Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-01-16


committeeman. There is an over.
whalming public sentiment IN this
state which demands that the people
be allowed to choose their political
party nominees from United States
senator to constable by primary cleo
tons. The dominant political party
Of this state--the party in control Of
every department of the state govern
ment--bas practically promised this.
No excuse can be given for failure
to redeem that promise In letter and
in spirit. In my opinion, the future
success of the republican party de-
ponds on keeping faith with the peo-
ple--and ii ought so to depend. Many
ingenious arguments will be made TO
excuse you from keeping this promise
by proposing performance in part.
But halfway measures will not suffice
The people are in no humor TO be
trifed with. The lay of the initiative
and referendum Is already here; we
may retard the time of it's full effect,
but our efforts will be in vain long to
postpone the operation of the pro-
gram that the people have made up
erence to their government. He IS
a poor observer OF the signs OF the
times who does not see that the peo-
pie purpose to take larger action n
the initiation OF policies, to concen-
trate power and responsibilities-p
cles for the people. methods to the
officers In short to have efficient
government 1t will be said that
these are fraud and corruption in
primary elections. Are there none In
the conventions and caucuses and in
the regular elections? DO not dele
gates to conventions sell their votes
violate ieir instructions, and demand
Of candidates payment Of expenses
and practice other blaclSmaiR The
fact is that primary elections can be
made purer in West Virginia than
the regular elections.
Registration of voters.-Perhaps
this topic Of the subject should lave
come before primary elections IN our
discussion for there ought to be reg
istration OF voters for primary cleo
tions as we'll as for general elections
The law respecting the registration
Of voters passed at the last session
was good beginning, but It needs
amendment.
General Elections.-Th law needs
revision | have already spoken about
the necessity of a secret ballot, and
the necessary constitutional amend
ment to enable this to be done. Such
as | recollect, has been
twice adopted by the house of dele
gates. T'ke provision OF the constitu-
ton may be very short, something
like this:
Voting shall be by written or
printed ballot, under such regulations
as may be prescribed by law; but the
legislature may authorize the use of
voting machines or other automatic
devices.
The new form of ballot prescribed
by the acts of 1908 is a decided inn
provement on the Old form. Perhaps
IN amendment Is needed in case
where there are two or more candi-
dates to be chosen for the same of
flee, such as members OF the house
of delegates in some of the counties,
In Kanawha county there are five
members to be elected II any voter
desires to vote other than a straight
party ticket, and desires to vote for,
say. some on the republican ticket
and some on the democratic ticket of
the candidates for the house of dele
gates. he should be required to place
an X-mark before the name of each
candidate for that office for whom he
wishes to vote, on each ticket. Our
supreme court of appeals has held
one way, and. believe, Judge John
w. Mason has held the opposite, as to
the effect of marking tickets under
these circumstances.
Granting Franchises independent
School Districts-charters of NUM-
cipal Corporations.
Much more attention should be CIV
en- to these matters than former ses-
sions have given. Bills for indie pend
ent school districts and for charters
of municipal corporations have been
treated as private bills, and the prop
err committees have not given these
bills sufficient consideration; so that
these acts often come to the governor
in bad shape, and without any definite
or controlling plan of uniformity. 4
shall not be able to approve acts con-
corning Independent school districts
and the charters of municipal corpor-
ations which do not conform with the
general laws, respecting the lmita-
ton of the rate of levies. the collect
ion of taxes. and the creation of bond
ed indebtedness, and which conflict
with the public accounting law. Nor
should these acts provide, as they
often do, for Independent assessment
of property for taxation within these
subdivisions: our general law pro
vides that the assessor shall assess
the property in all divisions of the
county: this is good law and no risk
should be taken of superseiing it in
the acts concerning these districts
and municipal corporations
Municipalities should not grant
franchises without public approval. I
should like to repeat here what said
in my 1907 messags. page 113.
The constitution provides that the