The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-05-16
THE GOVERNORS POSITION.

Because Governor Dawson refused
to saLction the appointment of demo
Gratis to al the positions in the West
Virginia building at the jamestown
Exposition, the Charleston News says.
In explanation of his attitude
toward the retirement of the two
jamestown Commissioners, who re-
signed, Governor Dawson on yester-
day gave the following statement to
the Charleston Mail.
L am governor Of this state, and
republican governor. / have ,ap-
pointed great many democrats to
various positions and have been
criticised for SO doing by my party
friends. I could not consent that
AL the persons around the West Vir-
GINA building should be- democrats,
had to insist that my own party
have fair show and be represent
ted
*'-*"Whether or not the appointment
or three persons to very inferior non
political positions, by a non-political
board Is sufficieIt warrant for
breach between the governor and
two highly respectable citizens must
sbe left largely to the sensibilities Of
those most directly involved.
The public must not, however,
be left with the impression that the
OFFENDING commissioners bethought
themselves that they were acting In
a political capacity. The pat onage
OF the Commission belonged to it,
and not in any sense to the Cover
nor. By all the rules of propriety he
was as much out of the calculations
as though the commissioners had de-
rived their power from an entirely
Inherent authority. The asseveration
that he Is the Governor Of the State
does not link to Mr.. Dawson any
power that belongs to others. The
fact that he is a republican Governor
does not touch the case at any point.
Those Of us who are republicans
believe In republican organization,
naturally desire that the places of
political preferment shall go to re-
publ1cans. That sense of fitness
amounts to more than desire; it is
demand. But it does not follow
indeed there Is quality Of indeli-
cacy in the uggestions-that poll
tics shall always and at all times
have the first significance"
1t Is all nonsense to say that the re
firing members Of the Commission
were not acting in a political capacity
when the appointments were made.
Their appointees presented no better
recommendations and exhibited no
greater fitness for the positions than
the republican applicants. In fact, the
Commission went over the head Of a
republican, applicant WHOSE expe.
rience in the position for which he an
piled was we'll known amp whose abil.
tty was unquestioned, and rendered the
place to democrat who had nothing
In particular to recommend him ex.
cept that he is q democrat. The gov
ernor, who is a republican, was in DOS
session Of this knowledge and to have
acted otherwise would have made him
a party to the deal which was so omen.
ly made by the retiring commission.
ers.
Republicans, who are really repub.
Leans; can see nothing to question in
the governors refusal to sanction the
deal OF two members of the commits
sion. He appointed the commission
and is responsible to the state and his
party for its acts, and the denial Of
the News Of his right Of supervision in
the division of the spoils but increas.
es the suspicion of the brand of re-
publicanism for which it stands. Not
since 1t passed into the hands of the
present management has it spoken a
word commencing any policy of the
state administration. Nothing that
Governor Dawson has proposed look
ing to the revision OF the tax laws