Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-04-22
JUDGE ATKINSON
ANALYzES SITUATION
Republicans Need Only Harmony 70
Win--Favors Party Reorganixa-
tion-Opposes Extra Session.

tion-Opposes Extra Session.
The following letter was written to
q Wheeling friend by Ex-Governor At
kinson, who Is now a federal Judge
at Washington, and inasmuch as it
is not marked confidential, the Intelli-
gencer does not feel that it is be-
traying any confidence in publishing
the same While Judge Atkinson is
out of politics, il Is nevertheless a
fact that he is deply concerned over
the political situation in West Vir-
ginia, resulting from the unexpected
political ground-swell OF last No
yember In this letter he gives a
careful resume Of the situation and
as his views are always worthy Of
consideration by our people, we feel
sure that what he says will be read
with interest, and the 1ntelligencer
hopes, with profit. The following Is
the letter referred to:
my Dear Sir:--Your letter OF re-
cent date was duly received. and
hasten to briefly answer one or two
OF your most important questions.
Senator Sect has recently suggested
that the state committee should call
fself together at an early date and
request any republican who might
dsire to meet with it fer a confer
ence looking to reorganization OF
the committee leaving of all fed
eral aad state officials and the filing
of their places. with non-office holders
and men who are not specifically
seeking office; and at said meeting
adopt a set of rules for the future
government Of said committee. I re-
gard this good suggestion. but am
OF the opinion that the plan suggested
by Ex-Governor Dawson would be
more satisfactory because il is more
comprehensive in its scope. Gov.
Dawsons idea is for the state com
mittee to call a regular state con-
vention, having every magisterial dis
trict represented by delegates of its
own choosing for the purpose of Sc
lecting a new state committee and
adopting rules for its government. II
either of these plans are carried out.
feel confident that harmony can be
secured in the republican party of
the state, and that such getting to-
gether would be accomplished as to
bring all of the republican voters
into the ranks in the campaign OF
1912 If this desired result can be
accomplished, the republicans will
easily regain control of the state in
the next general election.
Il have carefully gone over the re-
suit of the election II 1910, and find
the FOLLOWING results:
'gn the election OF 1908 the repub-
Leans in West Virginia polled 1877 1863
voters, while in 1910 they only polled
S2.374 votes. a falling off OF 45,495.
In 1910 the democrats polled 100.S29
votes in the state, and in 1908 they
polled HAS votes, thus showing a
falling off OF 1859 votes during the
two years. These figures show about
25 per cent of a reduction of the re-
publican votes. and only about 10 per
cent of reduction OF the democratic
votes. The democratic majority in
republican majority in 1908 was 26,-
AL. We are all aware Of the fact
that great dissatisfaction existed
among the republicans OF the state
during the last campaign, and assum-
ing that the S,455, which as the
democratic majority last year, was
largely. IL not entirely. made up of
. II Ill
to this the 105S9 democrats who
xtaid away from the polls in 1870
the republicans would still have a
large majority II all of it's voters who
remsined away from the polls had
voted their regular party ticket.
which it is reasonable to assume they
would have done if they had gone to
the polls and voted.
"These figures show beyond ques-
tion that the last election was not a
democratic victory in any sense OF
the term, but it must be admitted
that it was a Republican d efeat.
Hence, all that is necessary to rega n
control of the state is for the reyub-
licans to reorganize on basis fair to
ali classes, and the result IN 1917 VIII
In no respect be uncertain. West
Virginia, more than any other state
in the union. needs and demands a
continuation OF republican principles
and policies if she hopes to prosper
in the future as she has in the PAST.
You ask my opinion as to the
propriety of an extra session Of the
legislature to exclusively consider the
passage of a state primary act. | am
opposed to an extra session, because
I am perfectly sure that as the legis-
nature is now organized it will prove
utterly impossible to enact law that
will be satisfactory to any political
party in the state. 1t would, there
fore, result in the unnecessary ex-
pendlture OF large sum OF money
without any good practical result In