Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-08-11
LABOR'S SUGGESTIONS
To the Democratic Convention to re Held
Here This Week.


Here This Week.
To the Editor of the Register.
Wheeling. August 10.-The DINO
cratic STATE Convention. which meets n
cur city ON the 18th inst, prOmis 5 TO be
one of more than ordinary interest, for
.t must be admitted thay upon the wise
and iudicious action Of that body viii
tapend the future welfare OF the party
who have held the reins Of government
FOR so many years. X VII mark an
epoch in the history of the parry in this
State. and such being the case. perhaps
q few words or suggestions from the
writer as to the policy 10 be pursued
would not be amiss. The columns Of
the Register have been filed for the last
several weeks with eu,ogies of the DIFF
ferent candidates for the many offices,
all of whom no doubt are honorable. Up
right and we, worthy of the h0u0ls
thsy or their friends seek for them.
But what about the policy of he par
ty? VIVA, do they intend to DO to strive
TO better the condition of The toiling
masses. who for many years have been
looking in vain for some relief? VIII
ing miners OF this State that re,isf ircm
obnoxious rules and conditions which
to-day makes West Virginia tn subject
of contempt and condemnation rom
every section Of this great country? The
motto: "NOntani Semper liberi," is held
up TO ridicul5 and satire, Cor, grand as
those emb,ematic words are, the condi-
ton of lis masses gives falslty to its
meaning. Whilst laws have been passed
giving privileges to corporations and
capital. labor has besn the recipient of
but few measures that VOID mitigate
its burdens. and these few in most cases
have been declared unconstitutional by
our Judges. Can the Democratic party
go on in the course of the past? History
saws. NO" The people say, mo snd
e this convention is wise and desires
perpeuuity Of government it will act ac-
coriingly.
While ne Empire State. with its seven
million people on the one hand, ana
Utah. the Youngest accession TO our Sis
terhO0d of States. with its quarter mil
Ion population on the Other hand, are
making herculean efforts TO elevate aud
ameliorate the condition CT its poorer
classes by appropriate and humane leg
islaJion in every legitimate manner
W.st Virginia occupies The position of
almost uJJer indifference as regards the
condition Of her people. whose condition
is @ sure barometer Of the prosperity of
p p cOmm0uwelL TIE representatives
of Democracy must not be carried away
with the thought that free silver is the
only issue needed TO carry the party TO
victory: for while the writer is finn
believer i'm the free and unlimited coin
age of silver rs a national issCe. il cam
nOt alone bring to the Over-burd ned
to.lers of>th.s State that prosperity so
often promised and Just so often denied
without proper legislative action which
VIII rClieve the cumbersome letters
which bind the masses. How this is u
be done. the writer is pTesumpJu0us
enough TO suggest: nominate for those
b'sb positions. both in the executive
legislative and judicial branches men
who stand close to the people. men
Wlc- private interests are such that il
will not overcome their official honor
Take the labor laws of California. Colo
RADIO, Idaho Connecticut. Indiana, Kan
saS. Nebraska. Montana New York and
G score Of other States, and from them
formulate a platform or labor plank re-
ccgnizing the rights Of labor: go be-
fore the people with the earnesJness and
honesty Of purpose Of carrying out these
provisions and success will crown your
efforts. High plaUtudes of rejoric, or
pyr0seChnics Of oratOry will not fill the
stomachs Of those whose only capital is
their braun and muscle. and which s
kept in a deprecated condition by rea-
son O. inadequate laws 10 give it that
eNDansiOn thai is necessary to its pros
perity.
Trusting that the coming conventions
VII seriously consider this very import
ant question with all its attending bene-
fits in the proper spirit and with the