The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-11-16
is INSERTED IN POLITICIANS
AND CANDIDATES MUST DE-
CLARE THEMSELVES.
= eminent Grows
FOR Sending an Uninstructed Dele
cation to Republican National Con.
Vention, Though Taft's- Candidacy
Meets With Favor.

publican leaders in West Virginia
ana even the socialists, received some
comfort and encouragement from the
: results of the elections held in sew.
eral OF the states during the week
no opportunity was afforded the yo
tiers Of the Panhandle State to show
Wmther they are drifting for the
campaign OF 1912. While neighbor
ing states were voting last Tuesday
not even a municipal election was
held in West Virginia.
1T was an Off year in reality in
West Virginia SO far as voting Is
concerned, but the omniscient poll
ticlan Is ever busy preparing the
trap FOR his opponent, and the re-
suits IN other states are eagerly di-
gested to show the drift Of public
opinion. So extensive and complete
we're the progressive victories durin q
the week that the politicians Of both
partles ar msistent that the candi-
dates of the two dominant parties
heXt year must be progressive in
thought and in action.
West Virginia has never been
prone to rush In and adopt the new
experiments. Probably a majority
or the leaders in both the dominant
parties have been conA,rvative, some
to the extent Of being reactionary,
but next year the candidates are 90
ing to be forced to make ironclad
oaths and promises that progressive
legislation, embracing a direct pri-
mary law, a public service commits
! sion and the adoption of the income
# tax amendment will receive their
support. Some will go still further
and declare hnequivocally for the
submission OF an amendment to tn e
constitution proposing the initiative
! and referendum. And If the Ohio
Constitutional Convention Is a sue
cess West Virginia may follow in
that direction, for the present in
strument Is in sad need Of revision
and is about past the patching period.
The Democratic leaders In West
! Virginia were jubilant over the cleo
t1ons In Kentucky and the Republi-
cans, were cofrespondingly elated
over the results in the Eastern states,
where New York and New jersey
were sWayed back into the Republi-
can column.
The supporters Of Woodrow Will
son for the Presidential nomination
were not pleased with the action OF
the Jersey voters, and while they
insist that their candidate is still
potential it is admitted that the cleo
ton OF a Republican Legislature in
tHat state has not had salutary
effect on the Wilson boom, On the
other hand, the Wilson men say that
while, the larger Ohio municipali-
ties elected Democratic Mayors the
result In New York, where Murphy
was in complete control, was not
calculated to put Harmon stock in
demand.
Considering the short-arm jorss re-
ceived by Wilson in New Jersey and
Harmon in New York, where his
forces were routed, If any ADVANTAGE
accrues to any Of the Democratic
prospective Presidential candidates
the scales will be tilted in the d.
rection Of Speaker Champ CLARK OF
| OSN"A w OlluSl "OOu, IuS AldDdlllu
Congressman.
While some Of the Republican
brethren assert that the elections in
the Eastern states indicate that there
is a return Of confidence to the Re-
publican party among the business
interests, more anti-Taft talk has
been indulged in this week among
the Republicans than at any time
since tho President indicated that
he would like to succeed himself in
1.-THE White Hause.
individually there Is no personal
opposition to the President among
his party men for a denomination
lSome Of the leaders are careful to
point out that he has been respons
ible for more constructive legislation
than any President for 25 years, and
that they are in entire and sypmpa-
thetic accord with his official acts
But they quietly insist that he is
not yet understood by the voters
sufficient to arouse that enthusiasm
which has accompanied other cam
paigns.
There Is no doubt that sentiment
is growing among Republicans for
sending an uninstructed delegation
from West Virginia to the next ma.
tional convention. While the chances
are heavily in favor Of Presidenj
Taft receiving the indorsement OF
the Panhandle delegation, some Of
the leaders argue that the delera.
ton should be free to act In ar
emergency So far as the candida ;