The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-05-04
PRIMARY
WARMLY ENDORSED BY STATE
SENATOR JAKE FISHER.
Scores Democratic Newspapers Who
Take Stand Against viii Of
the People.

Special Dispatch TO the IntelliTencar.
CHARLESTON. W. Va. May g.
Senator Jake Fisher. OF Braxton coun-
". for several years one OF the
Democratic leaders in the West Vir-
ginia legislature. in an interview here
to-day. announced that he was an ad-
vocate OF direct primaries for the
nomination Of candidates for public
office. and would support such a
measure at the special session OF the
Legislature.
Senator Fisher said:
Certainly am in favor OF the
passage OF a primary election law.
have been surprised to find that there
should be any opposition. particularly
on the part OF the Democrats to this
law. The party stands undisputedly
committed TO this important reform.
II involves no more than the right
OF the party to manage its own az
fairs. ! do not see how individual
Democrats can Justify the position
that they. instead of their party. have
the right TO control II. II occurs TO
me that the Democrat who takes issue
with his party on this proposition.
/ attempts 10 constitute himself master
OF his party rather than its servant
scores Democratic Papers.
Il have been surprised TO notice
the comments OF the Charleston Ga
zette and a few other Democratic
newspapers in which Il is sought 10
confound matters now immaterial
with the issue that will be pending
, before the Legislature. They take the
position that the governor made a
mistake in calling the extraordinary
session: that the session is for the
purpose OF disrupting the Democratic
party and uniting the Republican
party. and that there are many de-
signing Republicans In the state who
advocate the primary principle II is
plain that these comments are made
with the sole view OF mystifying the
Issue TO be fought out In the legisla-
ture
Neither is there any connection
whatever between alleged mistakes
that the governor might have made:
nor between the motives which
prompted him TO call the special ses-
| sion OF the legislature. nor between
the purposes of any Republican or
| Democrat in the state and the duties
/ OF the members OF the legislature
/ when they come to meet AS / see
| - w aiF ~ AeIf Il GUuhAllOu anu not
/ q theory. II occurs To me as being
| absurd. particularly for Democratic
| journals 10 take the position that the
| Democratic party would lose an ad-
vantage in the special session. DO
/ they forget that the house of dele
gates has a majority Of 40 and do they
mean TO state that this majority is
not a sufficient safeguard 10 the party
! fwfnrHCfQ1 have ohaart-aA he @, Of
/ that many columns OF these news
papers have been wasted in an at
tempt 10 befoG the issue They have
pointed out all the inhrmities OF the
situation. and AZ the same time they
don't openly say that they oppose a
primary election law: rather the most
% them. 10 maintain regularity. claim
! to favor Il. n they are sincere in
their advocacy OF this reform why not
devote a portion OF the space used in
fighting IL to cnlighten the citizens as
to Just what kind OF a primary cleo.
tion law they favor The fact is be
coming more apparent every day that
the self-constituted bosses in both
political parties are opposing the pri
mary election law. They will con
tinue to do so.
Defeat VIII Of People.
When the Legislature meets. If they
ere OF the opinion that they do no,
have sufficient strength to defeat the
hill outright. they will feign friend
ship for tho principle but will al
tempt 10 defeat the will Of the people
by amendments. calculated 70 destroy
It's efficiency. ! believe the people
Of this state are fully aware OF the
fact that those attempts will be mad,
and n occurs TO me that no Repub
lican or Democrat can AFFORD for q
moment 10 stand between the people
on tho one side and these special In
tercsts on the other. In the end no
body will be deceived. and in the end
II not now. proper primary election
law viii be put upon the statut,
books No substitutes will be tol
Grated"