The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1911-11-21
Ring Rule Rebuked.
(By George w. Summers)

last week, with a view to ascer-
tanning what lessons are to be
learned from the results in the
several States. First of all it
appears to them that the people
are watching the careers of all
their public men and thinking
for themselves as to public poll
cies. 1t is apparent that no par
ty can win in these days upon
its name alone. There was once
a day when the mere name of
the Republican party at the head
Of ticket meant the success of
that ticket, regardless of the
candidates or the policies which
they represented. Now the
voters read and think for them
selves and are not bound by party
ties as they once were. There
fore if the Democratic party
would continue the success of
last year it must heed the re-
quirements of the people.
From the result of the last
weeks elections it is apparent
that but for a few instances in
which local matters were in is
sue the general trend of public
sentiment is still with the Dem
ocrats. Yet two lessons for
Democrats stick out prominently.
One is that the party can not 90
too far in the direction of radio
alism and succeed and the other
that it must not be subservient
IN any way to ring politics. Mol
ern progressive policies have
found favor among Democrats
who spoke through the ballot
box last week. but the results
show there must be a limit on
radicalism and that the party must
not go to extremes too rapidly
If it would win approval from
the people. And ring rule was
rebuked wherever it was an is
sue, in whatever party it was
found Fairness in party meth
DDS and a curb on policies that
may seem too radical seems to be
the requirements for party sue
cess as indicated by the recent
elections.
In West Virginia it is the Re-
publican party which is ridden
and boss ruled. The people re-
buked it last year and conditions
have not been improved since
then. The leaders in the Re-
publican party in West Virginia
need not fear any rebuke for
being too radical. They are re.
actionries of the worst type, but
because of opposition to the at
titude of the Republican party
it is not necessary to go too far
in the other direction. The les
son of the last elections will show
the temper of the people all over
the country is largely the SAME
against bossism and for progress
i've legislation without rushing
too far toward radicalism. The
Democratic party in West Vir-
GINA is standing on the same
platform and if the vote of other
States can be taken as an indi-
cation its vote next year will be
cast against the ring rule of the
Republican party and for the
progressive policies of the Demo
Gratis,
~
AS the time for the presiden-
tial nominations draws near, it
is becoming apparent that the
Republican national convention
of next year is to be cond ucted
on the lines of the famous Daw-
son convention of 1904 in Wheel
ing, when the State committee
determined contests in such a
way as to deprive Charles F..
Feter Of the nomination for Gov
ernor and bring about the nomi-
nation of w. M. o. Dawson. 1t
is even possible that contesting
delegation will be sent from
West Virginia to the national
convention, in which event it
will not require much guessing