The Penn's Grove record., 1911-06-02
WEST VIRGINIA
LAW DEFECTIVE
Archaic Registration Methods
Revealed by Senator.
POWER IN ONE MANS HANDS
BristoW's Plan to Make the District
a Political "Dog"-Congressman
LlttIepage Writes of Himself
Mexican War Scare Story
a Brazen Fake.
POWER IN ONE MANS HANDS
BY WILLIS J. ABBOT.

BY WILLIS j. ABBOT.
Washington.-When you listen to
the conversation of the two Demo
cratic senators from West Virginia
you are compelled to wonder at the
political revolution that overturned
the state and sent for the first time
since 1894 two Democratic senators
to Washington.
Take for example the case of Sena-
tor William E. Chiffon. He comes
from Kanawha, one of the busiest and
most prosperous counties in the state,
with a population exceeding that of
the state of Nevada, made up mainly
of miners and men engaged in the
development of it's rich coal, iron, oil
and gas lands.
After studying the obstacles we
had to encounter" said Mr.. Chiffon,
"and keeping in mind the history of
the state, it seems to us Democrats
who won the victory that it is fairly
incredible that we should have sue
ceeded. The state is historically. and
was naturally Republican. Its people
broke away from Virginia on the is
sue of secession, and were given sepa-
rate statehood by a Republican con-
gress and administration. We had
not merely this sentiment to combat,
but to a great extent the hostility of
the employing classes. Our state is
essentially an industrial one, domi-
mated by great corporations engaged
in the exploitation of our unrivaled
mineral wealth. The managers of
these corporations were-as men of
their type always are-distrustful Of
the Democratic party. But the out
come of the recent elections, not
merely in West Virginia. but through
out the nation, shows that distrust to
have been very largely allayed.
Archaic Registration Law.
But all other impediments to Demo
cratic success are dwarfed and fade
into nothingness by the side of the
archaic, indefensible and c%orrupting
registration law with which the state
is cursed. How WI eve got past that
law is beyond all comprehension. 1t
took mighty hard work and some
money used legitimately to compass
it.
Take my county for example
Kanawha. 1t is forty miles long by
about 80 wide. In 1t there are 103
registration districts each with its
own registrar. Mark that, its own
registrar We don't have bipartisan
boards of inquiry in which the rights
of each party are protected by its
own representatives. One man is the
supreme and sole arbiter in each dis
trict Of the question of who shall
vote and who shall be denied that
right. And how Is this man selected?
He is appointed by the Republican
county Judge on nominations kindly
furnished by the Republican ma
chine! What hope Of a fair registra-
ton could spring from such a sys-
TEN?
But more. How does this man go
about registering the voters? Does
he have an Office? Not always. If
he does it is his personal office. he is
not tied to any special hours and is
under no obligation to open 1t to the
public. Is there a day of registra-
ton? None at all. There Is no time
or place fixed for citizens to appear
before him and demand their names
be put upon the roll"
Bristow's Bill Looks Good.
If a bill introduced into the senate
the other day by Senator Bristow be-
comes a law the District of Columbia
will gain a new distinction. Washing
ton has long been the favorite dog"
on which theatrical managers try new
plays. Senator Bristow is going to
make OF the district a political dog on
which to try out a new plan of NOM
mating candidates for president and
vice-presfdent. l use the comparison
with the theatrical managers in no
sense, for the Kansas
plan seems to be emphatical- |
ly a good one.
In brief, his bill provides that the
residents of the district, after comply. |
Ing with certain formalities as to reg |
istration. etc., may have the right to
vot0 at primaries, conducted under
direction of the district commits |
sioners and paid for out of the dis
trict fund, for their preferred candi-
dates for president and vice-president,
for the delegates to the national con-
ventions, and for the district national
committeeman. Republicans and Dem
ocrats would naturally vote separate
tickets, and in each instance the voter |
the right to express his first and
second choice.
Under the rules of the two great |
parties the District of Columbia has
same representation in national
as have the territories
namely, two delegates to the Repub-
convention and six to the Demo
The disparity In numbers is
explained, or at least excused, with
the plea that the two-thirds rule in
the Democratic convention makes six
votes of no greater consequence than
two in the Republican. But there are
not wanting those who hold that po-
divisions having no votes
should not have a hand in nominating
candidates. 1t is quite conceivable ]
To Plank Fish.