The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-29
.FAVORS STATE
VIDE PRIMARY
GovERNoR.ELEcT AL so WANTS
PROHIBITION AMENDMENT
SUBMITTED TO VOTE OF
THE PEOPLE.


.MoRGANTowN, Dec. 2s.-rn an
swer To a question from newspaper
man Govemor-elect GIusscock ex-
pressed himself emphatttalIy in favor
CT tle enactment Of statewide prt-
mary law by the approaching session
of the Legislature. He holds that
the new law should be one which
will put the selection OF candidates
for all State, congressional. fegisla-
tive and county Offices in Tie hands
of the voters. and ne wants W;st VAR
GINA ito have primary election law
no less complete and adequate than
those of the most progressive States
of the Union Mr.. GtassCock sug-
gests that it might facilitate the psr.
fection and passage o! a we'll cons'd-
cred measure II the matter were re-
ferred by the legislature to a sptcial
joint committee OF the Senate and
House, instead OF referring all the
primary bills That may ne offered to
the regular committees On elections.
Such n special committee could give
mnCh time to the consideration OF
tns all-im~""taut subject. conld en-
airline T~I compare the Ideas sub
m!tted in the N;rious bills. and could
give he"r 'rgs to all who might have
suggestfcns to Offer The bill rs agreed
upon by the point committee could be
reported for consideration in both
houses early enough i'm the session to
have its provisions and the questions
involved thoroughly thresned out in
debate and in the state press.
"one Of the points at which the
Cooper bill of last session fails to
meet the requirements OF an IDEAL
primary law" sid Mr.. Glasscock, SIS
that it's operation might result IN the
nuHo'natfon of candidate for State
Office, or for the United Strtrs Srn-
ste, by a comparatively snail Tract;
OF the party vote. It seems 10 1r'e
that the Legislature should consider
carefully the possibility Of dewsIng
some remedy for this defect. You
may say. however, that the people Of
the state expect the Legislature to en-.
act q primary law. They have been
promised such a lc,w in the Republi-
can platform, and do not believe
there will be any disposition on the
part of the law-makers to go back
on the promises which have been
made in the State conventions of
both parties.
Eyes, expect to, be in Charleston
during the greater part of the SEES
sion of the legislature said the gov
ernor-elect, There are several mat
tiers to come up in which feel n very
deep interest. For instance | am anxi-
GUS that the party carry out to the
letter its prntform pledges for the
enactment of county local option law
and the submission of a prohibition
amendment to the people for rattt!ca-
ton or rejection at the ne%t general
election. regard 1t as important for
tine party to carry out tho entire pro-
gramme OF our platform in this re-
spect, and 1 will work as earnestly for
tae enactment of the county local OPP
tlon law as for the amendment sub
mission proposition.
mo, am not taking any part in
the contests over the, organization
of either house." said Mr., Giasscock
in answer to a question. a am not
likely to do SO except in one event. 1
certainly would use whatever influ-
enCe l might have to prevent either
house from being organized in hostil-
ity to the prohibition amendment or
any other platform pledge OF the Re-
publican party"