Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-09

NC uNAlINAA ~ N-AAA1ltlUn u r To-
| Rressive Republicans has been encour-
aging the West Virgins Progressive
Republicans IN their opposition to the
primary election plan devised BY the
same old Machine which has so long
domiaated the Republican party IN
Yves, Virginia. and whose object is we'll
un lafstood to be its own perpetuation.
In statement issued from the Pro-
gressive Republican headquarters In
Washington this assertion is made:
THE demand for primary became
so great in West Virginia few weeks
ag, that the State Central Committee
could ignore it no longer Al majority
of the committee members are stand
patters and were opposed to primary
of any kind. but in order to throw q
sop to the people an agreement was
Preached whereby a primary would be
held. This primary, however. would
/ apply only to State offices, The com
mittee expressly refused to permit the
! people to express their choice for Presi-
dent in voting for delegates to the
national convention and they likewise
refused to incorporate in the primary
plan an opportunity for the people to
have a direct vote on the United States
Senatorship"
The Washington Times, official organ
of the Progressive Republicans at
Washington. referring to the same
condition, says:
! "Tbis has angered the Progressives,
who are convinced the primary will be
a farce unless the rulesar most care
fully devised and who insist it shall in
clude the Senatorship; delegates to the
National Convention and Presidential
preference. y
From these extracts it may be seen
that the Republican leaders in West
Virginia, the machine members of the
State committee. have not succeeded
very well in deceiving the people as to
the character of the primary election
they intend to hold. Even at this dis
lance it is apparent to those who have
investigated the situation that the pur
port of the calling of the primary cleo
tion was, as stated by the Progressives
to throw sop to the people, whiIt
perpetuating themselves in control O
the party machinery.
Strong intimations are made by Pro
gressives here that West Virginia il
expected to go Democratic unless til,
demands by the Progressives for pri
mary on the matter Of delegates to tn,
national convention are granted, ant
81 the Stand Patters in West Virginia ar
already accusing members of the Stat
committee Of secretly working for TIL
defeat of the Republican party las
year. On the other hand it Is charge,
that Stand-Patters in West Virgins
and Federal office holders would rattle
see the State go Democratic and leav
former Senator Scott in control of th
Federal patronage than to have Re
publican administration which might b
unfriendly to them.
That Charles w, Swisher will be h
Republican nominee for Governor i
1912 is the opinion expressed here b
M. T. Roach, of Fayette county, larg
operator and receiver for the Charles
ton Mail II believe he would max
the strongest candidate the Republican
could name. said Mr.. Roach. Thi
information follows the recently mad
assertion of State Chairman Sam Mat
thews, that Swisher is the only candi
date and probably Will be nominated
With Matthews and Roach asserting
that there is not any other candidate j
is pretty strong evidence that Swishel
is to be the machine nominee-whethel
primary is held or not
Four additional votes in the NatiOna
y convention for West Virginia. making
:. 20 instead Of the 16 the State will be
q entitled to under the present rule, is
g what Senator Jonathan Bourne. Pro
q gressive leader, is trying to get for the
: State. To obtain these additional votes
: for West Virginia, Senator Bourne
would aboliah the plan of giving each
State two votes for each Senator and
Congressman it has and would give II
instead votes propor.ioned to its Re
publican vote at the last general cleo
ton. This would decrease the repre-
sentation of Southern States which
have good-sized representations in Con.
gress but cast small Republican vote,
and in which President Taft is expected
to have strong support.
The Maryland and West Virginia
boundary line suit. after some twenty
years in court, has reached the point
where the final report Of the commits
sioners who surveyed and marked the
line has been made to the Supreme
Court. But the Maryland commissions
made minority report and some fur.
Their time may be required before the
case win be ended. George E. Price.
of Charleston. has been caring fol
West Virginias interests in the case
and has won every point raised since
the case was begun
Senator Watson, Congressman Johr
w. Davis and John M. Hamilton ani
Henry Fry Secretary to Senator Chill
ton, were all here short time in thu