The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-07-31

- fetfeAAe@tAk I1NNGNANANlAEr NEl
where and when did they ever hayf
i, except When the disaster brought
BY their policies, depleted the publI,
treasury to such an extent ina
scarcely enough remained therein Y
nave any sort of government, much
less an efficient one. They charge
waste OF funds. yet their own poIicIe,
were such as impoverished the Deo.
Pile to such an extent that they were
not enabled to have a decent amount
OF public funds, and many OF them
did not have even private funds.
Uenunciation OF the present mininp
laws and the Republican party In this
respect Is hollow mockery. The laws
are not as sufficient as they shouId ba
but they compare favorably with
those OF other mining states, and an
earnest, conscientious effort is being
exerted by the Republican party ID
make such revisions as will provide
greater safety. The trainers of thai
plank in the Democratic platform. n
they keep up with the times In the
slightest, must surely know that there
is earnest advocacy on the part of the
Republican party, Its leaders, its
newspapers, its rank and file, to have
the best mining laws possible. Even
the recent mining institute formed
here ought to be sufficient TO con-
vince them Of that. But, have the
Democrats offered any thing along
this line that commends itself? II
so, name It. They just simply slip
ped that plank in as a platitude, but
the people will not be deceived.
The convention overlooked the fact
that Adam Littlepage in a speech
here took exceptions to Governor
Dawson's watchfulness OF the state
treasury to see that ends always meet
and that expenditures are not made.
without funds to cover them. Over
looking this, they wilfully charge ex-
travagance and misapplicatlon of
funds. They even forgot the Chiffon
record, which is matter OF common
history.
Jealous in the protection, preser-
walton and economic conduct OF our
state institutions, regularly ap-
pointed committee has been commits
stoned to inspect and examine these
institutions. This committee has been
engaged in painstaking, intelligent
inspection and examination, and vet
the Democratic platform heaps cen
sure on the state administration and
the Republican party in reference to
these institutions. The existence of
the committee mentioned Is suffic-
lent answer to that plank of the plat
form.
The plank on the prohibition
amendment question is such dodg-
ing of the question that 1t is to laugh.
when one thinks of those who boast
of being the "unterrified" running
away from 1t in such ingenious but
cowardly fashion.
The platform designates as a
crying evil of the hour ballot
box debauchery, yet the "pur-
pie pencil business was not
touched on, nor did the trainers seem
to recollect the open charges made by
Adam Littlepage in this campaign
against the Louis Bennett following
in this respect. Sensible men will
not accept this plank as sincere. In
deed, they can not afford to accept
it as such and be honest with them
selves.
A five-line MARBLE is made about
Republican legislation retarding de-
velopment and preventing the intro
duction of capital, yet Democratic
newspapers daily chronicle new de-
veiopment and new concerns being
formed and coming in to engage in
industrial and commercial activity.
Little wonder they confined them
selves to five lines in framing that
ridiculous feature of the platform.
Another deception is the declara-
ton about primary elections. They
say they believe all nominations for
public office, state and local, should
be made by general primary election,
yet the primary election principle was
abandoned by the Democrats in a
large number OF the leading counties
of the state twenty years ago. The
Democratic course in this respect in
the conduct of its own party and
nominations will not allow this plank
to hoodwink any one.
Admission has been freely made
by Democrats that the Dawson tax
laws are better than the old, yet the
party as an organization fought the
adoption of the new laws. and, while
it was in power 1t never made sue
cessful effort to bring about equal
and just taxation. There is no rea-
son to believe that the sort of revis.
ion 1t would give the Dawson tax
laws, If it had the chance, would
benefit the masses.
1t is evident that the Democratic
party believes West Virginia ought to
surrender to Virginia and do the old
states bidding by turning over to
that states creditors millions Of dol.
lars. without a struggle, Judging from
its plank on the Virginia debt sub.
ject. The platform says 1t is great
neglect of duty not to compromise
We: all the years Democracy was in
power in this state compromise was
not accomplished. The Republican
party and the people of this state be,
lieve in standing up for their rights
in resisting to the bitter end the de
mands made by the mother state.
And the essay OF meaningless
phrases in the main fittingly ends
with a reiteration OF good faith. thus
showing the grave doubt its trainers
~,