Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-04-16
The Importance Of the Legislature.
By J. M. MASON.

In 1859 three yousg men IN the South
were drinking champagne in the SHADE
while watching slaves working in the
hot sun. The slaves did not vote for
men to make laws. Today, the Pier
pont Morgan class drink cham payne in
the shade while voters work in the sun,
while their daughters are hired out as
factory girls, store girls, telephone
girls and typewriters. La Toilette has
figured that one hundred OF the Morgan
class now receive nearly one-third Of the
profit Of labor. A man slave Melted his
owner on the average "a, 900 during his
forty years of robust manhood. Today,
the average voter, with daughters hired
out. does not accumulate $500 for old
age. In West Virginia he pays S25 OF
taxes each year. II he has property he
paws more. The masses have five hun
dred votes to one vote OF the Morgan
class. Our government is based on the
theory that laws will be made by men
selected by the most intelligent voters.
Today, the average voter has no more
voice in selecting law makers than
slaves had.
The present system OF machine pol
itics was devised by men, hired by the
Morgan class, and was devised to shut
out from the Legislature such men as
would force a hearing for truth and
make honest laws.
Three. fourths of present voters, hav-
Ing grown up under this system Of ma
chine politics, know nothing OF the con-
ditions existing fifty years ago, when
the average voter was able to raise his
family without his daughters being
hired out.
Less than thirty years ago, an indie
pendent candidate for the Legislature
was invariably elected whenever the
trickstefs in both parties had nominated
men who would betray the people be-
cause corrupt or because ignorant.
This independent candidate would in
sist on Joint debate. II a legislative
candidate declined debate he was al
ways defeated. Machine politics for
bids Joint DEBATE. Let voters consider
why Joint debate is forbid.
or course ali see that, if large pro-
portion of the most intelligent class,
without regard TO party, ask man to
run independent for the Legislature,
his name, marked independent. ought
TO be printed on every ballot. Then 4
voter would strike him off unless he
wished to vote for him. Venal brains,
hired by the Morgan class, wrote our
election law, which forbids printing the
name Of an independent on any ballot.
Not one voter In one hundred will take
the trouble to write out the name Of
man on his ticket. Let voters consider
that there was not even one man in
this Legislature with courage and hon
esty to expose this nefarious trick. Our
present law is based en- the expectation
that the managers Of machine politics
will precipitate nominations for legis
lative office six months before the in
telligeEt class begin to think OF the i'm
portance Of selecting honest brains to
make laws. This whole scheme Of ma
chine politics is designed to shut out
from the Legislature such men as would
be most valuable to voters. OF course,
most of those active in local politics do
not suspect that they are mere puppets,
as to legislative office, in the hands Of
some unseen manager who is thinking
only of shutting honest brains out Of
the Legislature.
Let voters consider that State officials
have maintained a graveyard silence
about the debt suit now pending, and
yet the last Legislature took $4,000 out
of the State treasury for State officials
to spend. Let voters consider that, if
this last Legislature had had even one
such man as Green or Gibson, this State
would be safe except for the amount
Virginia expended for roads, &c, with
in our limits, and any man who is hon.
est is willing to pay that amount. Let
voters consider that State officials are
so managing as to conceal the terrible
truth from voters till another Leglsla-
turs, like this last one, has been elected
Let voters consider that few years
ago the certificates could not be sold
for five cents on the dollar, and last
Saturday they sold at thirty. Wetzel
did not open his mouth about this debt.
Campbell offered resolution appoint
ing ten such men as John j. Davis to
manage it. Wetzell went with the
grafters to defeat it. Will Wetzell
meet the writer in joint debate? Ii not,
why noti There are fifteen million
certificates. Any free schoolboy of if
teen can figure the profit OF fifteen mil
huns az i've setIIeu a. tnirIy' Inc WIZ
er doubts if newspapers will give more
space fer purely public matter. Let
voters consider that every CRATER is
against men like Bryan, LaFollette,
Tillman, Roosevelt and Taft. In reply
to letters, the writer says that, he be-
lieves that Bryan is the first choice of
the most intelligent who are thinking
only Of the public welfare, and as be-
tween Gray, Johnson and Taft, they
are for Taft.
ITO be continued)