Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-10-01

The increased salaries, but no bill Of
particulars has been filed to show
what reductions would be made by our
Democratic friends We increased the
salary of the governor from $2,700 to
S., 900, of the judges of the Supreme
Court of Appeals from $4,000 to
$500. of Circuit judges from $1,000
to $4,000. and we challenge any party
to go on record in favor of the re-
duction of any of these salaries. We
took from the secretary of state his
fees amounting last year TO about
$4,000 and gave him in lieu thereof
a salary of $4,000 per year; we gave
the auditor $4,000 and receive IN fees
from his office more than SAL 200 each
year | believe every officer in the
state. unless it be justices of the
peace and eonstables, should be
placed on salary basis and required
to pay all fees, after retaining suf
ficen to pay an adequate salary, into
the treasury A step in this direction
was taken at the extraordinary ses-
sion of the legislature of 1908 but we
did not go far enough. Our Democratic
friends were In control of every de-
partment of the state government for
almost a 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
Need of Primary Law
'If there is one thing more import
ant to the people of the state at this
time than another, it is the enact
ment of a good primary election law.
The system of making nominations
employed by both parties is Vicious
and has created much dissatisfaction
and discord. Under our system of
government the majority should rule
but oftimes a minority by corrupt
practices dictates to the majority and
robs them of the rights and priyil-
eyes guaranteed by the constitution
and laws of cur state. | believe in
party regularity but the party should
be right in order that it may be
regular In our platform adopted at
Charleston, July s, 1908 we said.
I'VE favor what is known as the d.
rect primary election method of max
ing nominations as substantially incor-
porated in Senate Bill ia. introduced
at he last regular session of the leg
islature. whereby all elective offices
shall be nominated But as this will
be a radical departure in this state,
it may be wise TO leave the u0mina-
ton of county tickets optional, as to
whether by primary or other method.
as the proper party committee in the
country may determine. But in no
event shall any primary be held ex-
cept under state or county officers and
under the state laws governing cleo.
tions. and all regular primaries of all
parties should be held on the same
date, fixed by statute
1T is our duty to elect members to
honest effort to redeem that pledge.
81 regret to see that factional diff
ferences in some counties of the state
have resulted in two Republican
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 a fight
for local supremacy, and the success
OF The party is ieopardized because of
petty iealousies and personal auomos-
tiles We should always be willing
/ to submit our political matters to the
: arbitrament of our fellowmea and
when once an award has been
honestly made Il should be entered
up as the judgment of all who have
admitted to the arbitration.
The coming session of the leg!sla.
ture will redistrict the state into con
gressional, judicial senatorial and
legislative districts, and in addition to
that have before it for consideration
some of the most important questions
that have confronted our people since
the formation Of he state, as well as
the election OF Unied States