West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-11-23
Mailing n Falsehood


Ex-senator Henry Zilliken is entitled
to the thanks OF all good citizens of
Brooke county for the prompt and eff
fective measure which he took to
clear that community OF the odium
OF slanderous charge recklessly made
by Governor Henry ID. Hatfield in his
call for a special session OF the West
Virginia legislature.
When the governor mentioned
Brooke as one OF the four counties in
which he had been reliably informed
that election frauds had been perpe-
trated Mr.. Zilllken at once demanded
the source OF his information. AS
was to have been expected from an
executive who writes demagogic
stump speech into a message to the
legislature. Hatfield ignored the chal-
lenge. Denied even the courtesy OF a
reply. Senator Zilliken took a train
for Charleston and called upon Hat
field in the executive chamber. He
carried with him indubitable proofs
that Brooke county's election had been
honestly conducted. The governor
was forced to admit that his sweep
ing and calumniatory charge was bas-
ed on a telephone message received
in his Office on election day from
young man who said he understood ir-
regularities were to be attempted in
the Beech Bottom precinct.
Senator Zilliken showed Ha. field the
signed statement of II. c. Wells, a life
long Republican, 60 years OF age, who
served as Republican challenger at
Beech Bottom. and who said: There
were no fraudulent votes polled there,
or no legal voters denied the right to
vote. / resent the ugly charges which
have been made against our county"
He showed Hatfield the signed
statement OF ii. G. Stengle, Republican
nominee for sheriff, who although de-
feated, declared his belief that "the
election was conducted honestly and
no fraud was committed at the polls"
He showed Hatfield the signed state
ment of George c. Wells, Republican
county commissioner OF Brooke, who
said he was thoroughly convinced
there was no fraud practiced."
He showed Hatfield the signed
statement OF w. r. Miller, Republican
ex-postmaster of Wellsburg, who de-
clared that he visited every voting pre-
cinct in Brooke county on election
day, adding: II believe the commits
sioners decided every case without
fear or favor. regardless of the voters
politics"
He showed Hatfield the signed state
ment OF K. c. Brashear, clerk OF the
Brooke County court, who declared
that the canvass of the vote of Brooke
county on the 18th inst. at which Re
publican county chairman Seigfried
was present, neither he nor anybody
else filing any protest. complaint or
objection.
Senator Zilliken saw the governor
at nine O'Clock Monday morning, and
Hatfield promised 10 furnish memoir
andum of the information upon which
he based his charge. and to have it in
Zilliken's hands by noon. in order ia
permit him to return home. The
memorandum was not furnished. Sen
ator Zilliken saw Hatfield again in
the afternoon, and at seven o'clock in
the evening, when he promised to have
| the memorandum prepared imme.
| diately and sent to Zilliken az his no
tel. Senator Zilliken waited until at.
ter midnight. and Tuesday morning
again besieged the governor. He was
finally told very CURLY by the COVER
nor's secretary that he need not expect
the memorandum, and he dparted for
home.
We believe that comment upon Hat
fields corse in connection with the
SANDER upon Brooke county is wholly
unnecessary. The facts speak for
themselves.