Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-06-03
A Few Words of Advice From a
Democrat.
, the Editnr of the Register.

To the Editor of the Register.
Clarksburg, w. Va. June I've be-
lieve there is not good reason why the
Democratic party should not carry west
Virginia by an increased majority this
fall. And in or6er to do so we should
make no mistakes. All its proceedings
should be harmonious and TO the end
that the party succeed. There is one
thing which may prove serious blum
der which can be avoided, and at the
same time every one may have different
views on the subject, will haYe every
opportunity to discuss the issues involv-
ed at the proper time and place. We
allude to the money question, affecting
the finances OF the nation, and upon
which there is an honest adversely OF
opinion. This issue, no doubt, must
be met, but it is problem which should
be discussed in the Democratic Nation
al Convention, where the views of the
party upon so important question
should be formulated and incorporated
in the national platform Of the party.
1t seems to us. at least, that there is no
necessity Of calling upon State, senator
ial or judicial conventions to express
any view upon this subject, either by
resolution, platform or otherwise, and
especially is it unwise to attempt at the
district primary conventions the selec
ton Of delegates to the county con-
ventiOn, naming delegates to the State
convention which have only certain
views on the money issue. This matter
is not State issue, and should be no
in hn iy,a nc ho
ness or the selection of candidate for
Governor or other State offices. But
the other day, in this county, gentle
man who is an aSpirant for Guberna-
tQrial hOnors, at district primary,
made a speech in which he announced
his views strongly as favoring the free,
unlimited coinage of silver, and his
friends urged upon the party the nee
essity of appointing delegates to the
county convention, which selects dele
gates 10 the State convention, with
pronounced views on the great polit-
ical issue. We believe, however, in
this county, that the Democrats met at
the respective district primaries for the
purpose OF selecting representative del
egates, who, when they come to send
men TO the State convention, will
choose such persons as delegates who
will voice the will of the Democracy,
and select for the Democratic Guberna-
torial standard bearer true Democrat,
possessing but three requisites, honesty,
qualification and firmness to the con-
stitution. And this is the test that
should be applied to all aspirants for
State office. So far as the State is con-
cerDed. nothing but State issues should
be involved, and to undertake in ad-
vance TO require from a candidate an
expression on the money question, a
collateral issue, would be tieing his
hands and giving his opponent on the
other ticket the decided advantage By
this means the cause of those who ia
vor either free silver or a gold stand
ard would not be in any wise preju-
diced, but the money question would
be eliminated from State politics and
removed TO the National Convention.
where the utterances of the party on
this great question would be finally
promulgated and settled by a national
issue. NJ