Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1918-07-02
E. v. nsenton Is For Chiffon.

fall and b. that | mean they want to
slpport him for what he did before
the war was declared, and they want to
uphold his principles in readjustments
after the war, and then they want to
slpport him unreservedly and freely
in winning the war. Ii you will nonli-
nate a candidate who comes up to all
of these requirements he will be
elected.
Words Not Enough.
at is not enough for candidate
to say that he viii support the Presl-
dent in winning the war. That is gen.
eral and all four of the Republican
candidates promise that, and even
Lodge and Penrose and leading Re
publicans, are vociferous in making
that statement. The people want to
know-not guess and believe-that the
next senator from West Virginia be-
lieves in the principles of Wilson, is
proud of his record of achievement,
and will put those principles in force
in the establishments after the war.
West Virginia is deeply interested
In the reorganizations after the war
and especially in the railroad situa-
ton. 1t has always seemed strange
to me that West Virginia does not
wake up to the Importance of its rail-
road situation. No one can give
satisfactory Fason why our coal and
timber lands sell at $50 to 800 an
acre when thinner coal and less valua-
bic coal in Pennsylvania sells for S1.20
an acre and upwards. 1t is perfect
ly plain that this is because the PEN
sylvania operators have administered
the railroad situation of West Nir-
ginia.
Our coal has been excluded from the
best markets in the East and West be-
cause the Pennsylvania Railroad
operators by controlling our rail-
road lines that serve this state can
limit our fields and by bum manage
ment limit our car supply. For one
time West Virginia is in a position to
get justice and square deal. Now
while the railroads are being operated
by the government, we canfind out the
facts, and can apply them to the para
mount question of so adjusting the
railroad situation after the war,
whether it be by private ownership or
public ownership, that ton of coal in
West Virginia is worth as much as it
is in Pennsylvania, and we are foolish
If we neglect this situation, and have
no one to blame but ourselves if we
fail to embrase every opportunity for
taking care of our own interests.
ChiltOn's Record and Loyalty.
"The people of West Virginia be-
Eevethat Wilson is just. They have
faith in his notions of justice and they
want q senator whose record is a
guarantee that in the readjustments
after the war, the principles of Wilson
will prevail and that he cannot be con-
trolled by "big business" nor terrified
by any demagogical ideas. On all of
these matters and his loyalty to the
people of West Virginia and her great
interests, Senator Chiffon is a record
within himself and has stood every
severe test of loyalty. There is no
twilight zone between his record and
what the people want. If he shall be
the democratic nominee and he will be,
we will have no new issues, nothing
to explain, nothing to apologize for,
and the people will have presented to
them the one single question which
they want to decide, and that is the
loyal, cordial, cheerful support of the
Il
forts to win this war quickly. Sena-
tor Chilton's experience of four years
with the Wilson administrator will
enable him to go quickly to work of
helping our boys now fighting for our
country and their friends and fami-
lies. He is equipped to take hold of
the business interests and help the
people Immediately. In other words
he is equipped; he is a. friend of the
President; he is close to the admins
tratiOn, and is full Of energy and en-
thusiasm and is for those things which
The people of West Virginia now want.
Champi0ned Famous Bill
owe cannot shut our eyes to the
facts, regarding the Virginia debt
case. The Supreme Court has closed
the doors to every contention Of the
state except the manner of enforcing
payment. So urgent does this situa-
ton seem to our state administration
that the governor has convened the
Debt Commission and the latter has
invited an interview with the Debt
Commission of the state of Virginia,
evidently having in mind an effort to
get together upon some kind of settle
ment. We cannot be babies about
this question any longer, and we must
realize that whether or not we shall
be forced to pay it at the end of the
execution of mandamus or some
other kind of harsh process from the
court, the fact remains that the Su-
preme Court of the United States has
decided that we owe that DEBT, but
whether we have to pay it or not,
Senator Chiffon has found an asset
amounting to about 5,000,000,00,
which belongs to the state, and has
gone far enough in his efforts to CON
vince the judiciary committee of both
Houses of Congress that his position
is correct and has had the bill passed
in the Senate without dissenting
vote. Is there another man the
state now equipped to carry forward |
this work and secure this money for |
US, as he is. Is it sensible to retain |
a lawyer who has case half won, or
turn him off for another advocate? |
This, now, is a real; live business cues
ton, and it means business to every
tax payer. The Virginia debt ques-
ton is connected with it only as it |
may effect our necessities. If we do
not have to pay that debt, $15,000,0 GOO
is not to be sneezed at, and what
would the Congress think if we
would turn down the man who has
nearly completed tn job of securing
that sum for US?
"This alone, should appeal to every
tax payer and we'll wisher of the state.
and | find that it does. The people
are not doing much talking, because
they are winning the war; But they
will take charge of the primary and
and they will nominate Chiffon"