Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-08-30

Republicans Greatly Worried In State
| Because Of Trouble With Bull Moos.
ers and the Strike sltuation-Judse
Benefits Case Excites Interest and
Democrat viii Succeed Him.
Charleston, w. Va, Aug. 26.-United
States Senator William f. Chiffon, of
West Virginia, has taken the initiative
toward reforming the Congress of the
| United States in the way of progress
i've legislation by introducing a resolu-
ton which has for its purport the
amending of the Constitution of the
United States so that majority vote
of Congress will be sufficient to over
come the veto of the President 1t is
not really to reform Congress but to
overcome the obstacles in the way of
progress because of the Presidents
power to veto.
At the present session of Congress,
several important measures have been
adopted which were disapproved by
President Taft. A majority was in IA
vor of passing them over the Execu-
tive's veto, but the necessary two
thirds could not be found. Therefore,
much progressive legislation has been
blocked by stand-pat President.
While as a usual thing such a safe
ty as the veto power as at present
protected may be a good thing, many
West Virginians would be glad had the
majority rule applied at the present
session.
For the past several years the Demo
Gratis of the State have openly charged
fraud in the election in various coun-
ties having a large colored vote. One
of the worst of these offenders has
been Fayette where some of the large
coal operators have dictated nomina-
tons and elections. Not until the
Democrats and insurgent Republicans
fused two years ago were they able
to break the power of the machine.
Eight years ago William R. Bennett,
was elected judge of that circuit Many
he was allowed to remain on the
bench until two weeks ago when i'm
parchment charges against him, sign
ed by large number of attorneys prac
ticing at his court, were forwarded to
Governor Glasscock and a special SEES
sion of the legislature asked to try
the jurist. The charges contain many
things not ethical for a Judge They
vary from immortality to accepting
gifts which are charged to be almost
in the way OBJ brides. 1t caused some
stir in old Fayette and may be ralect-
ed in the coming election there.
Under such fire Bennett rendered his
resignation and Governor Glasscock
promptly accepted it. But Bennett is
the Republican nominee for reelection
and he has not resigned from the tick
ct. Instead he has declared he will go
into the election and win, thus gain
ing a vindication from the voters. A
few years ago the machine could have
elected him but the Independents and
Democrats have fused again this year
and Fayette is promised a Democratic
Judge for the first time in more than
a dozen years.
The fight between the Progressives
and Republicans in the State has brok-
en- out anew. This time it is over the
presidential electors. When it was
feared that the Republican electors
were favorable to Roosevelt, the Taft
followers attempted to have them re-
placed by Taft electors. 1t became
known later that at least three of the
electors would vote for Taft. The Pro
gressives had been willing to have the
same electors on both tickets and then
let them vote for the candidate for
President getting the larger vote.
But when the chief Bull Mooser |
learned that there was danger of some
of them remaining Republicans he is /.
sued instructions to Ex-Governor w. |,
NJ. o. Dawson to see to it that only |
such electors he placed on the Pro |
gressiye ticket as will stand by T, r. !
and him alone. Dawson then took |
the matter up and found that it would .
be necessary to get some new cleo |
tors. Wlue III lAe ulluSl OF MS search |
the Republican leaders again started .
a campaign of inquiry with view to !
having those electors showing Roose- !
welt proclivities replaced by Taft men,
Both sides are fighting and neither /
side knows just what they want or
how to proceed. Neither side is will
ing to give and take.
But there is no use and both Pro (
gressive and Republicans realize it. /
Even with the same electors on both |
tickets all hope of electing them had |
long since been given up by the lead
ers of the two parties, Now that there |
are likely to be two sets of electors |
there can be no doubt of the outcome |
and the Democratic electors will be
elected by the largest plurality given
a candidate in the last 20 years.
Republicans in the State are wor-
ried over the strike situation in the