The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-10-08
MARSHAL med" SMITH
Continued from Page One-)

the distribution Of supplies for tho
A@ nff yoa i alroady know Colonel Wat
son, this letter may strengthen the
ttcs Of friendship, but II You are not
acquainted with him, wish to say TO
you tllnt Colonel watson, IN my optn-
Ion, Is one of the greatest men Amer
cui hns produced. have known him
ell my life; havo travelled with him,
and have had many dealings with him
in business way; and I say to you
that should he be elected he will prove
Invaluable as our Senator in winning
the war and N the period OF recon
atructton to follow.
"Parlaps you have boy, or some
relative in the trenches IN FRANCE.
Colonel Watson Is fifty-four years old.
&c woald be m tho trenches, too, II
ho wore eligible, but he did the next
best thing taking JOB In the ORD
nance Department., aud he has peen
dong important work in connection
with high explosives. When he went
into the army he had no intention Of
becoming q candidate for office. It
was after he had donned the uniform
that his friends, myself included
urged him to enter the Senatorial race:
"If you arc a Democrat, you Will
naturally give Colonel Watson your
cordial support. If your affiliations
have bee- with other political partte,
hope you will forget party ties and
give him your support have no
words of criticism Of his opponent,
is elected to the Senate, and the COM
plexion Of he Senate IS changed from
Democratic to Republican, the Kaiser
in Berlin Will consider this victory
for Germany and q defeat for Prest-
dent Wilson. The Kaiser has deep
personal hatred of President wilson
We must face these facts squarely,
and when you como to casting your
ballot, be sure that IN no way WILL
your vote weaken the hands OF our
great President.
az would much appreciate o reply
to this letter, giving me frankly your
own convictions on the subject. With
k1ndcs personal regards, am
"Stncerely yours,
(Signed) &c. E. SMITH"
or four letters similar to the above,
indeed exactly alike. except for ad-
dress and noted date and place OF hold
Ing court. one says, II met you NJ
one "nt Parkcrshurg." one
at Martinsburg." one "at Glkins-" The
gentleman 10 whom the letter quoted
was addressed denies meeting Mr.. Smith
Mt ClarkSburg. or anywhere else. and
says that Smith must have obtained his
name from the Ciarksburg federal
grand jury list. because he. the adj
uTcSSCf, was summoned on the
there. but did not attend.
Just q few years ago we heard very
much. indeed about "pcrnicious politi-
cal activity" and not few govern
lnent employees were called up on the
floor and ''raked over the Goals for
such activities: in some instances VIC
believe. there were designations asked
for and given. If there has ever been
hF1k flog ~
n federal officc-holder using his power
in behalf Of political candidate than
is displayed by the Smith letter. our
oldest inhabitant" don't recall II. Does
United States Marshal Smith have the
sanction Of President Wilson in his
activities? Or is politics adjourned
just another "he'll-kecp-us-out-of
slogan. circulated in the hopc Of further
suffrage for the democracy"
II wish to say 10 YOU" says Mr.
Smith, that Colonel Watson. In my
opinion, is one OF the greatest mcI
has ever produced" Why:
Is it because Of great things Colone.
Watson has accomplished. or merely be-
cause nc went travelling. hunting and
fishing" with tho marshal? Would Mr.
Smith mind particularzing in what
~
est men America has ever produced
To be that one must have something
definite to back up the claim. Mr.. Wat
son has hccn living in West Virginia
(and Baltimore. Md good many
years. He was never heard OF MS u
great labor leader. Us tho friend of the
coal miners union. as philanthroplst,
rs Il builder Of churches, schools. col
OF n n hu ~ hn
people of West Virginia never heard OF
Clarence Watson at all until his ''foun-
book" campaign for
the United States senate WAS launched
1T the la11 session OF West Virginia
legislature. Isn't this n fact. Mr.,
Smith
"Coloncl~Watson Is 81 years old He
would be in tho trenches too. if he were
eligible" Would he. really? And We,
Clarence Watson at the age of "a did
not hear the call OF President McKin-
Icy for volunteers in the Spanish
war. Why" lie had the same
chance rs Davis Elliins. who enlisted rs
n private. who served throughout the
war period. and who advanced rapidly
from private to captain. Mr.. Watson
WINS of war aye At tht time. but he
wasn't in the. war. Again-why"
II have no word of criticism Of his
opponent. hut YOU can sec that IL Major
Elkins is elected to tho senate, and the
of the senate is changed
from Democratic to Republican, the
kaiser in Berlin will consider this is n
victory for Germany and q defeat for
President Wilson," continues Marshal
Smith. Sounds very much like the ut
tcrance of tho Democratic machine in