The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-04-27
JUDGE JOHN MASON
ON THE VIRGINIA Debt
INTERESTING INTERVIEW WITH
ON e. OF TH e EADl @ iJURiSTS
+ Of gTaE aEs STATE, GIVEN QUITO
(; (; syfiEEEfN g PAPER. /, n 4,

= ~ y t
WFIEEtIN NG I. April Hon. John
w. Mason, Judge Of the Circuit Court
sof the Marion Monongalia district,
and forn,er United States Commission
selc or Internal revenue, was In the
lseisy yesterda dayi visit ting friends. Judge
Mason is one of the best known pub
lie men IN West Virginia, bit during
recent years has not been a frequent
Visitor to w Wheeling. His judicial uu.
! ties In one of the most ippof ftant cir
cults ef he 4 STATE and his advanced
years have combined Ito hold him very
y close to llss work and office. 1t Is gen.
orally nndersto ood that Judge Mason
will decline reelection to the. bench.
and that. with the expiration OF, his
present term he proposes to retire
from lact I've work. Speaking to an In.
/ eillgencer eporter last night, Judge
i Mason said Z u (. +,
81 must confess that y was as much
surprised as any could be by the ac-
,tion of the Supreme Court in the SVir-
VI gInIa deb 4 case. read the brief pre-.
pared Eby Hon. SChas. Ed gar Hogg. and
! to my mind II, was conclusive, and !
had no doubt that the Supreme Court
would finally refuse to take jurisdic-
& ton Of the case. l must also say that
was surprised, !, not 10 say amazed.
by u the ction of the court In ASSUME
Ing theJpro roperty valuation y as the
basis of & computing West virginla's
share OF the debt. II the court had
indicated ear IN the case that prop
ertyS valuation was to be the basis
OF eompltat tion or settlement, the ref.
4 erence Of the case to Commissioner
Battlefield and the centre lengthy and
costly proceedings Involved In making
h the account both by Virginia and
iSiIy,estSY rgipia swould; have been avuiu
ed, The Z Shpreme Court of the United
States Isl ID. great Ihbdy, the greatest
tribunal Hi the y world Z We must bow
10: its decision, but lat the same time
/, Ne are en- ed y to express respectful
< a llsseift, fFami he Y pr inciltless upon
4 (which 1t may act and Its methods Eof
proce dure. Y, no Sfn mind lat Is; scleai,
u thas nia ms heens done ID
2 great sin1usf ice, ati Ia a 4 still Y believe
that MI, WHY settis fwi IL he: Old State
81 raj lsir.fs Ifh ZIG Holders Of the Wiz.
k5ElHlun nueDka ertitlGuteSi loIttd very uiuEi
I; i.Iess' sun II ha he amount named in
SSthe Snpfemel Courts decision. West
Virginia need not be in any hurry 10
proceed IN THIS matter. < The next
y step must Sotiie from. Virginia, or
Stffom the holders .pf the debt cerull.
\ Gates, and IN my opinion we will be
Y able 10 make a satisfactory adjust
Etnent with them.
Favorsy d Primary Law.
Concerning an extra session OF the
n egislattre, Judge Mason said:
Il. 81 hope that the legislature will pass
= an adequate primary election law. We
I need such a law. Both parties of the
State are pledged ito It. and do not
a sec; how, any member of the legisia.
ture; can fail Ito support reasonable
sl.niensnre designed to give to our pr-
mary elections the protection of tho
Sgc6url Governor Glasscock has done
\ Ills duty by calling the Legislature to
\ an extra session, and citizens gener-
\ E9ally ought 10 make their sentiments
Ssnown soastrongly and so effectively
lsthattthe Legislature .$will feel com.
PEELED 10 s tnkc some affirmative ac.
5ttstion. 3 4. Il :, ,5s Il I. n "A
LII will generally be remembered
THAT Judge Mason was strongly I'm.
I. to be a candidate for the Re.
y publican nomination for governor in
ss9190s.s In fact, there is no doubt that
5 he might have had the nomination II
y he had agreed to take 1t. With this
ili mind, the reporter asked Judge
NJ mason II he would consider being a
Candidate in 1872 His reply was:
\ is my intention to- retire from
public life. The public has dealt very
n Ssgenerously and kindly by me, and I
have no ambitions other than to rest
Iii peace and ito continue quietly such
sworlt as may come to meIin the prac-
sticeg of.my profession. Nothing but n
call which seemed to make It impern-
IA iye5upon me I as a good citizen would
l.ifidtice me 10 be a candidate for office.
II do mot think that such call is likely
I to come, and ] certainly do not hope
for or anticipate one.
X 1, 4. Owed OFFICES.
The employees ofSthe Consolidation