The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-10-26
Governor Hatfield Propounds
Some "Stunners" to the
Democratic Nominee.
LATTER IS SPEECHES.
CornwelI Finds Himself Unable
to Meet Facts and Figures
Given by Governor.


CHARLESTON, Oct. 26.-John j.
Cornwell backed down last night in his
speech here and failed TO reply to an
open letter addressed 10 him by Gov
ernor H. d. Hatfield submitting GER
tain questions to him for answer in
connection with Cornwell's widely her
aided statement that his predictions OF
1904 as to the failure of the Dawson
tax law system had been realized.
Governor Hatfield pointed out in his
letter that MIR Cornwell had refused
To meet him in joint debate and he took
the opportunity 10 ask him about GER
tain facts bearing on the statements
Of Cornw' as to his predictions Of
failure Of Ae Dawson tax system.
Cornwell made no EFFORT TO answer
the governors statements in which II
was pointed out among other things
that II the same system OF taxation
prevailed now, as during the Demo-
cratic regime in the state ending in
1897 the direct levy today would be
$.129 cents on each 500 valuation in
stead Of nine cents.
A large crowd OF Republicans was
attracted to Cornwell's meeting expect
ing him to reply to Governor HatAeld's
interrogations. but he passed them over
without making any effort to reply.
The letter OF Governor Hatfield to
Cornwell, which was published in the
local newspapers yesterday, Is as fol-
lows:
Charleston, W. Va,
October Is, 1916.
''Mr. John j. Cornwell.
Charleston, w. Va.
Dear Sir: You have recently re-
fused to accept my challenge to meet
me in joint debate for discussion Of
the Issues OF the campaign in West
Virginia, which you have seen fit TO
raise. BY reason of the fact that you
made made certain statements regard
ing the present state administration
and you have refused TO meet me for
a discussion OF the statements de-
sire to submit to you the following
questions, and | hope that it will be
your pleasure to deal with them In
your speech in this city.
Very truly yours,
III. D. HATFIELD.
The following are the questions that
were submitted to Mr.. Cornwell:
You have in your present contest
for governor attempted to sustain your
forecast when a candidate for the
same office in 1904 OF the failure Of
the Dawson tax system, at which time
you opposed tax reform and have de-
clared that the predictions made In
your former contest have been realized.
II so how do you explain this recorded
fact?
"The average last ten years of Dem
ocrauc administration in West Nir-
Kinia for state and state school tax
was thirty-fve cents. twenty-five
cents for state and ten cents for school
purposes, making a total of thirty-five
cents, while under the last ten years
Of Republican administration the aver
age direct tax for state and state
school purposes was So on the 800
sending back three and one-half cents
Of this SO levy for the support OF the
free school system. leaving "a for the
maintenance Of the state government.
THE direct tax collected in 1897, the
last year Of the Democratic administra-
ton, was s547OOO on a twenty-five
cent direct levy on the 100 valuation.
"In 1916 a five and one-half cent levy
out Of the nine cents was laid for state
purposes, which raised $643. 900, only
500, 900 more than was raised by the
twenty-five cent levy for the same pur-
pose in 1897. Notwithstanding our state
institutions have more than trebled in
capacity. with nine additional new
state institutions together with the
creation of the tax commissioners
office, board of control, compensation
department, public service commits
sion, agricultural department. health
department and with an increase in our
states population Of 100000.
How do you account for the fact
that only $4,000 more In direct levy
was necessary TO take care of all this
progress, if the Dawson tax laws have
proved to be failure, as you would
have the people believe them to be?
six hundred and fifty thousand dol