The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-10-24

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OF going around among the people
and aseertaining whether or not they
are in favor of this law.
Il take IT, gentlemen. that the Re-
publican party has settled convictions
upon this question inasmueh as they
have declared in two Of their state
platforms that they are in favor Of a
primary election law, take II that
the Democratic party has settled and
definite convictions upon this matter
ihasmuch as they have pledged to the
people that they are in favor OF the
enactment Of a. primary election law.
That being true, both OF the great po-
lit.cal parties which are represented
In both the houses of the Legislature
lit cannot be said that they do not
have convictions. Then let US 20 to
the very purpose of the resolution
which has been introduced into this
House for the purpose ofdelaying any
legislation which might be proposed.
What is 1t? 1t is a conviction upon its
face, gentlemen, OF the incapncity Of
the members OF this Legislature TO
deal with matters of that kind. 1t is
an admission upon its face, gentlemen,
that this assembly is Incompetent TO
pass upon question which has been
discussed among the people and in
every school house throughout the
length and breadth of this State for
the last three years. 1t isplacing the
brand OF inc6mpetency upon every
lawyer in this House and in the State
senate-and upon the two members
of this House who haze presided over
the State Bar Association. 1t is
placing the brand upon that man who
sits in this House who has served
upon the Supreme Bench win Say,
gentlemen, that 1t is mere suffer-
fuge.
Let me ask you, fellow Democrats,
are you afraid to keep your promise
to the people? Is it more important
for you to keep your promises with the
people than it is to go back home
and upon broken promises, upon a
broken platform measure, and try 20
win a victory in two years upon the
dissatisfaction and dissention which
exists within the ranks of the Repubs
lican party? 1t has been said time
and again, gentlemen, that the DEM
ocratic party is incapable of running
the affairs of this State or of running
the affairs of this Nation. Is that
true? Are we going to pass that reso-
luton and go back home and let 1t be
said that they sent incompetent men
here to represent them, and along the
same line and by illustration, let me
say, that during the past campaign
l heard prominent Republican who
stands high in the official life of West
Virginia, make Republican speech
which was published in all Of the lead.
ing Republican papers throughout the
breadth of this State, and in that
speech, in about nine words, he re-
turned one of the most caustlc and
bitter indictments against the Demo-
cratic party that l have ever read or
heard. twas this: The Democratic
party stands leaderless, issueIess and
senseless.' Now we are up to that
proposition, gentlemen. Are we going
back and let 1t be said to us that
among our number we did not have
leader who could successfully lead
the members of this LEGISLATURE?
Then can 1t be said that the platform
of 1908, declaring in favor OF a prl-
mary election law means anything?
That the promises and the platform
speeches made insmany different coun-
ties mean anything? That we can
not'have an issue. That lf we did have
an issue it did not mean anything, and
then worst of,all can It be said that
after having elected an overwhelni-
ing majority in the House OF Delegates
OF West Virginia, that among that
body there was not one man who had
sense enough to+write the convictions
OF the party in the form of a bill?
Why, gentlemen, You need not deceive
yourselves. The people are looking
upon your record. The people are the
ones to whom you Will have to an
swer. 1t is not those men who meet
you and try to persuade you in the
hotels and upon the streets.
'Nowsgentlemen. sincerely hope
that this resolution will be,defeated
! sincerely hope that You will vote Il
down. sincerely hope that you will
make it possible for this Legislature
to enact a primary election law, and IL
MOTTO enact a primary law make Il
possible forgive the members who do
want a primary law to do work in
that direction. take II. pantiar,or