The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-11-18
More About Extra sesslon.

ture was settled in the negative sev
eful weeks ago, when all the leadini
Republican newspapers of the stat
advised against II. But, reviva
came with the governors sending on
letters to members OF the Legislature
recently inqnirlng how they stoot
on Certain questions and consultln:
them as to the advisabllity of an ex
ira session. Notwithstanding this
all the Republican newspapers will
an exception or two maintain theli
position that there ought to be nc
extra session. The sycophants, the
exceptions, are roundly abusing the
other newspapers for not agreeing ia
the proposition that an extra session
should be held. They forget that
the newspapers are entitled to opin-
ions OF their own. especially so, when
they are not pledged by party plat
form. No reasonable man will un-
dertake to say that the newspapers
have no right to advocate curtal!-
ment of state expenses by advising
against an extra session of the legis-
lature. when there Is no apparent
pressing need of one.
There is not single public ques-
ton in Weft Virginia so urgent as 70
demand an extra session. The states
election laws have undergone revis-
ion for the better. 1t is claimed. the
last few years. and there is no public
clamor for their repeal. The Demo.
cratic party is not clamoring for
state regulation OF its nominating
procedure. The Republican party
has gotten along very well under its
mode of nominating candidates en-
1eept in so far as self-constituted in
snrgency for purely seli-interest III.
dertook to defeat the will of the
masses of the party and became ir-
regular to the point of party treason.
Proposed legislation would not Grad
icate that.
Within the last few years there has
been a wonderful transformation in
the liquor business caused by string
ent state laws. These are not much
more than coming into full and com.
plete operation, and yet SOME ask for
change. They are not now such as
threaten an emergency demanding
special session of the legislature
at a heavy expense to the tax payers
OF the state. There is no rason why
the liquor laws of West Virginia can
not he tolerated until the regular
session of the legislature. A single
years time certainly will not work
any great damage to the state.
Conservation of natural gas is pos
sbbly much more urgent than any
public question. But, there has been
no method proposed to conserve It,
except that taxation has been adj
vanced That theory has been
thoroughly riddled. Taxation will
not conserve gas.
The question of taxing gas produc.
ton is not at all likely to be work.
ed out satisfactorily at a special ses-
sion of the legislature. In truth,
We're there TO he an extra session. II
is safe to say that the most that
could be done along this line would
he authorization of the creation OF a
commission to thoroughly investi.
gate the question and make recon.
mendation al the regular session
Deeming the matter of as much i'm.
portance as he does Governor Glass.
cock should doubtless feel that Their,
; Is enough latitude given him as gov
ernor of the state TO appoint such =
commission with assurance that i
( would be recompensed by the legisla
/ ture, or the commission might b,
paid out of the contingent fund.
To dissent from the governor
views as to an extra session of tn
legislature and yet no one is dissent
ing as to his intention to call 1T as h
has not expressed an intention to d
so. does not mean revolt against tn
Republican party, as some assert. a
the state platform does not urge a
extra session, nor does 1t even hin
at one. Governor Glasscock doe
not have to confine himself to tn
platform in this respect. He has tn
institutional right to convene tn
Legislature in an extra session, II h
deems 1t necessary. The newspaper
violate no part OF the party pla
form, when they advise against /
There is no disrespect shown the go,
ernor by such advice. and those VIII
advise against 1t will not denounc
him should he call an extra session
although should such session fail
accomplish the ends the governc