The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-10-27
UNJUSTlF|ED ATTACKS
ON CAPTAIN FORD
BY The DEMOCRATS

Charleston. w. Va, Oct. 26.-Propa-
ganda OF the most inSidiouS nature aim
J ed atthc war record of Captain George
! NJ Ford. world-war veteran and Rcpuoli-
can nominee for the state Superintned-
ont OF schools. Is being circulated in
behalf Of the Democratic candidate for
| the same office.
Republican leaders at state headquar-
ters denounce the attack upon captain
Ford as "unwarrantod. sCandalous,
anonymous and an effort to discredtt
a gallant soldier who left dependents
at the age OF 46 TO volunteer for ser
vice in war that threatened the life
of civilization"
It IS an effort to impose upon the
credulity Of the new voters" declared
Captain Ford, who was here to-day al
ter making tour of eastern counties
and who found anonymous circulars
scattered broadcast attacking his per
sonal character However. I have as
surance from many of the splendid
women of the state that in making false
personal attacks against me That the
opposition has worStei itself. l nave
always courted the fullest investigation
into my public and private life. have
not been in Il Grafton school room for
several years before the German war
and have been unable to discover the
name of the school teacher referred 10.
but the statement is untrue.
Printed circulars with the name Graf
ton Ministerial Association, printed
thereon are being circulated by Demo
cratic campaigners against Captain
Ford.
+; In n statement made at Grafton on
: October -. Rev. Frederick G.. w. Ford.
retired minister of the Methodist
i Episcopal church, and the father OF Cap
+ tain Ford. says:
"A letter bearing date Oct 18th. l9-o,
and signed by the President and Score
tary of the Grafton Ministerial Associa-
, ton has just come 10 my attention. ThlS
letter contains statements OF a highly
damaging nature against the character
and conduct OF my son, George NJ Ford.
: late Captain Unity, A. T. +. France. and
now Republican candidate for state SUI
pcrintendcnt OF free schools.
Il am informed that this letter Is
based on statements made TO the asso-
ciation by Rev. Paul Flana gan. who as
serts that tho incidents took place In
my presence The statements contained
! In this letter are false. The Rev tlana-
gan and my son were never together III
nv presence but once. This was IN
/ May, 1917, over three years ago and
! some time prior 10 my sons departure
! for overseas duty with his command
! No such action or conduct as are detali-
: ed in the letter above referred 10 LOON
place on this OCCASION.
Another statement. signed by Rev
Ford and five other citizens Of Grafton
including four women. declares thet inc
accusations made against capt. Fore
vera raise ana the iniNISlff NhO
! them is liable To investigators. Inc
! second statement says;
The statement made by the Grafton
Ministerial association charging gross
; Immoral conduct OH the part OF George
NJ Ford, Republican candidate for stat
superintendent Of free schools, which
, they claim was made after careful con-
/ sidcration and in"cBtigation. was Ger
! tainly made without any investigation
, OF the circumstances.
we. the undersigned, were present
! NJ the home mentioned. which was in
. NAV. 1917, at the same time that TINS
, minister, the Rev. Paul Flanagan, was
, there. We unhesitatingly assert that
! the statements contained in the Minis
| tcrial association lrtter are false. Mr..
! Ford used no .unbecoming language. OF
Tered no insult TO any lady present. was
/ not In a drunken condition as described
! and did not have TO be relcEatcd to the
! cellar TO sober up
q we are Informed that this Same par
ttsan minister is himself liable to in
ycstigation before his conference FOR
! making statements In another case
which he cannot substantiatc."
! This latter statement is signed by H.
! r, Heffncr. Mrs l.. Rauscher. Miss Amy
! Rogers. Miss Alice Rogers. Frederick u.
| ". Ford and Mrs. Jacob \. Yates.