The Political Exoneration of H. J. Snively
After facing accusations of financial misconduct in West Virginia, Democratic gubernatorial candidate H. J. Snively presents a stack of affidavits to clear his name in a massive Seattle rally.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The reception given to H. J. Snively in Seattle was without parallel in the history of the state. Snively told the audience how he had worked as a plasterer to educate himself, how he failed in business, and how he came west to rebuild his fortune. He read affidavits from West Virginia, including one from Mrs. Fallon, demonstrating that the charges of forgery and swindling brought by political opponents were manufactured to aid his opponent, McGraw. Affidavits from Grafton, West Virginia, further detailed how political agents had attempted to forge statements in his name. Following his speech, the Seattle audience responded with a massive demonstration of support, with many former political opponents pledging their backing to his campaign.
“The charges against Snively have been shown to have been manufactured as desperate means of saving McGraw.”
This story highlights the volatile nature of 1890s political campaigning, where 'opposition research' often relied on securing questionable affidavits from a candidate's hometown. It serves as a reminder that the use of manufactured scandal to derail opponents is a tactic as old as the state itself.
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