Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-09-03
LETTER FROM CHAIRMAN DUNLAP.
TO THE DEMOCRATS OF
WEST VIRGINIA.:

In assuming the duties of my Of
flee | feel that | should outline to
you the aim and plan of the cam
paign which | expect to conduct. 1t
must be cooperative effort, having
as its first object the advancement
of West Virginia, by establishing a
clean government and wholesome
respect for its laws.
The present political situation
has no parallcl-never was money
so dominant in politics. Millions of
! dollars were expended to control
the delegates to the Chicago Repub-
lican Convention. Shameless ex-
penditures by designing interests
back of General Wood and Cover
nor Lowden, forced their with
drawal' but their purchased votes
remained the balance of power in
the convention, and without them
no Republican nomination for Pres
Ident could have been made.
| These vote-holding interests and
other bosses held a meeting at 2
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 convention vote was taken.
The primary in our own State,
as conducted by the Republican
party, was, according to the dec
laration of loyal, honest RepubIi-
cans but criminal auction, where
votes were openly purchased in
violation of all dccency and of our
criminal laws. 1t has been charg-
Ell In a sworn petition, filed i'm a
court of our State, that few men
contributed $250,O0O to secure
Judge Morgan's nomination, and no
denial of like dignity has been
made.
The methods by which money
and dishonesty selected the Re
publican candidates, have made a
farce OF our primary law, have
brought shame upon our State, de-
Stroyed confidence in our Offices,
given rise to distrust and unrest and
encouraged crime.
But serious as that was, evidence
mas come to ne that an even more
serious outrage is being planned by
the same forces in the Republican
party in this State to be perpetual
ed by the purchase of the Governor
snip in the general election this
tall. Instead of a quarter of a mil
Hon-dollars-th primary auction
iund-a half privilege seeking in
terested, to be used for the same
corrupt purposes in the general
election.
An officer whose election has
Deen secured by purchase, theft OF
o1her corrupt practices, cannot have
the confidence of the people, no
matter what his personal life NAV
nave Deen or now is, for even if the
criminal and corrupt acts which
gave him his nomination in the first
instance were done without his con
sent ne has condoned and approved
them by accepting their benefits.
This destroys public confidence
In him without which his useful
ness as a public servant is at an
end. Any of his acts, however hon
est would be viewed with suspic-
ION and would give rise to dissen-
lions, strife, haired and most prob
ably bloodshed. This condition
would make honest capital timid,
halt our present progress and pros
pcrlty, and disgrace our State.
The man who furnished or di-
reefs the expenditure of vast sums
of money in corruption and fraud
is shrewd and calculating, and
does not act without a guarantee of
full return. He would not spend
fabulous sums of money and take
the great risk Of being convicted
and sentenced TO the pcnitentiary
and Of bringing humiliation and
diSh0nor upon himself and family
without very definite assurance
from some source that his unjust
and unhOly desires would be salts
fed.
Furthermore, candidates elected
by such criminal agencies go into
Office bound by either expressed or
tacit pledges that their great power
will be exercised at the dictation
of those who criminally bought
their nomination and election. This
condition. if not vigorously dealt
with, will most certainly DESTROY
The rights Of q free people and the
foundation Of free government.
For the welfare of our people,
and the prosperity and security of
our State, these election frauds and
crimes must be stopped. TO accom-.
plish This | unrcscrvcdly pledge my
best energy. will attempt by
every means within my power. 10
free our elections from intimida-
lion. corruption and theft, and will