The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-02-07
PRIMARY.
Bill Is Considered
Is Opposed by Republicans
Who Say They Fear Negro
Domination i'm Certain
Counties

!
The direct primary bill, introduced
by John T. Cooper, Of Wood county,
came up for, it's SECOND reading in the
house Friday morning and after a.
long discussion was made a special
order OF business for 10 o'clock
Monday morning, when those on
posed to the bill expect to safely tuck
IL away In the cold, cold ground.
Mr.. Cooper's bill is a radical de-
parture from the present mode of
nom mating candidates for the va
rlous offices. 1t is a voluminous af-
falr containing 20 sections and ia
patterned after direct primary laws
now IN force In several of the states
IN the north and west. A direct pri-
mary law was advocated by Cover
nor lawson IN his biennial message
20 the legislature but there,is a large
opposition to the bill comm. from
the southern tier of counties who
| claim that 1t would mean their elm
| nation from politics owing to the
large number Of coIored voters in the
southern portion Of the state
T. on motion of Mr.. Cooper, Thurs
| day. the bill was made a sbeciai or Or
DER or business for 10 O'Clock FRIDAY
morning and accordingly it was TAX
en- ND Immediately after the house
| convened. Several amendments
| were offered to the bill and defeated.
Judge Evans OF Mingo county, one
| or the counties that would be affect
ed by the bill, offered an amendment
That would exclude all the counties
| south OF the KanaWha river but the
amendment was lost.
! The Mingo delegate denounced in
Iiery terms the bill as an ATTEMPT TO
| depose the representatives of those
| counties south Of the Kanawha riv-
er from the fiGld Of politics. He in
Guided In this list Mingo, Mcdowell,
Mercer, Fayette, Wyoming and Ka-
naWha counties and appealed to the
| delegates to adopt the amendment
and he would then favor the bill, but
IN its present shape, he thought the
Dill would be voted down.
Mr.. Jacobs Of Marion county, stat
| ed that he could not vote for the
amendment as he was not in favor
or DISTINGUISHING the voters Of that
| section Of the state named by Mr.. Ev-
! ans. Mr., Staunton believed the bill
as offered by Mr.. Cooper to be meri-
torlous and worthy Of the support
" |hO uSiCSdISS SOuIn OF the Kama
VIVA river, as he thought they would
profit by 1t. He said 1t. seemed to
MIN that 1T was a publication of the
ballot and should give universal sat
lsfaction.
The kanaWha. delegates were d.
vlded on the bill, Mr.. Massey oppos-
ng the adoption Of the measure be-
cause Of the extra expense that was
incurred by the county. He cited that
the last primary held in the county
u KanaWha was fair and was proof
mat fair primary could be held un-
der the old law. Mr. Roach, also
rom Kanawha county denounced the
Oil and said it would not apply in
ne mining counties Of the state to-
ward the advancement Of the repub-
ticau party. He said the best proof
nat could be offered that the bill
vas wrong because the democrats
we're arrayed behind the bill and
we're in favor Of its passage He was
followed by Mr.. Kuykendall, the
democratic delegate from the county
II hampshire, who stated that he
vas in accord with Mr. Roach on
his Dill and asked the democratic
delegates to vote against the bill. He
said there was limitation on the
Counties Of the state at the present
line and understood there would be
mother measure to be passed that
you'd further affect counties in
he matter Of expenditures. Mr.. In
ram spoke In favor Of the bill.