Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1905-01-24

Does Not Believe B.puoiicans VIII Long Retain
Poacer.

hon. n. q. Davis Il Hopeful.
Does Not Believe Bspsaohcans via Long Retain |
Posoer.
URGES A Rl'GISTRATION LAW.
Points out Evidence Of Illegal votins in West
Yirgtnjd-F dsors a Higher Tan on on
and Cas-
Especial to the Baltimore SUM-
Charleston. W. Va. Jan. I7.-Ex-Sen-
ator Henry G, Davis is expected to be
given the complimentary vote for Sena-
tor to be cast by the Democratic members
of the West Virginia Legislature.
An interview with Senator Davis was
given out tonight in which he reviews
the result of number of Presidential
contests, and hopefully says:
- The last election produced some very
unexpected results. but similar political
surprises have occurred before. 1t has
often happened. where political party
has met with pronounced success at Al
Presidential election. that it has been in
turn defeated at the next election by the
same party. and sometimes by the same
candidate. over which it had before been
successful.
During the "a years from 1872 to 1896
there We're six national elections, at
which the Democrats and Republicans
wer. alternately successful. History is.
apt to repeat itself. and circumstances
now unforeseen may bring Democratic
success at the next election. Democratic
principles are the same now that they
were in the days of Jefferson and Jack
son. They prevailed then and good gov
eminent resulted. They will prevail
again, if the party applies them fearless
ly and intelligently to public questions as
they arise.
The Republican party cannot hope to
remain with its present large majority of
he voters of the country. In govern
me Mt of the people like ours. it is to the
welfare of all that the two parties should
be nearly equally balanced. When this
is the case the party IN power is held to a
stricter accountability, abuses are more
easily corrected and the will of the peo-
pie more carefully observed"
Discussing West Virginia affairs. he
urges the enactment of registration law,
pointing out that IN 1902 the voters of
West Virginia. by large majority.
adopted constitutional amendment re-
curing the Legislature to pass registra-
ton law, but the Republicans have stead
lily refused to enact such law. Only
three other States-Indiana. New Hamp-
shire and Arkansas-are without rep1stra
ton laws, he says, but even Arkansas has
apoll tax qualification. In Westvirginia,
he states. 26.Io per cent. of the popula-
ton voted, as compared with 2I.23 per
cent. of the States of New York, New
Jersey. Massachusetts, Connecticut, Yer
mont. Ohio. Pennsylvania and Illinois.
He considers that this proves that many
fraudulent votes We're cast, which a reg
istration law would have prevented.
The result would have been 1850
less votes cast. and the chances are that
West Virginia would haye gone Demo-
cratic" he says. g According to the
census of 1900, West Virginia has 247, o7o
male population over FL years of age.
There were cast in the State at the recent
election 24o.275 votes, which is Of per
cent. OF the voting population. On the
same basis of calculation the vote in
Pennsylvania was 6s per cent. and in
Ohio Sc per cent. of the population
The expenses of the State Government
he notes. have nearly doubled in the last
eight years. For the four years from
1893 to 1896. under Democratic admins
tration. the State expenditure was So. 6o4-
ESQ. For the four years from 1901 to 1904
under Republican administration, it was
$5, Iss .696. an increase of So, 4ol ,4I6. or
92 per cent.
THE oil and gas produced pay an in
adequate tax and the State ought to get
a large revenue from this source he
says. Manufacturers in the State u.s.
ing and depending upon gas as fuel are
apprehensive lest the great quantity of
gas piped out of the State may soon ex-
haust the supply. Other manufacturing
plants would come into the State if thew
felt assured the gas would last"
He urges that the payment of poll tax
be made requisite for voting. He states
that. !" according to the last census. there
are about I S. 900 negroes over 81 wears of
age IN West Virginia, nearly all of whom
vote the Republican ticket and but few
OF whom-pay capitation or any other
taxes.