The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-04-02
OUR STATE LAWS
CAN BE ENFORCED
If Proper Mode of Procedure IS Pursued by
Officials-Mark Earnest Sets Forth Facts in a
Clear and Concise Manner.

Editor Labor Argus:-In your
issue OF March 10th, you refer to
the Cincinnati Post" Interview of
Governor Dawson with very ap-
propriate comment thereon; YOU
point to an effective remedy to be
applied and, logically appeal to
the voters to apply the final re-
medy. I concur in all you have
said and heartily endorse your
statement as, / also do those of
Mr.. Andrew Roy but, with your
permission l will try to present
another phase of the problem dis
cuSsed, and the statements of our
Governor i. e: '"The cause gener-
ally speaking is the operators.
There is class which resists the
enforcement of the law. This Mr..
Editor; is an unusual confession.
The highest officer of the State
admits upon the face Of this state.
ment condition that is alarming.
How can our Governor explain to
the satisfaction of the people of this
state his attitude as chief executive
officer toward their confessed law
lessness. Where is his oath of Of
flee? In which he Solemnly prom
lsed to support the constitution of
the United States, and the consti-
tuition of the State of West Va.
1t there was not any other law
this solemn promise should be suf-
ficlent authority for him to firmly
enforce the law. The people, ex-
pect him to do so. There is ample
authority granted to the Governor
in Article VII of the constitution
of our State to relieve the state
from the stigma of lawlessness that
he admits4in his interview does ex-
lst. Sec s of Article VII reads as
follows: "The chief executive
power shall be vested in the Cover
nor, who shall take care that the
laws be faithfully executed.''
There is no heigher warrant of
authority ON our statute books
anywhere than the section quoted
above. 1t is a clause of the Or
ganlc law, and whose ever violates
1T is seriously in danger; and, to
him who has been selected to en-
force-ttake care''-that all our
laws are enforced it is Of supreme
Importance that he discharge his
duty, honestly, impartially, and
fearlessly. Another paragraph of
the same interview reports the
Governor as saying, "a certain
class of mine owners control news
papers just as they do prosecuting
attorney's.' 1t may be lawful for
"mine owners to own news papers,
would not deprive them any
of their rights nor, do I think
that any citizen would ask, or de-
sire the slightest injustice done
to our mine owneIs, or the smallest
obstruction offered to the legal en-
joyment of every private and cor
porate right to which they are en-
titled; but, when it comes to own
ing prosecuting attorneys no such
proprietorship is provided for in
the laws of the state. If his ex-
cellency does know whereof he
speaks the application of the writ
"Quo Warrant' to the mine owner
or corporation would seem to be
the proper order of the Governor
to the Attorney General and des-
barment proceedings against a
traitorous prosecuting attorney.
The Governor is himself an at
torney and does not need the sug-
sessions here made nor, are they
specifically intended for his per
sonal use. They are intended for
laymen like myself and some that
are less advantageously situated
who do not have access to infor-
nation to enable them to under
stand why the law is enforced
against them; and, is not enforced
against the men complained of by
the Governor: I append here a
recent opinion Of the state supreme
court in sustaining an action
brought to disbar prosecuting at
torney who was guilty of practices
identical with those named by the
Governor in his charges made in
the interview quoted.
Judge Robertson wrote the opin-
ion of the court which affirms the
lower court, and in ending says:
tThis commonwealth Is the out
growth of loyalty. integrity and
principle These qualities should
ever be maintained, for the honor