The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-07-26
THE USE OF MONEY IN THE
PRIMARIES

col. Samuel 4. Montgomery adds fur
ths- 10 the guocrnatorial contest by
Sing n bill calling for the Investigation
II The expenditures by Judge Morgan
and mis- associates in the recent primary,
The Allegations OF Col. MONTGOMERY IN
volye a serious inrraction OF the corrupt
practice act in This state. as we'll as the
state primary election law. In this con-
rection IL Is Is only fair 70 say that tho
corrupt practice act IN West virginia
has become dead letter honored by no
one. and observed practically oy n" one,
The late VIM. q. Brown. Democratic
CONGRESSMAN from the Second District
IN the first bin OF expenditures which
he reported after his election 20 Con
grcss. reported a sum far in excess or
the amount allowed for Congressman
10 expead under the corrupt practice
act, and no serious note was taken or
tha fact, either by tho state authorities.
or by the HOUSE OF Representatives. Tho
law itself Is 80 crudely drawn and so
uncertain that no one knows for what
purpose money may be spent. or BY
whom it may be spent. Apparently II
was intended 70 he a concession on it's
face 10 tho moral opinion OF the state.
and at the same time to furnish loop
holes FOR any expenditures which a can
didate mi ght consider necessary. While
The Inteliigencer makes no answer TO
any OF Mr.. Montgomery's charges. and
does not profess TO know the foundation
upon which they ave based. u believes 81
II fair, and only fair. not only 70 Judge
Morgan. but TO every other candidate,
10 call attention 20 th~se weaknesses OF
the corrupt practice act.
In this connection We may again refer
20 the campaign OF c. W. Watson for the
Cnited States Senate In 1918. both in the
primary and IN tho election. We be-
Neve that II would be easy to prove that
Mr. watson. In the county Of Ohio alone.
spent, or caused 20 bn spent. moro money
both In the primary md in the election
than the corrupt practice act contem-
plated. and tho expenditures by his
agents throughout the state would *
coed twenty times the amount that the
corrupt practices act contemplated
Whatever the otTense ~ Judge Morgan
and his associates. IN this particular
case, they vera not The sole Offenders
nor were all the ofTenses limited 70 one
party.
It is true that the expenditures NJ
money has become a scandal IN the poll
tics Of this state. and sooner or later
such scandal Is bound 20 result hurt
FULLY - thcsc involved IN it. bur Our
ci'izpns should not he deceived Judgs
Morgan did not initiate tina lavish use
Of money In primaries and elections
In fact We doubt II Judge Morgan
himself has had any definite knowled 20
Of the largo sums alleged IN have been
expended In various counties by those
friendly 70 his interests and e rrtm-
!nal Investigations are 10 he made. 4,
KIT be well 70 go hack and include In
ve<tigations OF other campo! Ens with
that ~ 1920
7, dosa not help much for the rot 20
cali the kettle black. hut certainly II Il
not fair 20 an Individual candidate -
pilcry him alone for conditions which
n did not create himself and which are
in Themselves the legitimate result OF
an unwise primary law forced upon ,he
citizenship ~ the Sta'e =, "A lot % noisy
demagOgS