Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1909-03-05

no " 70 pay poiltiSo, ~" -
republicans in hold and then smut
up The hole. They caucused before ana
after tile vote on the joint resolutiou
providing for the submission Of the
prohibition amendment TO the consti-
tuition to vote of the people and at
sheir conference after the vote they
issued statement which might DO
credit to class % boys in their polit-
zeal primer, which certainly cannot,
in apolitical sense, be called academic,
The following is their statement:
1.-The Democratic members OF the
senate, with the exception OF Senatcre
Fisher and Smith, voted against sub
hitting the prohibition amendments
The special form Of the ainendinent
mad somewhat to do with his action
The Democratic minority, in caucus,
approved Senator Siiver's position one
year Ego, ana 10 uppors the tlme-hon-
cred principle of the party, to- wit. the
principle OF To- al elfgovernment, aud
therefore decided vote against the
submission of the amendment in the
language proposes. Sen9tors Fisher
and Smith did not dissent from the
position taken by the other members
Of the caucus on the broad principle of
local government bpt felt themselves
under peculiar obligations in this in
sts nee, haNing received certain sup.
port and incurred consequent obliga.
tons which compelled them to act
as they did, alid while so acting de-
clared themselves la favor, as before
sad, OF the principles embodied in the
position to let each community govern
itself II relation TO this question as it
may deem best
every member of the minority will
support well considered local option
bill, one VIII ch will secure the right
TO the people who desire to abolish the
saloon.
"The action of the minority in refus-
ing to vote on the first three roll calls
on thequestioa compelled the Repub-
lIcans 10 show their position also.
There are twenty-three Republicans
in the senate. Twenty of them could
have submitted the amendment, but
that number at no time could be mar
shalled on that side OF the proposition.
This action exposes fully the insin-
cerlty OF the Republicans in their plat
form declaration of last year, and also
the numerous declarations of their
candidates and public speakers. Every
one knows how yociferously they
preached from every stump promising
the submission OF the question of pro-
hlbiiion to the people, and how every
one IS made fully aware OF their du-
piicity and insincenty."
they object TO the form and yet
everybody knows that the matter
would not have been put into any
form that would give the people
chance to vote on the question could
have been acceptable to this caucus
The matter was long ago settled so far
as these distinguished statesmen were
concerned and long before the form
was known. They are so jealous cf"the
time honored principles of the demo
cratic party, local f.government
that they could not think of permit
ting one section of the state TO vote
on any measure effecting aRother sec
tion. For Wheeling man 10 vote Oh
thesquestien of selling liquor on Mar
tinsbnrg would according to this
remarkable statement, be undemo-
cratic, but these same gentlemen did
not hesitate to permit the Wheeling
men to vote on the question whether
or not the people of Hartinsburg could
carry pistols. This distinguished eau
Gus made the mistake in surprising
themselves the democratic party and
assuming functions which have never
been delegated to them and which be-
longs to state convention only.
Prior to the last State conversation
Senator Silver had voted against and
defeated The submission of the amend
ment and yet when the convention
met it solemnly promised that its
members of the Legislature should vote
for submission aud left Mr.. Silver sit =
ting high and dry. These distinguished
statesmen feel they must rescue their
colleague id So they caucus and de-
eide to endorse the man whom the
state convention repudiated and tell
the people what are democratic princi-
piles.
But the great scoop of these gent.e-
men was in retaining from voting I'M
til all the republicans had voted and
9Th, compelling them 10 show their
position" Of.course it was foregone
conclusion there were not enough re-
publieans favorable to pass the resolu-
what difference could it make wher
they voted? Our democratic friends
set pit for the enemy, the enemy fell
IN aoa then they them selves plunged
hsadlong in the same pit after them.
II they had stepped aside aud voted
fer the resolution aud thus carried il,
SEE what kind of position the repub-
leans would have beeu in! All this
stuff is only to fool the people but it
Will not work.