The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-10-02


ter, and his recklessness in this re-
gard has discredited him as a candi.
date before the people Of the state.
must repeat the assertion made II,
my letter. am convinced OF the ma
liciousness Of Mr.. Cornwells desire to
makes libolous statements about me.
as he has about others, and in this he
will not be permitted to continue his
barefaced falsehoods without due re.
course by me. l must insist that he
state the truth In his assertions about
my administrative acts In the future
thing he has been unwilling to do in
the past.
Mr.. Cornwell insinuates something
wrong as to a certain expenditure OF
s1,957.S4 made payable to Guy B. Bid.
dinger from the civil contingent fund.
This expenditure was given the wild.
est publicity In the state at the time 1t
was made. 1t has been approved by
the legislature of 1915 as q Just and
proper one. and in this connection
wish to quote communication ad-
dressed TO me by Judge William S.
O'Brten, democrat, judge of the cir.
cult court OF Upshur county, In which
he urges that the payment should be
made by the state In order that the
ends Of justive might be protested:
"Buckhannon, West Va.
October 81. 1918.
Hon. II. D. Hatfield,
Charleston, West. Va.
Dear SIR
Having in mind our conversation
in relation TO the bribery trials had
during my recent visit to Charleston,
| make bold to write you In reference
to the Biddinger allowance, which so
far remains unsatisfied by the state
OF West Virginia.
From a personal standpoint I have
no interest whatever In payment of
this claim. other than the satisfaction
which the approval of my action in
the matter would bring to me. This
purely personal interest will not be
considered.
have no especial interest In asking
its approval because 1t was allowed
by me as the trial judge and as the
representative of the state of West
Virginia, in the light OF official duty.
| tried to acquaint you with the main
grounds for my action, and feel that
you approve Il.
Then II was right, or In the main.
right, why should the court be left un.
der undue criticism, for the doing of
the thing.
AS you will understand. should not
at present by publication try to allay
criticism. These bribery cases are
yet pending III our courts.
There should be no proceedings had
to compel its satisfaction for such &C.
ton would. in my humble opinion, be
proclamation to our citizenship that
the recour :e1 Of :he state are no to
be arrayed on the side Of public well
fare in the prosecution of these charg.
ed with official graft and bribery, and
that our legislature is yet to remain
an open fielu of corruption.
And now. Mr.. Governor. It appears
to me that the present attitude in fer.
erence to this allowance is causing
those prosecutions to lose beneficent
force, and ] want to respectfully re-
quest Of you. IL you feel that you can
consistently do so. that you find some
way to satisfy this claim, out OF the
public funds Of the state, and such &C.
ton be taken without delay.
beg Of you to believe me when /
say that were / not morally certain
that this allowance was made with the
best interests of good and pure gov.
eminent in Jew; and that in review.
ing my action in the premises, l did
what the exigencies of the case de.
manded; and what did was right, I
would not make this request.
II you do take the step Lave sug.
gested, feel sure that every good
citizen will in the end commend you
for your action. and that the state will
feel the impulse in civic righteous.
ness.
am. sir. very respectfully,
(Signed) VIM. S. O'Brien."
And also the following letter re-
ceived from Judge O'Brien after pay
ment had been made:
"Buckhannon, West Va,
November 2, 1913.
Hon. II. D. Hatfield,
Charleston. w. Va.
My dear GOVERNOR
beg to acknowledge receipt Of your
favor Of the 25th ult. in relation to
your satisfaction of the Biddinger
claim. Business matters compelled
neglect OF correspondence. / assure
.a,,-~-.-