The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1910-05-24

J' ~ "Si iiI1OlIIISu democrat
will fail to recognize and appre
clate the unselfishness devotion
and great personal sacrifices OF
many leaders in the state in re
cent years. They have gladly
carried the burdens of MANY
hopeless battles, and have earn.
ed the gratitude of the party.
But facts are facts, and cannot
be changed or cured by ignoring
their existence.
The Republican party is now
rent by the bitterest internal
strife it has ever known, precip-
ltated by a contest between two
OF its prominent members for the
United States senatorship. What
the result of that contest will be
no one can tell, but it is certain
that a large percentage of intel
ligent and thoughtful Republi-
cans believe that neither of
these two men ought to 90 to the
! senate. Many Republicans rec
ognize the fact that no reforms
such as are demanded by a large
majority of the people, both
Democrats and republicans,
could possibly be expected at the
hands of congress composed of
SCOTS and Hubbards. They are
both high protectlonists by ira.
dltlon, and from selfinterest as
manufacturers. What one of
them is to Aldrichism in the SEN
ate, the other has been to Can
nonism in the house. The stamp
of the regular" like the mark
of Cain, is branded upon both
of their foreheads, as warning
to every voter.
The protest against being COM
PEELED to choose between two un-
mitigated evils, coupled with the
irksomeness of party bossism,
will result in Democratic legis-
lature this year, if the Dem
ocratic party is wise enough to
set its own house in order, and
give a satisfactory of good faith.
AS matters now stand the last
state platform is two years old,
and the party is without a can
didate for United States senator;
chosen by the voice of it's voters.
We connot hope to attract the
support of the thousands of in
dependent Republicans who are
dissatisfied with conditions in
their own unless we offer SOME.
thing better, and offer it in a
positive and binding way. They
will demand, and rightly so to
know who will be sent to the
United States Senate if the leg
islature is democratic, and also
to know what other reforms
they may expect in that event.
Not only these friends who
would like to help us are de-
manding these assurances. but
many thousands of Democrats in
the state ask the right to make
these things clear by their voice
and choice, and they, also, are
right. The position Of the Dem
ocratic party on all state issues,
and it's choice of candidates for
public office, should be declared
by the closest appeal possible to
/ the masses of the party, and
this should be done in advance of
the approaching campaign. The
party will gain strength by fair
ly and fearlessly stating its atti-
tude on issues and candidates,
and taking the people into it's
fullest confidence.
To raise the full measure of its
duty and present opportunity.
the Democratic party in West
Virginia should hold a state con
vention within the next three
months. and at this convention
should do two things.
l. Adopt a state platform.
2. Nominate the Democratic
candidate for United States Sen.
ator.
i ] have no doubt that such 2
convention made up of the fit,
five counties, elected for the pul
pos9, and untrammlcd by the
multitude Of interests and can.
didacies that come into reo,,Io,