Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-08-01
Senator Chiffon and the Debt Matter.

Editor Register understand that II
is being claimed by Senator Chilton's
friends that he not only advocated In
the Senate the payment BY the general
government OF the West Virginia debt
in which judgment Of fifteen millions
u5,OOO,OOo) has been entered BY the
Supreme Court OF the United States,
but that he was the author and origina-
tor Of the idea; and one OF the stock
arguments of his friends is that he
should be returned TO the Senate for
the purpose Of continuing his efforts
in relieving the State Of his debt The
following quotation from James 6.
Blaine's Twenty years in Congress"
a book published as far back as 1884,
long before West Virginia was involved
in the Virginia debt controversy. will
show the contrary:
"Nor should il be forgotten that the
State of Virginia before the war might
we'll be regarded as the creditor and
not the debtor OF the national govern
ment. One Of her earliest acts OF pa
triotism as an independent State was
the cession TO the general government
Of her superb domain on the north side
OF the Ohio river, from the sale OF which
more than hundred million dollars
have been paid into the Treasury Of
the United States"
| heard about the time that this
book was printed that Senator Blaine
was candidate for the presidency, and
the brilliant arguments he used for the
national government 10 pay the Vlr-
ginia (now West Virginia) debt was
for the purpose OF advancing his presi;
Dental aspirations. II has been rumor-
ed that history is repeating itself, and
that Senator Chiffon is using this debt
question as campaign propaganda. }
do not say so, nor would detract from
anything that Senator Chiffon has done
in advocating the payment by the ma
tional government OF the West Virginia
debt; but to the "rubes," including my
self, "in this neck OF the woods" il
does not seem to be reasonable that with
the national debt OF the government
mounting up by lesps ana boands Int
billions, probably reaching the snorHsus
sum OF twenty billions dollars (s20, 900,
000,000) before this war Is over, the
government is going out OF its way TO
take up an additional moral obligation
through the State OF Virginia, and pay
of a judgment after years OF litigation
against the State Of West Virginia for
the sum OF fifteen million (Si5,000,-
0O0) on the ground OF conscience and
equity alone. J may be wrong, but II
! does not seem to be reasonable. II
seems quixotic, and do not believe that
the United States Government under
existing circumstances will ever pay
a cent OF the West Virginia debt, nor
do believe that the other States OF the
Union and their taxpayers, would stand
for such an unwaranted largess from
the Treasury OF the United States.
In former times ofpipingpeace, Uncle
Sam, generosity was often appealed
TO for various wild schemes, and very
often successfully, and this scheme
might have worked, but not now, In
these times OF financial stress. The old
fellow has enough debt already TO carry
without assuming any further obliga-
tions.
Now, Mr.. Editor, the primary elec.
ton OF August 9th is an extremely i'm
portant one, and the voters are called
upon to choose between Senator Chiffon
and Senator Watson. II is no time for
mud-slinging and bandying epithets
about "dollar bills" and "see that your
votes are counted" and such other po-
litical claptrap, as 'he is millionaire
coal OPERATOR" which are always banded
about by politicians and their partisans
in every campaign.
The voter should approach this I'm
portant election in these war times in a
patriotic, attitude and seek TO cast his
vote for the best interests Of America,
with malice toward none and charity
toward all"
The wing OF the Democratic party In
which was trained was "The States
Rights School," wing, as someone has
stated, which has been folded "like the
wings Of dove" for the most part since
the late war, and a majority OF those
trained in that school have been intern
ed politically, indefinitely, for the good
OF their country, Judge.
But, with the enlightenment that this
world war has brought the scales have
fallen from my eyes, and see that to
meet this great national crisis every
thing must be sacrificed, and for that
purpose il Unnecessary TO have strong
national government, not TO oppress
our own people (God forbidD, but to
guard the life Of the Republic against
insidious foreign forces with their
poison gas propaganda.
tremble TO think il the South had
succeeded (which consummatiol was
so devoutiy wished for by many Of us),
and the government split in twain, what
Germany with its pre-vsr nsnipula-
tons might have done to this Republic,
judging by what IL has done to Russia.
They would have had, In such sup
posed case, q Ukranis, N Esthenia,
and Finland, uate - thsis hasts. On
this side OF the ocean, into which 10
foment Bolshevikism and revolution
and ofher rnfifirst Hfsnrds<s tostaoA ~