The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1904-06-07


and by the way he made his platform.
In other words he was creator and
creature alike, and the consequence was
disastrous.
It is the duty of an A i.rant for Office
to let the party know where be stands
as to party principles, but it Is not his
province to dictate TO the party what
those principles shall be. If the party
wants certain principles TO prevail, it is
obligatory upon him TO fully .ubscribe
70 those principles, not only if he gets
the nomination, but even If he aspires
to nomination.
It is well accepted all over this state
that tie leaders of the Republican party
in West Virginia met in conference and
defined the attitude of the party toward
certain public questions, and that agree
mcnt was made between leading candi-
dates for nomination and these leaders
that such and such should be the policy
Of the party in this state, and after
that it was the duty of those who want
the party nomination TO subscribe strict
" to that and carry it out to the letter.
Negligence to do this, or a breaking of
this agreement borders very much on the
ridiculous situation of the created being
sponsor for the creator.
Republican papers may not be bound
by any .ucn agreement. They may take
the position that they are free to say
what they please on political questions,
whether, what they do say innures to
the party's welfare or not, but from the
standpoint Of party success, they ought
to know full well that, whenever they
hold the party's nominees and policies
mp to ridicule, and decry the efforts Of
the leaders of the party at a happy
solution of internal difficulties and dis.
sensions, they are merely aiding
and abetting the enemy. Professed Re.
publican papers that usurp the rights OF
the party itself to form its own plat.
form and administer its policies assume
an egotism that is indicative of selfish
design and utter lack of forethought, to
say nothing Of party fealty, as well a.
confidence in their party to legislate
and govern FOR the best interests of the
people.
In the present contest in West yir.
GINA for the nomination of governor a
few over-zealous, but equally indisereet
papers have thrown the Republican party
aside in their personal preferences. They
seem to forget that Dawson can not
make laws. They also forget that Teter
can not make laws. They further for.
get that Dawson can not make the plat.
form, nor can Teter. The party itself
does that and it is the party itself that
has started movement to reform the
tax system in his state. Then, since il
is the party that is responsible for what
Is done along this line, why should they
undertake to say that either Dawson OF
reter is the aghts Why, make a
fight on men, and forget principles
Why place men above party? Why de.
ride one candidate and thereby insult
and drive away from the party the
support of his friends? Would not thu
more sensible plan be to let the party
itself make its platform and then nom
mate only such men as subscribe l.
that platforms And after they ar,
nominated he in position TO support
them with all your might.
This leads rs TO recall the course thai
some Of the rabid papers in Til, state
have pursued and are eth pursuing.
Take the Wheeling lnteIligeucer for in.
tanee. II has long been known as 4
Republican paper, but some months ago
It formed at least business associa-
ton with the Wheeling News. whose
leading spirit is Democratic to The core
Several papers in THE state at once de-
louneed it as a Democratic paper. In
other words they asserted it had Hoped.
and quickly following this m indepena.
ent paper in Wheeling announced that
it had concluded TO be Republican. At
the time the Telegram continued to
have perfect faith in the Intelligeneer
and thought the other paper awaited it.
self OF this change in the management
Of the lntelligenccr to get that papers
prestige in the Republican party. Lab.
oring under that impression the Tele.
gram went to the trouble to defend the
Inteiiigencer against the attacks made
on it, Repnblieauism, but Of late the
policy Of that paper leads TO the con
clusion that it is either very indisereet
in its eagerness not only to dictate tao
party nominee but also to write its plat
torn and map ont its policies, or is a
straight out and out Democratic paper;
especially are We constrained 10 this be.
lief after behclding the cartoon it con
tanned June 9, ridicuIing one OF the can
didaies for governor, one Who is largely
responsible for Republican sueees. IN
West Virginia, one who has helped