Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-20

But the State Committee Must at
Once Get Together and Lay the
Foundation tor the Campaign.
The Clear Cut Views Of Hon.
Stewart L. Walker on the Situa-
ton and Outlook.
While in the city last week Hon.
Stewart L. Walker, of Martinsburg, was
asked by representative of the Reg
lister for his views upon the political
conditions and prospects for Demo-
cratic success in West Virginia, and in
reply he said:
THE conditions are exceptionally
favorable, and if the Democracy will
but enter the fight with the energy
which is demanded, and which should
obtain without trouble, there will be
no doubt of the result. We can and
will gain a great victory this fall-but
half-hearted campaigning and a per.
sistence in a policy of delay on the
part of the State Committee will not
bring about the best results. The
Democratic State Committee should
have met long ago, as there are welghty
matters which demand attention. 1t
should meet at once, plan Of campaign
should be formulated, and we should
len march to the victory | am con-
WINGED awaits us. To daily with the
situation will be to invite inevitable
defeat-to act is to achieve success.
The time is opportune for the Democ
racy, and we were never SO we'll equip
ped with effective ammunition for an
aggressive fight. The Republican
State administration has piled blunder
upon blunder, until the structure is
ready to topple to its fall. Governor
Atkinson has been a heavy load for the
Republican party to carry, and there
is disgust and dissension everywhere.
In some sections of the State the party
is almost in open revolt, while general
dissatisfaction and disappointment is
to be noted everywhere. The Register
should at once urge immediate and de-
cisive action by the State Committee
of our party, and that done, results
will be achieved which will be emf
nently satisfactory. AS to the Legis-
lature, | have no shadow of doubt but
that we can elect very considerable
majority of the House of Delegates
possibly enough to command the Leg
islature on joint ballot. At least We
can block Republican legislation and
tie the hands of that party and render
further mischievous legislation impos-
sible.
''As for the Second Congressional
district, l firmly believe a proper Demo-
cratic nomination wild result in the de-
candidate of his party again. There
are very favorable reports from the
other ngressional districts as well.
In my end of the State the party is pre-
pared to take an aggressive position
but we seek and must have action at
the hands of the State Committee, par
ticularly in the matter of the unconsti-
tutional action of the last Legislature in
giving Morgan county a delegate, in
direct defiance of the Constitution Of
the State, which explicitly says that
the State shall not be redistricted for
Legislative purposes save once in ten
years, after the taking of the census.
Steps must also be taken to declare
vacant the seat of Senator Getzendan-
ner, who not only holds another civil
position, but who in addition has been
made a commissioned officer in the
army That will give us two Senators
to elect and we can elect them both.
The Republican Legislature had no
legal pretext for action in the Morgan
county matter, and should be brought
up with a round turn, yet SO far our
State Committee has done nothing, even
IN the lace OF cOnSlCerdDle pressure
Any further delay will be tacit submits
sion to unconstitutional Republican
legislation.
From all parts of the State I hear
reports OF Republican dissatisfaction
and discomfort, and the situation grows
worse for that party instead Of better.
The time is ripe for the Democracy
by energetic action, to come into
its own again, and 1 sincerely hope
that from this time on there will be
prompt action and determination to
take advantage of the opportunity
which presents itself"