The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1910-11-17

did not appeal to the voters. In
Marion County the rump candidates
polled zoe more votes than the reg
ulars. :.,' 49,.
E2. Only a complete reorganization of
the party committeesIin state, coun-
ties and districts can; restore prestige
to the Republican, party, say many Of
the leaders, who were disappointed
at the result Of the recent election.
No. longer can the party leaders ex-
press< their displeasure with some
Jealous patfiot whose ideas of equity
and justice ruin counter to their own
and read men and factions out Of
the, party at will. ........,. =. -.
There was combination of causes
which led Ito the defeat of the Re-
publican party in West Virginia af-
ter 4 years of power and restored
the Democrats to the pie counter,
The seed for a Democratic victory
was Two years ago, and this year
came the harvest. The party, in the
Legislature, had left a trail of brok-
EN- pledges. nominations had been
secured at the, hands of committees
and factional fights had rent. the do
m1nant .party until it was weak and.
fell an easy victim to united Demo-
cratic party.
w est Virginia was not redeemed
from the Republicans by the Demo
cratic warriors without a slashing
contest, in which the latter were we'll
supplied with the sinews Of war. Oil,
gas and coal operators contributed
heavily to the victory. They were
AFRAID of legislation in the ensuing.
Legislature which might separate:
ohem from some Of their revenue,
and consequently they sought safety
among the Democratic brethren. -,
Some months ago it was announc-
ed that fight would he made in the
Forthcoming session Of the Legisla-
cure for production tax on natural
gas, billions of feet of this fuel being
pumped from the state every day. 1t
was contended by the Governor and
Others Of his administration that it
was Just that the producers should
pay fair share oftaxes to the COM
monweasth T.:
: Inc talk of a production tax on
natural gas scared the oil operators
aud the coal men in almost every Sec
,1tlon, OF the state believed that pro-
aqGtlo9 ta3 Rn es.e eoal 9a gapla way Id Soe.
they did not care 70 pay Increased
tax burdens, and threw tn cir s,,nport
to the Democrats and contributed
heavily to the victory.
! While the Democrats in their war;
ious platforms never. failed to con-
denim the new system of tax laws in
West Virginia, it is q fairly good pre-
d1ct1on to say that these laws will n OF
De disturbed by the Democratic
Legislature, except being amended In
a few particulars. The system will
not be changed.
under the present laws the direct
state tax has been almost wholly re-
moved, and during the past year not
more than $4,000 collected directly
from the people was used by the
state for governmental purposes.
The greater part Of the revenue. in
faet'- nearly aH~of it, for the support
OF the state government and the state
institutions, is paid by the CORPORA
lions, in license taxes, insurance tax-
eS' charter taxes, and ETC. In this
respect the new tax laws have proved
that they have met the expectations
Of the people,
The office of the State Tax Con.
missioner has been ruthlessly attack
ed by the Democrats from the stumn
ana in the party platforms, and the
attitude Of the party towards that
o"lce during the next session Of the
Legislature will be watched with in
terest. The same office has inrisdic-
zion over the Bureau of Public Ac-
counting.
= That the office cannot be aboI-l
ished Is certain since the State Sen
ate Will be tie, with IS Democrats
and Is Republicans, but the Repub-
means contend that. the Democrats
would make no effort to abolish the
once II they were in complete con-
troll
some months ago the people of the
Hanhandle State were treated to an
ehJoHaible little contest between Sem
ator Nathan Bay Scott and Congresa-
man william p. Hubbard for the SEN
atorial toga now possessed by form
er' put the battle between Hubbard
and Scott Is going to pale into insfe-
nlficance since the Democrats s1inn.sd