Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-14
EXTRA SESSION VIEWS
Governor of West Virginia
Questions Legislators.
NEW LEGISLATION NEEDED
Executive Sounding Sentiment to
Determine His Course.
FIGURES GIVEN ON GAS OUTPUT
Opposition to Special Assembly De.
velops in Northern Part of
the State.
FIGURES GIVEN ON GAS OUTPUT
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

WHEELING. W. Va.
November IL, 1909.
Gov Glasscock has finally moved in
the way of definitely ascertaining the
sentiment of the lawmakers of West Eir-
ginia regarding a special session of the
legislature. To every one of them he has
sent a circular letter. This letter. which
is a feeler, intimates that two subjects
fruitful for legislation are the liquor
and natural gas questions. The gov
ernor is careful to avoid explicitneSs in
the gas question, but submits figures
| gathered by DR.. I. c. White. state geolo-
gist, to show the immense waste Of the
precious fuel.
1t needs no wayfarng man to see that
the governor wants a special session. and
that he wants county local option bill
IL he cannot get a prohibition amendment
submitted for popular vote: and that also
he wants laws restricting the expectation
of natural gas or a production tax on
gas. or both restrictive and tax laws
affecting gas.
1t is equally clear that sufficient ia
vorable responses from the solons will
be followed by the issuance OF an ex-
ecutive call for gathering at Charles
ton presumably after the holidays.
The gas and liquor interests are alarmed.
and, naturally, are using their best efforts
to induce the members of the legislature
to return negative replies to the gov
ernor.
Northern Section Opposes.
So far as the extreme northern part
Of West Virginia is concerned, the SEN
timent Of the people is opposed to
special session absolutely. Perhaps this
is true OF the state at large. although
IL must be conceded that a considerable
number believe there should be legislation
on the gas question and this element
believes that desired results could best.
and probably only. be achieved at
special session.
The democratic press almost to a unit
| is throwing cold water on Gov Glass
cocks gas program. Many infiuen.iai
republicans oppose a special session be-
cause they think danger turks where the
bars will be thrown down for the con-
| sideration Of subjects in addition TO
those of liquor and gas. The governor
| intimates the probability of this eventu-
ality in a significant clause of his cir
cular letter Presumably. he asks for
| opinions on the two subjects noted but
| he also includes ANY other matters
which the legislators addressed in their
good judgment might deem worthy OF
| legislative consideration.
Maintains Independent Attitude.
So far in his administration Gov. Glass
! cock has shown 4 disposition to listen to
| the leading lights in his party, but still
pursue his own dictates, apparently with
| out regard to the others views. He has
| demonstrated this independence in his
| appointments. When he suddenly flashed
out his natural gas propaganda he did
| SO without any previous consultation
with the great or near-great.
He resented the criticisms during his
| campaign that he was under the Elkins
domination. He lost some votes on &C
| count of that cry from one of the two
factions-the Scherr party, He repeated
| from every stump that he would be no
mans man. All of which is more or less
pertinent because Of his recent visit to
| the Elkins home and the return enter
| tainment of the senator by the governor
in Charleston. These were on the face
| social meetings, but that politics and the
| special session proposition did not figure
| passes all belief. AS the senator is
| classed as an opponent Of the special
| session and indefinite on the gas feature.
| the future action OF the governor will be
followed with some interest.
Praised for Course.
| Gov. Glasscock is taking high rank
among the people OF West Virginia for
| his evident purpose to do the right thing
as he finds it. His course in the CASA
way outrage and tragedy has won him
deserved praise within and beyond West
Virginia. His prompt personal interven-
| ton undoubtedly prevented a double
lynching His dismissal of the laggard
Gassaway company of state militia was
a prompt supplementary tribute to his
ability as a wise executive.
Consequently the situation as to a spe-
cial session narrows down to the re-
| sponses to the governors letters prima-
| rily and next to his own personal opinion.
! He would not hesitate to go ahead II a
| SUFFICIENT number reply in favor Of the
session. nor would he hesitate II he deems
solely up to the legislature regardless Of
| how many opposed it.
Arguments Against Call.
The argument advanced by more or
less potent influences in his party against
call for a special session is that the
gas proposition is good stuff" as a cry
: on which to wage a campaign next year.
| and therefore Is too good to waste on a
special session, inasmuch as the outlook
is not bright for any other material for
the stumpers. These politicians also
point to the fact that the gas thunder is
now republican property and should be
reserved for the real firing line.
| 1t is rather hard to understand why the
democratic press should go on record as
| opposing the governor In his gas pro-
gram-for their opposition to the special
| session means that-unless they are Sim
! ply following policy of opposing what
| the other party proposes. Perhaps they
suppose the governor will ALLEVIATE cor
porate interests and will bring to their
aid q situation similar to 1904 when the