The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-09-20
4 QUEER ATTITUDE.

on the matter at issue between II and
thu. State Journal as to who shall run
the Republican party of West Virginia
by saying 1--WE can not make up our
minds that the people-the masses-
care a great deal as to who shall rule"
If this is the correct attitude to oc-
cupy then there should be no RepubIi.
can party. The whole object of a
Republican form of government Is to
enable the people to decide who shall
rule. II is certainly rather late in
the day in this country to advance the
idea that they do not care. The West
ylrginian has probably never heard
Of the American revolution or does
not have the most remote idea what
1t was all about. AS to the carrying
out of principles. an absolute monar-
chy CANDID that Just as easily and per.
haps more SO than a Republican form
of government. For instance, the
1.-TWO hobbies of the West yirginian
could be realized Just as well in Rus.
sia. II the government desired TO do
so as in the United States. In fact
Russia could have a protective tariff
and the gold standard more effectively
than this country can. No doubt the
West virginian never thought of this
before and 1t is perhaps well for 1t
to ponder on the differences between
our form of government and those Of
other countries.-Parkersburg State
Journal.
The esteemed State Journal views
things as they should be, not Is they
areI We do not know how It is in
Wood and other counties, butswe know
how It is in Marion and neighboring'
counties. We know that the work
of all political campaigns depends
upon a few individuals, and that such
individuals, in order to get others in
terested, have to pay them in most
cases for the time they may be en-.
gagged. AS W stated the other day,
men who are regarded as good citi-
zens have been known to go to the
polls and yet decline to vote because
they could not get pay for 1t. Others
in the best Of standing have been
known to exact pay for a days work
before they would consent to go to
the polls to vote. Now all this goes
to show, we think, that the people
generally are not concerned to the ex-
tent that the State Journal thinks
they are as to who may hold the Off
ces and compose the executive COM
mittees. We are aware that the OBJ
ject Of our form of government is to
enable the people to decide who shall
rule, but the trouble is and always
has been that the people confine them
selves to their vocations and give the
politicians a clear field. This may be
right in view of the fact that the lat
ter usually get the offices and usu-
fruct. Fortunately for the people and
country the politicians are mainly
men of character and ability, and be-
ing so recognized 1t is not hard to see
why they are at the fore in all po-
litical movements. The politicians
are here to stay. They are indis-
%pensable. When they are gone the
country will be gone.
While this is the attitude Of the
West Virginian, yet 1t sees the need
of the Republican party-the party of
Lincoln, Grant, Mckinley and Roose-
welt. The country would soon go to
the dogs without such a party. 1t
would be of but little consequence
to-day If there had not been a Repub-
lican party. Unlike the Democratic
party. 1t is the party that does things.
Having done much it may be relied
hpon to do more. Look how u State
has prospered since 1t became Repub-
lican, and think of the benefits that
are about to come to the people
through Republican taX.reform legisla-
ton. The Hn'Ast virginian, If it
could have its way, might parcel out
the Offices differently from what they
are, and might also make some
changes in the State executive COM
mittee. In doing so it would in all
probability seek the advice of the
talented editor of the State Journal.
and yet after our work should be fin.
ished it would no doubt be objection
able to some If not many Of our
brethren.
While the State Journal would
change the order of things, yet we be.
lieve the majority of our party is sat.
isied and will say let well enough
alone. and until the Parkersburg or.
gan convinces us hat we are wrong