Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1920-08-31
TO THE DEMOCRATS OF WEST
VIRGINIA.

In assuming the duties of my Office
feel that I should outline to you the
aim and plan of the campaign which
i expect to conduct. 1t must be a
cooperative effort, having as its first
object the advancement of West Vir-
GINA, by establishing a clean govern
ment and wholesome respect for its
law.
The present political situation has
no parallel-never. was money so
dominent in politics. Millions of dol
lars were expended to control the
delegates to the Chicago Republican
convention. Shameless expenditures
by designing interest back of General
Wood and Governor Lowden, forces
their withdrawal, but their purchased
votes remained the balance of power
in the convention, and without them
no Republican nomination for Presi-
dent could have been made.
These vote-holding interests and
other bosses held a meeting at
o'clock in the night, selecting Sena-
tor Harding as their candidate for
President of the United States, and
| on the following day the formality
of a convention vote was taken.
The primary in our own state, as
conducted by the Republican party,
was, according to the declarations of
loyal, honest Republicans, but acrim-
inal auction, where votes were openly
purchased in violation of all decency
and of our criminal laws. 1t has
been charged in sworn petition,
filed by republican in court of our
state, that few men contributed
100000 to secure Judge Morgan's
nomination, and no denial of like
dignity has been made.
| The methods by which money and
dishonesty selected the Republican
candidates, have made farce of our
primary law, have brought shame up
on our state, destroyed confidence in
our offices, given rise to distrust and
unrest and encouraged crime.
| But serious as that was, evidence
has come to me that an even more
serious outrage is being planned by
the same forces in the Republican
party in this state to be perpetrated
by the purchase of the governship in
the general election this fall. In
stead of quarter of a million dol
lars-the primary auction fund
half privilege-seeking interest, to be
used for the same corrupt purposes in
the general election.
An officer whose election has beer
secured by purchase, theft or other
corrupt practices, cannot have the
confidence Of the people, no matter
what his personal life may have beer
or now is, for even if the crimina.
land corrupt act in which gave hin
| his nomination in the first instance
were done without his consent, he has
condoned and approved them by &C.
cepting their benefits.
This destroys public confidence IL
him without which his usefulness as
a public servant is at an end. Any
of his acts, however honest, would
be viewed with suspicion and would
give rise to dissentions, strife, hatred
and most probably bloodshed. This
condition would make honest capita
timid, halt our present progress anc
prosperity, and disgrace our state.
The man who furnished or directs
the expenditures of vast sums OF
money in corruption and fraud is
shrewd and calculating, and does moi
act without guarantee of full re
turn. He would not spend fabulous
sums of money and take the great
risk of being convicted and sentenced
to the penitentiary and of bringing
humiliation and dishonor upon him
self and family without very definite
/ assurance from some source that his
unjust and unholy desires would be
satisfied.
Furthermore, candidates elected by
such criminal agencies go into office
bound by either expressed or tact
pledges that their great power will
be exercised at the dictation of those
who criminally bought their nomina
lions and election. This condition
if not vigorously dealt with, vii
most certainly destroy the rights o.
a free people and the foundation Of
free government.
For the welfare of our people ant
the prosperity and security of oul
state. these election frauds anC
crimes must be stopped. To accom-
plish this / unreservedly pledge m!
best energy l will attempt by ever!
means within my power, to free oul
elections from intimidation, corrup
ton and theft, and will earnestl!
strive to secure to each voter the OPP
portunity of casting his ballot as hi:
judgement and his conscience may di
rect, and / will use every agency thai
II can command to see that all pro
visions of our election have are right
lily enforced.
/ appeal to all law-abiding and hon
| est thinking people of our'state fol-
full cooperation in. attaining these
aims.
R. F. DUNLAP,
Chairman Democratic State Execu
tive Committee.