The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1910-09-29
AN ADDRESS
BY GOVERNOR

$4,000 and gave him in lieu thereof
salary Of $4,000 per year; we gave
the auditor $4,000 and receive in fees
from his office more than $4,000 each
year. l believe every officer in the
state. unless it be justices of the
peace and constabies, should be
placed, on a salary basis and required
to pay all fees, after retaining sal
ficient to pay an adequate salary. into
the treasury. A step in this direction
was taken at the extraordinary sea
sion of the legislature of 1908, but we
did not go far enough. Our Democrat
ic friends were in control of every de-
partment of the state government for
almost quarter of century, and
we invite you to examine the laws
enacted during all that time and point
to the ones that even had tendency
to reform any of the evils of which
we complain today.
If there is one thing more im-or-
tant to tho people of the state at this
time than another, it is the enact.
ment Of good primary election law
The system of making nominations
employed by both parties is vicious
ami has created much dissatisfaction
and discord. Under our system OF
government the majority should rule
but ofttimes minority by corrupt
practices dictates to the majority and
robs them Of the rights and privi.
leges guaranteed by the constitution
and laws of our state. l believe in
party regularity, but the party should
lbe right in order that it may be
regular In our platform adopted al
Charleston. July 8, 1908, we said:
| Eve favor what is known as the dl.
dect primary election method of max.
ing nominations as substantially in.
corporated in Senate Bill ia, intro.
duced at the last regular session Of
the legislature, whereby all candidates
for all political parties for all elective
offices shall be nominated. But as this
will be radical departure in this
state, it may be wise to leave the nom,
ination of the county tickets optional
as7to whether by primary or Other
method, as the proper party commit,
tee in the county may determine. But
in no event should any primary be
held except under state or county Of
fieers and under the state laws gov.
erning elections, and all regular pri.
maries of all parties should be held
ION the same date, fixed. by statute"
/ 1t is our duty to elect members. t.
the legislature who will use every
honest effort to redeem that pledge.
regret to see that factional diff.
ferences in some counties Of the state
have resulted in two Republican
I tickets. This should not be SO, be
cause neither side has taken issue
with the party on any material ques
ton OF policy, and it is largely fight
for local supremacy, and the success
of the party is jeopardized because o.
petty jealousies and personal animos.
tiles. We should always be willing
to submit our political matters t.
! the arbitrament of our fellowmen ant
when once an award has been hon.
setly made it should be entered up az
The Judgment of all who have submit.
ted to the arbitration.
The coming session of the legisla
ture will re-district the state into con
gressional, judicial, senatorial, ant
legislative districts, and in addition Il
that have before it for consideration
some of the most important question!
that lave confronted our people since
the formation of the state, as well a.
the election Of a United States sen.
ator. Are your local troubles, my
fellow Republicans, superior to OIL
more important than all Of these
matters? Would you rather see your
Republican brethren with whom you
have made many successful fights, GO
down in defeat and humiliation than
to win glorious victory by their
side? And more important still, dc
you want to turn this state over to the
Democrats for the next decade in
order that you may get even with
men who believe in the same princi-
pies to which you stand committed
The Democrats cannot defeat us, but
we can defeat ourselves. VIII you
assist in our downfall, and for no
other reason than a desire to chastize
your fellow Republicans? When you
seriously reflect on the condition that
confronts us / have an abiding faltA
that your patriotism and party loyalty
will dictate to you the proper course
to pursue. In 1908 we had a'divlded
party, but loyal Republicans sacrificed
their personal desires and ambitions
to the public good and the partys