts and bench
men. TO resort 10 such base and de-
liberate falsehood IN order TO revive
his waning cause; but it Is inconcety-
able to me that the candidate himself
should be guilty of such conduct. More
the pity It's true.
II the Honorable John J. Cornwell is
correctly quoted in the statement le-
ferred to. here and now say TO the
people OF West Virginia he is de-
liberate faIsiAer. and has placed him
self on the low level OF a common ward
politician. One would expect higher
ideal from a candidate for governor.
When read the accredited statement
Of Mr.. Cornwell. was reminded OF the
words OF Mark Anthony when he looked
upon the lifeless form OF julius
Caesar:
% mighty Caesar: dost thou lie so
Are all they conquests. glories.
triumphs. spoils.
Shruuk to this little measure
did have an interview with Mr.
Cornwell in the city Of Huntington the
carly part of October. as l now re-
member, but that interview was not
OF my seeking It was upon the solicl-
tation OF Mr. Cornwell and was brought
about through the efforts OF his ardent
supporters. The only proposition that
was made in reference to my appoint-
ment as commissioner OF labor. in the
event OF Mr.. CornwelIs election. came
from Mr.. Cornwell and his Political
friends. did not rush into public
print. as might have done. as per-
hans I should have done. for the simple
reason | had too much respect for the
high position TO which Mr.. Cornwell
did then and still aspires. but irasmuch
as Mr.. Cornwell seems TO have neither
respect for the truth nor for the Office
10 which he aspircs. feel that l am
at liberty and that 1t is my duty 10
give the public the exact facts touch
ing this Interview and the circum-
/ stances leading up 20 il.
| vas in Huntington at the time Mr..
srplsn in that civ. was
there on political mission-in the
interest of the Republican party and
its candidates. was stopping at the
Frederick hotel. Mr.. Cornwell was
stopping at the same place. In the
lobby Of the hotel met one Bill F1tch,
, a renegade Republican who was then
suDporting Mr.. Cornwell and still Is
for that matter. | desire TO explain
that Fitch had been a supporter Of
General Lilly in the primary campaign,
had also supported General Lilly and
had worked with Fitch in Cabell coun-
". When | me: Fitch in the hotel. ne
remarked: You are the very man
want 10 see" He then went on TO
sneak OF the primary campaign and its
termination and gave me to understand
that he was supporting Mr.. Cornweli
and said that Mr.. Cornwell wanted TO
sec me. He seemed TO take it for grant
ed that because l had supported Cen
oral Lilly in the primary | would not
sunport Judge Robinson in the gen
eral election. He said it had already
neon iNed for me 10 be the labor COM
, missioner II Cornwell was elected and
,ha; Cornwell wanted to discuss the
matter with me. said 10 him that
: would be very glad TO see Mr.. Corn
I we'll If he desired 10 talk with me on
, that subject shortly after this con-
i versation took place with Fitch. l met
; ono Fred Nickerson. another renegade
: Republican who is a supporter OF Mr
= Corawell and who had been support
. er OF General Lilly. In substance, he
1 rcneated the same story that had been
/ toid 10 me by Fitch. He said that
2 Cornweu had agreed shat if he was
: elected that his Republican supporters
should have control Of the patronage
, in three departments of the STATE gov
+ eminent and the labor commissioner
: office was one OF them. The other two
I hc did not name. Nickerson then
: called into the conversation some man
, whom he represented 10 be one of Mr..
, Cornwell's Democratic supporters. The
: man was a stranger 10 me and his
!. name | have forgotten. Nickcrson
sent the stranger of 10 find Mr.. Corn
! well and arrange for an itner'iew. In
( a few minutes he returned and to-:
me that Mr.. Cornwell was on the bal
!, cony floor of the hotel and would see
me at once. The stranger and went
M and we found Mr.. Cornwell on the
balcony in company with Judge John
n. Holt and a lady whom l understood
was Mrs. CornwelI. The stranger whom
l had accompanied upstairs. started to
introduce me and Mr.. Cornwell said
II know Mr.. McNicholas. have met
! him before" He then excused himself
and we took seats apart from Judge
Volt and Mrs. Cornwell. In substance
Mr.. Cornwell said he wanted my sup
/ mort, that he realized nc could not be
elected withaut at least 1900 Repub-
Ucan votes and that If he was elected
he was going to take care OF his Re-
publican friends. That / had been
spoken Of as a good man for commits
/ sioner Of labor. that was laborins
man and stood we'll with the laborinE
people OF the state and was in posi-,
zion 10 do him a lot Of good and had