The Washington herald., 1908-08-03
AT THE HOTELS.


Judge y. N Mason. Of charlestown.
". Va who IS at La Nornandle
Hotel, discussing the Virginia debt, which
Is one OF the nest important political IS
sues in the West Virginia elections. said
yesterday that the Virginia debt suit
ought to be managed by a nonpartisan
and nonpoIiticai commission Of high
minded. honorable. and courageous men.
Tt should be a body Independent Of
state officials. said the eminent jurist,
without motive except the States in
terest. and which viii give the public
fun Information promptly and without
regard 10 political effect Il should have
the power 10 perform any act 10 protect
the state without committing IL until
the legislature has acted after all the facts
have been published
A matter Of this character should bs
conducted with publicity. and not secrecy
Although suit was brought thirty-three
months ago. and state officials have had
clerks in Richmond since early in March
collecting data and although these fig
ures viii not be furnished to the master
until one week after the election. tho
certificates have been quoted in Wall
street az % per cent Yet the public IS
not only strangely ignorant as 70 the
situation which really exists. but popu-
ilar delUsion has been created that West
Virginia is not in danger. and this de-
lusion exists, although the few facts
which have come 10 light are conclusive
that the situation IS appalling. and that
unless a remedy IS Immediately found
the court VIII bring West Virginia IN
debt for many million dollars greater
than the amount Virginia spent for roads.
&c. within her limits. and many nil
IT, r-s-Hr
separated West Virginia from Virginia
intended her 20 assume
"A proper commission should be ap-
pointed. which, II it did nothing else,
should publish the facts and take such
I action as VIII prevent any money from
being taken from the taxpayers pockets
except the amount which went directly
into the pockets Of the persons having
a just demand on West Virginia
The secret joint session Of the two
houses. called by the governor on Feb
rUary 1s, 1SoS. 10 consider the Virginia
debt. was a gross, fragrant. and Uupre-
cedented violation OF the basic prin-
cipls On which our political system de-
pends- Our republican government is
! gone II they tolerate a proposition that
J members OF legislature may conceal
: from constituents information given 70
them by State officials about q public
matter ike this debt suit
Al citizens, regardless Of party. should
aid 70 defeat any candidate for the next
Legislature who does not promptly make
7 explicit public pledge that i elected he
: VIII vote for such a commission IS was
Z defeated in the Senate On January .,
I 1917
Jerry 3. Ryers, Of Chanute, Kans-, who
! IS Al the New Willard said yesterday
, that Senator Long. who. perhaps. has
, made the most remarkable campaign
r. ever put UP in Kansas. IS certain that
S his victory. which he feels sure of
7 to-day. VII be due in q large measure
: to his auto trips through the country
: and his addresses 70 the people Il the
: small towns
2 Speaking OF automobiles IN politics. M
? Ryers, who is interested il the -four mill
\ ing and cattle business n Chanute, said.
0 There IS nothing like q buzz wagon
2 as z vote getteT Auto fe1ds who are
4 not looking for votes care not what be
: comes OF 9 farmer and MS f-actiols team.
Z But candidates do. and the contrast is 50
2 noticeable that the farmer wants 70 show
his gratitude and promises right there on
the spot 10 DO everything he can in h-s
ileiEhborhOod fc- the candidate.
In county campaign a buzz wagon
4 is almost indispensable L enables q car
di6ate 70 make house TO house canvass
and cover four times as much ground as
he could with q horse and buggy. Then
aa auto lends dignity 20 the game Il
2 sweIls q hired hand. or a laborer. and
e in most cases a farmer, all Up . have
: 4 big auto stop at HIS house O. IN his
IS field while the candidate talks politics.
: Il makes him think he IS an important
.a cog IN the political wheel
!, Frequently the candidate viii take the
y women and children fo- short ride and
! that IS sure 10 cIinch things ar that house
i hold Under the old system Of county
3 convention It wasn't necessary for the
& candidates 70 get around much He
l. would depend upon the leaders IN vari-
= Gus townships. But under the primary
= law everybody Is a leader so he must
: see them all That's where the auto
comes IN handy. IN one county in South
e ern Kansas. one candidate has covered his
% county four times. and has talked Will
70 every voter Without an auto he coul5n' Z
n have seen one-fOurth Of them"
Realizing that crime in many instances
E. IS the result Of early environment. which
made the criminal what he is the Danish
- government takes q paJerraI interest II
d those who are brought within the charge
= OF the prison authorities" said Eric Her
= land. a lumber merchant Of Traverse
IS City. Mich. at the Ebbitt last night 0Ir.
& Herland has been on a visit to his native
g land, Denmark. and IS going back by easy
= stages 10 his Michigan home
-e Denmark still possesses IN the heaths
r of Jutlsnd a large Urdeveloped territory
q that requires much labor 20 make II suit
g abFe for agricultural purposes continued
ie Mr.. Herland- "Of late years. however
many farms have begun 70 dot this Jut-
= land landscape Through persistent e.
= forts. trees are nov in evidence where
= formerly the heaths were barren except
: for unbroElen stretches Of ling Acres q
: grain bearing soil have replaced the
= tough underground that was good 70,
:, nothing but the torch.
+ The work Of reclaiming the Danish
- heaths has been accomplished largely
Ie through the cooperation Of the Danis-
d prison authorities and individuals WHO
" wished to embark in farming on theil
sy own account and had no means Of buy
N Ing ground IN such Instances every in
:" dUcement Is offered the agriculturist tC
become the owner Of a plot OF ground
on the heath. For him 70 break I'd tht
earth single-handed and start bushes,
would be a physical impossibiIity- It Il
$ here the prisoners step in and do tbs
n preliminary work
- "A freedom which VIII rot infringe OF
n the regulations necessary TO keep Up dis
,-TrTT~-- Fu Frz-15 Frr 4r-- vs-feo-.--