The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-05-17
erence to the fourth ana last ob,ec-

erence to the fourth and last objec-
ton:
The merest tyro in politics. and
every one who pays the slightest at
tenton 70 election returns. know that
TO run for once il a prohibited pas
time for poor men now. sums OF
money far beyond their command are
confessedly spent In this state AZ
every election as a matter OF course
ana no one supposes that this would
happen were IL not rendered neces-
sary by the already existing system"
The commission recommended the
enactment OF a primary election law.
ana IN closing its report, said:
II the new system does not accom-
plish perfect work. IL Is only a step
IN the journey. that step will make the
next one easier. and is II not worth
while TO take this first step away from
the acknowledged evils on the road to
thai goal which should commend it
self to every honest. thinking citizen"
Scope Of q Primary Law.
/ recommend that primary cleo
ton law be passed which will provide
for the election of all state and coun-
~ executive committees. as well as all
candidates OF political parties to be
voted Tor by the people. including
candidates for United States senator.
and excepting candidates to be voted
|or at special elections TO Ill vacan-
ctes. presidential candidates and cleo
tors. and candidates for Office 10 be
: hlled by cities. towns or villages OF
Less than two thousand Inhabitants.
Every commissioner and clerk OF n
primary election before entering upon
the discharge OF his duties should take
and subscribe to the oath prescribed
by general law for commissioners OF
election and poll clerks; there should
be u separate ballot or list OF candi
dates for each political party which
may have filed proper petitions and
receipts.
Each county should have primary
ballot commissioners whose duty IL
should be 10 prepare ballots to be used
at tho primary election, including
sample ballots. and also publish the
Official ballot at least two weeks be-
fore the primary election day; no on
should be permitted to vote at a pri.
mary election who is not registered.
Safeguards Essential.
Each candidate to be voted for
should be required to pay into the
county treasury a small sum. so that
the aggregate would be sufficient 10 de-
fray the eXpensesof the primary; and
above everything else, every step and
act in the primary election should have
thrown around II at least all the safe
guards that are now provided for our
general election. to the end that all
sharp practices, fraud and corruption.
as far as wise laws can do so. would
be eliminated. and fun effect given to
the expressed will Of the voters: every
officer, party committeeman and other
person having duties to perform under
the law. should be required by the law
to perform them.
The Campbell bill known as house
hill No 90 which passed the house OF
delegates at the last session has many
admirable features. The oregon law.
with which you are doubtless familiar
is one Of unqucstioned merit. The bill
passed by the New Jersey legislature
at its recent session. known as the
Geran bill a copy OF which have IS
described by Governor Woodrow VII
son in a recent letter 10 me as a very
thorough going measure with many
interesting features IN IT,"
shall be glad at any time TO rem
der you any assistance within my
power and furnish you with copies az
any OF tho primary election laws
passed In recent years.
Corrupt Practices Act.
While considering primary cleo
ton law. ] hope you will not forget
corrupt practices act That candi-
dates for Office have been spending
large sums OF money illegally and
corruptly cannot be denied. I know
that we cannot legislate honesty into
the people, but We can and ought TO
have laws that viii disfranchise those
who corrupt the electorate and no
man should be permitted 20 be tho
beneficiary Of crime committed BY
him against society.
4 poor man steals property OF the
value Of ten or fifteen dollars and we
send him 10 jail II the value Of tho
property stolen is twenty dollars or
moro we send him 10 the peniten-
tiary for not less than two years. on
the other hand. a man may corruptly
spend twenty-five or Atty thousand
dollars for an ofice and we reward
him with the highest honor that can
be bestowed upon him and wonder
how 81 would be possible 20 get along
without him. tbs must stop II popu-
lar government Is 10 continue.
I earnestly plead with you in the
name II good government and OF the
patriotic citizenry OF this state. TO en-
act laws that will protect our people
in the exercise 81 the highest privi-
lege Of an American citizen. namely.
the right 10 cast their votes according
90 the dictates 81 their conscience and
have the same honestly counted
II Is needless TO say that this r. not
o. partisan question; % r. "A question OF
better government. aquestion Of safe
guarding tho sacred rights Of our citi-
zcns Nouchsnfcd 90 them by the con-
stitufion 81 the United states and the
constitution ~ this state. question
upon which men 90 all parties can ar
ford 60 stand because % Is based upon
the principles cnunciatcd in our dec
iaration ~ independence.
Virginia Debt Case.
deem 10 my duty 20 call your at
tenti0n 90 the opinion filed on the 9Th
dny 81 March. 1911. BY the supreme
court ~ the United States In the suit
in equity brought and now pending IN
that court by tho commonwealth %
Virginia against the state Of West
virginia
I.ato in tho evening 81 tho End in
slant ] was visited hero in Charleston
by two members ~ tho Virginia debt
commission. claiming 90 act under the
authority % acts ~ tho Eoncrnl as
Ecmbly - Virginia. approved respec-
lively. March eth. 1894. and March
Cth. 1907 That commission has made
tho following request 90 writing.
AT "a meeting of the Virginia debt
comm isaion held in Richmond. ON tho
2Jfh duF. 20 April 1911. the subject of