The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-07-09
The Elatfo rIn AS N
t Was Adopted

- a.
by Endorses tho platform and candi@
dates OF the NATIONAL convention, ut
Chicago. Taft aud Sherman are can
didates worthy of every good citizens
support, and well qualified for the
nigh Offices for which they have been.
named. We can indeed point With
pride TO the character. record and
peculiar fitness of MIR. Taft FOR presi.
dent. -<>.> >.>, n. ..... y, (.
We earnestly indorse the great adj
mtnistration Of Theodore Roosevelt.
There must be no halt in this splen-
do work; and we are happy to be-
lleve that 1t will be wisely, surely
and efficiently continued by William
Howard Taft, our honored nominee
for the presidency, whose triumphant
election we feel Is assured. @t- \
A large majority of>the citizens OF
thu state believe that the traffic In
intoxicating liquors is an evil and
q! desire to mitigate and eradicate the
evils Of such traffic as far as posi-,
BILE. But we recognize that there is
an honest difference OF opinion as
to which is the better method where
by this result may be obtained,
whether by statewide prohibition
through amendment to the constitu~
ton Of the state, or by what Is known
as local opinion through vote, OIL
the people in each county. Wo be-
l1eve that the people are capable of
fsettling- this question, and that thay
have the right to settle 1t. There
FORE. we favor the passage by the
| next legislature OF we'll considered
and an adequate local option law.
and also the submission to a vote
| Of the people Of an amendment tt
the constitution prohibiting the said
traffic. -. - Xxx !
The laborer is worthy OF his hire,
and he should receive q Just and ad-
eqGate share OF the wealth his labor
| creates. The working-man has an
undoubted right to organize to pro-
mote his welfare; and should be pro.
tected In the exercise of such right;
but all organizations, whether Of
laborers or of employers Of labor,
should be conditioned on right brip-
cip}es, and should be ebedient to
the rules or fright and Justice and to
the law. The boycott and the black
list are both evil conspirators, both
un-American, and both should be
prohibited by law We favor the en-
actment Of an employers liibality law
just. to the employer and employee.
| We heartily favor the proposition
to- establish q national X bureau OF
mines and mining, which will, among
other things, inquire into and II pos
sible ascertain the. cause Of accidents,
! in mines, And we favor the speedy
lenactment of all wise, Just ana ade-
quate laws which will safeguard the
health and lives of the workingInen
in our mines, as we'll as prevent the
great loss OF property which Secent
mine disasters have, caused in this
state and elsewhere In this country
We favor laws which will prevent
tHc coming iEto this state and in:o
this country of vicious, ignorant and
otherwise undesirable immigrants.
We favor what is known as the d.
rect primary election method, of
making nominations as substantially
incorporated in Senate Bill ia In
troduced at the last regular session
Of the legislature, whereby all can
didates of all political parties for the
elective Offices shall be nominated.
But az this will be a radical depar-
ture in this state, it may be wise to
leave the nomination of county tick
cts optional, as to whether by prI-
mary or other method, as the proper
party committee in the county May
determine. But in no event should
any primary be held except under
| state or pn1InfJr cffi ooTo op1 1,naor 4k,o
state laws governing elections, and
all regular primaries of all parties
should be held On the same date, fix
ed by statute.
i The republican party of West Vir-
ginia went before the people in the
/ year 1904 upon platform declaring
for reimbursement Of the burdens
Of taxation, the equalization of such
burdens, and the gradual reduction
on tangible property Of taxation for
state purposes. Never did a political
party promise with greater sincerity,
and never has political party fuMu-
ed It's promises with greater fidelity.
| without doing injustice to any per-
son Or interest great strides have
been made toward equalization of
taxation burdens. In 1904 the levy
for the taxes for state purposes was
thirty-five cents on the one hundred.
dollars Of assessed value. The levy
has been reduced gradually unit 1T
Is now but five cents on the hundred
dollars, and yet more money, has
gone into the general school fund
than ever before We stand by and
reiterate the platform of 1904. The
new tax laws should be perfected
and strengthened from time to time.
Not only must no backward steps be
taken in this great reform hut. O