Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-03-31
The Legislature Most important.

but it matters everything who makes the
laws.
The habits, inclinations and minds of
men differ. Some think only of making
money: others think much about public
questions because appreciating the value
of wise laws. A man past fifty, if intel
ligent. 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 Importance of having honest
brains in the Legislature till shortly be-
fore the regular election IN November
In September the intelligent class are
thinking and talking about public ques-
tons. and give attention to the legisla.
ture.
Our government is based on the idea
that every Legislature will contain few
men who are brainy. stadious and fear
less. Such men will explain matters to
those dispoted to do right. but lack infor.
nation. and he will expose schemes to rob
the people. Grafters are afraid to propose
corrupt schemes if even one such man is
present as member. The craftiest men
who ever lived invented machine politics
to keep honest brains out of the legisla
lature. There was not even one such
man in this last legislature. There was
not one honest member who had taken
the trouble to inform himself about this
state debt suit in which Virginia attor
reys are claiming thirty million dollars
No intelligent man can shut his eyes te
the fact that we are living today under g
government of schemes and trusts tt
plumber the public. Conditions grow
worse rapidly. Thirty years ago cir
seldom had to hire out if she had father
or brother. Students of public question:
well know that we would not see toda,
this vast number of telephone. store. fac
tory and typewriter girls unless machine
politics had shut honest brains out of the
legislature.
The sort of men who would be mos
valuable to the public in the Legislature
seldom desire the place. but no man ha.
the legal or moral right to refuse to rem
der public service of this Importance
and any man who is really fit for the
Legislature will hesitate a long time
before refusing to serve the people if re
quested by large number of such mer
as serve on grand Jury.
Our next article will tell of some cf the
schemes on foot. Our present object i.
to induce intelligent citizens to think ant
talk about the fact that some unseen in
fuence fooled the Executive Committe,
into rushing the nomination for the Hous.
of delegates. 1t was all right to give ar
early primary to candidates for the man,
offices. if they wanted 1t. but surely every
thinking man sees that nomination fol
the legislature ought to have been de
layed till the intelligent class was giving
attention to its Importance. 1t is safe te
say that majority of the Committee
would have voted for each precinct tc
elect delegates to a county convention tc
be held IN September to nominate for the
legislature. But this did not suit grafters
and there was no member of the Com
mittee aggressive enough to force he r
ing. The Committee did not suspect
that an unseen Influence had manpula-
ted 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
aud frame honest laws. Both native
born, neither schemers. neither truckers
to grafters; both the sort grafters try to
keep out. 1t will be personal sacrifice
for either TO serve. Both are the sort
who will hesitate long time before re-
tusing if requested by the intelligent class
to render this public service. There was
not one such man as either of them, in
this last legislature. One is T. e. Green
and the other B. D. Gibson. The remedy
for this desperate situation is for the more
intelligent citizens, IN each part of the
county. to Immediately sign paper ad-
dressed to Green and Gibson. demanding
that one of them consents to render this
important public service. Grafters and
attorneys for trusts will not dare to open
ly oppose a 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. TO be continued IN next issue.
NJ. MASON.