Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-04-02
The Legislature Most Important.

EDITOR REGISTER-It matters little
who executes the laws, but 1t matters
everything who makes the laws.
Tho habits, inclInations and minds of
men differ. Some think only Of max
ing money; others think much about
public questions, because approaching
the value of wise laws. A man past if
ty, il intelligent, is apt to think more
about the common welfare than when
younger.
The intellectual class, viz, the sort OF
men selected for a grand jury, seldom
think about the importance of having
honest brains in the Legislature till
shortly before the regular election in
November. In September the inteli-
gent class are thinking and talking
about public questions. and give atten-
ton TO the Legislature.
Our government is based on the idea
that every Legislature will contain
few men who are brainy, honest, stu
dlous and fearless. Such a man will
expose schemes TO rob the people.
GrafIers are afraid to propose corrupt
schemes il even one such man is pres
emit as a mem Der. The craftiest men who
ever lived invented machine politics to
keep honest brains out of the Legisla-
ture. There was not even one such
man in this last Legislature. There was
. not one honest member who had taken
the trouble to inform hi nSelf about this
State debt in which Virginia attorneys
are claiming thirty million dollars.
No Intelligent man can shut his eyes
to the fact that We are living today un.
der a government Of schemes and trusts
to plumber the public. Conditions grow
worse rapidly. Thirty years ago girl
seldom had to hire out if she had faith
er or brother. Students of public quss-
tions we'll know that we would not see
today this vast number of telephone,
store, factory and typewriter girls un-
less machine politics had shut brains
out of the Legislature.
The sort OF men who would be most
valuable TO the public in the Legisla-
ture seldom desire the place, but no
man has the legal or moral right to re-
fuse to render public service OF this
importance, and any man, who is real
" tt for the Legislature, will hesitate a
long time before refusing to serve the
people if requested by large number
OF such men as serve on grand jury.
Our next article will tell of some of
the schemes on foot. Our present OBJ
ject is to induce intelligent citizens TO
think and talk about the fact that some
unseen influence fooled the executive
committee into rushing the nomina-
tion for the House of Delegates. Ii was
all right TO give an early primary to
candidates for the money offices, if they
wanted it, but surely every thinking
man sees that a nomination for the Leg
islature ought 10 have been delayed till
the intelligent class was giving atten-
ton to its Importance. 1t is safe TO say
that a majority Of the com mittee would
have voted for each precinct TO elect
delegates 10 county convention to be
held ia September to nominate for the
Legislature. But this did not suit
grafters, and there was no member of
the committee aggressive TO force a
hearing. The committee did not sus-
pect that an unseen influence had man.
ipulated this matter.
What shall the intelligent class do !?
We have two men unusually well quail :
fed for this place. Both are such men
as grand jury would select to suggest
and frame honest laws. Both native
born; neither truckers to grafters; both,
the sort grsfters try to keep out. 1t
will be personal sacrifice for either TO
serve. Both are the sort who will hest
tate long time before refusing If re-
ouested by the intelligent class to rem
der this public service. There was not
enc such man, as either OF them, in this
last Legislature. One is T. c. Green
and the other b. D. Gibson. The rem
edy fer this desperate situation 10 for
the more intelligent citizens, in each
part Of Ihe county, to Immediately sign
(. paper, addressed to Green and Gibson,
demanding that one of chem consents
TO render this important public service.
Orators and attorneys for trusts will
not dare TO openly oppose candidate
who comes out at the request OF all the
honest brains in the county. Either of
these men in the next Legislature will
be worth to voters millions Of dollars.
j. NJ. MASON.
ITO be continued in next issue.)
March u, 1908.