The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1908-10-08

It" And into 1t we went, and when
we fell We fell on top Of the Demo
cratic party. You may say we have
moi. done everything that we promised
to do. That may be true, but /
sometimes wonder that our failures
have not been more, when I take in
to consideration the opposition with
which he have had to contend.
In the platform adopted by the
Democratic party In convention as
sembled in this state find this dec
laration: eve condemn the Repub-
lican party for Its legislation which
has had a tendency to retard the de-
velopment of the state and prevent
the introduction of capital therein for
the purpose"
This is serious charge against
us. You will observe that the dec
laration is broad and apparently re-
fers to all the laws enacted since we
came into power. If by this dec
laration they meant and intended the
tax laws. or the license laws, OF the
to our school laws. or
any other of number OF laws /
might mention, they should have
said SO. We either have right to
demand bill of particulars or take
the declaration to mean just what
1t says.
In the 10 years that we have been
in power in this state many new laws
have been enacted and many old ones
amended and 1t would be impossible
for me in the limited time that I have
to discuss all of them, but let us look
and thoughtfully at some of
this legislation which has been so
detrimental to the development of
this state, according to the declara-
ton of our Democratic friends.
Many Good Laws.
The Extraordinary Session of the
of 1908 passed law pro-
viding for the investment OF sinking
funds established for the purpose of
paying of the bonded Indebtedness
of any county, district, school dis
trict, Independent school district,
ely, town or village in this state.
In other words 1t provides that when
any bonds of any county, district,
school district, town or village shall
hereafter be issued as provided by
law, and sinking fluid established
to pay the same. and any money shall
have accumulated in said fund, It
shall be the duty OF the proper au-
thorlty of the county. district, city,
or village, to direct, by order entered
of record the investment of such
sinking fund. And this law further
provides that IL the sheriff treasurer
or other custodian of such fund fails
or refuses to make such investment
for the public benefit OF such fund
he shall forfeit for the benefit of such
fund at the rate of 10 rpercentum
per annum on the amount directed
to be invested, for such time as he
shall fail to make such investment.
And then provision is made as to
whit kind of securities in which this
sinking fund shall be invested. May
/ inquire of my Democratic friend
IL this is one of the laws which has
a tendency toward the development
of the state?
Again. AT the same session of
the legislature an act was passed for
the registration of voters. Certainly
our Democratic friends are not com
planning of this law. You will re-
member that 1t was necessary for us
to amend our constitution before we
could have registration law. 1t
was a Republican Legislature that
submitted such an amendment to
the people and after the amendment
was ratified by the voters OF this
state our Democratic friends COM
planned of our delay in passing a
law In and by this amendment. 1t is
possible that they now complain be-
cause We are trying to purify the
ballot and prevent only legal voters
from being cast. Certainly this law
has no tendency to retard the deyel-
opment of the state.
Honest Elections.
And again. At this same extraor-
binary session we passed what is
known as THE Corrupt Practices
Act" ran act to prevent corrupt
practices in elections, to limit the ex-
penses of candidates, to prescribe
the duties of candidates and political
committees and to provide penalties
for the violation of the act.
This act makes 1t unlawful for
any person directly or Indirectly. by
himself or by another on his behalf,
to give, lend, or agree to give, lend
or offer promise, or promise to pro-
cure or endeavor to procure any
money or valuable consideration or