The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-04-07
new State COMMITTEE
Continued from Page Four)

Ways ie~cessariiy beenf ought NOT To-
consist Of TWO or three, instead Of one.
from each senatorial district. Having
gettled the number. then would follow
the more important task OF selecting
the men ito compoes ft. Then there
would be still an important duty: The
formation OF rules and regulations for
the control and government OF the.
party its committees and members
and members OF the party; In short, o.
constitution OF the Republican party
d West Virginia, y
A Prlmaryftaw.
Bntstbe foregoing Is tentative. Coy!
errIors Glasscock has announced his In.
tention OF calling nm extra session Of
the Legislature TO enact q primary
election law, and he referred to a bill
that passed the House OF Delegates In
the late session. This bill provided
for the election OF all candidates and
The members Of the State and County
committees. Hence. rif such a session
IS called and enacts such q law, the
most OF the work proposed above
wonlds be unnecessary. "a !.
The chairman OF the State commit.
tee, / take II, will not forestall the
governor by issuing a call for the
meeting of his committee, for, while
the governor as respects his official
functions, is the Representative OF nil
the people, regardless Of their political
party. utilization, he, is nevertheless, as
respects his political party, Its head
and leader. Fortunately, in Governor
GIasscock We have a thoroughly good
Republican and a thoroughly good,
able and conscientious man. The
Affairs OF the State and of the party
alfk care safe in his hands. That he
will considerS the matter anew in the
light OF ali the circumstances We may
be sure. II he Is still OF opinion that
II Is his duty to call the legislature to.
4gether and give 1t opportunity to pass
q primary election lava thing a
great majority Of the people want, and
(which will come, sooner or later
then, Of course, We must await the
outcome.
Up TO Legislature. II
For my own part, beg to be per-
mitted to say that / hope the govern
or will call the legislature and put II
up TO them. | think this Is his duty.
Both the Republican and Democratic
parties have declared themselves in
fayors OF II. ! believe that there Is a
majority In both branches OF the degis.
flature in favor Of an up-to.date pri-
mary election law. which will include
election of candidates for United
States Senator. ,{lRdeed ] think a
5primnry election. for that purpose
alone would be justifable and worth
sall4it cost. Surely the people are sick
. kof seeing mere {pocket-books to the
United States Senate.1 The danger is
that the members of the Legislature.
who favor n primafyl election law
will not get together. Powerful inter-
tests will oppose It. and they will be
here in the person OF shrewd, able
and adroit agents, who will use all
tsorts of means to create division. I
do not mean to be understood that
bonly the Interests" who want to con-
able to use 1t for their enrichment and
thezoppressfons of the public oppose
the primary plan; there are some
good and TYell,meanjng persona who,
oppose It also. They are ~apprehenfssffvfe.
Let nue. address to them the argument
aof expediency. A large majority of
the people want a primary election.
THE number is increasing; 1t has been
hpromised. Is 1t not beststo give the
people what they want, TO let them
try It?
Opportunity to Come Back.
II a State convention is held how.
ever, 1t should not be a mass conven.
ton. Such q meeting would have no
authority, 1t would represent nobody,
and there might be reason 10 be ap-
prehensive that 1t might assemble in
the interest Of some candidate or com.
bfnation OF candidates. and to elect q
esubseryient and obedient State com.
mitlee. The Republican party OF
West Virginia has an opportunity to
win, but 1t may be easily thrown away.
whether 1t wins in 1912 depends. The
people demand a fair deal. Anything
else. any setting up OF the pins In
the interest OF any candidate or com.
blnation Of candidates, will prove dis.
astrous. The merest tryo In politics
Fought to take note OF the great pro.
gressiye movement that is on, which
means that this shall be q government
for public interests and not for Brl.
Syate' Interests, and which will sweep
parties and everything else ASIDE STAT
stands in Its way. Never before did
the people care less for party names.
The old party siibboieths have lost
!Samuch Of their significance and power.
People are demanding that a party
shall stand for something. They see
clearer than ever before that political
parties and even the government It'll
SELF are means to an end, and that the
end Is, as the Constitution Of the
United States puts It, the public vel.
fare or as the Declaration Of hide
pendence says, Governments we're in.
sututed for the benefit Of the gov.
I erned, or as the Bible expresses It Qt
think more fundamentally than event
the Constitution or the Declarat,oa}, !
THE Sababth was made for man, not
man for the Sabbath" | beg pardon
IL ! speak somewhat earnestly. am
a Republican, and earnestly desire to
see my party win; but Iffear that
many Republican leaders fail 10 see
clearly and to appreciate fully the sit.
fuatlon, and that they do not grasp the
tIfull8 Significance nj tho nruot nroosaz