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

\ which permitted full and free ex-
ipression from the voters and stated
that 1t was bill which was fair to
both political parties.
Dr.. Hatfield praised the Conman
bill, but said he was not particular
about the name of the bill, and turn
ing to Senator D. E. French, author
OF the French referendum bill, he
said. you strike from your bill,
Senator French, the referendum
clause which will not permit it to be-
come operative for two years, and
the Acknowledgement provision which
would disfranchise many of our
voters, and DR.. Hatfield will sup
port it."
Senators E. t. England, of Logan
county. and D. B. Smith, of cabell
county, staunch supporters of direct
primaries, supported the coffman
bin. while Senator Chas. G. Coffman,
of Harrison county, author of. the
bill, went into an elaborate discus
sion OF 1t. He also discussed the
French referendum bill, showing by
the citations of numerous authors
ties, that the referendum clause was
unconstitutional, and that 1t was not
within the province of the Legisla-
ture to refer a general law to the
people OF the State.
Cloven Hoof Revealed.
1t was during the discussion of the
Coffman bill from the Democratic
side OF the chamber that the plans
of the Chilton-Watson combine to
kill all primary legislation which
would become effective before 1912,
were fully revealed. In the midst OF
his speech and consumed by the
heat of argument Senator A. c. Nc
Intire exclaimed: 1--WE did not
come here to do it and we don't in
tend to do it. We do not need any
primary law"
Senator w. a. Naccorkle, also
made an discriminating statement,
when in pleading for an adjourn
ment of the Legislature, he remark
ed: at is known that the House
will not pass any legislation; that
we will not pass theirs and they
will not pass ours"
Senator McIntire, opposing the
passage OF the coffman primary bill,
said:
You say you are not partisan; /
say that you are partisan and Re
! publican governor will not cram
anything down the. throats of a
Democratic Legislature which will
get his party together. We did not
come here to heal the bleeding sores
you have made in your own party.
!, We didn't come here to do it, and
we don't intend to do it."
81 say frankly and fearlessly that
II am partisan in this matter. This
is a question that goes to parties
alone, and when I stand here and
! oppose the Coffman bill l do 1t be-
cause | am Democrat, and because
/ am not elected as Democrat to
help the Republican party heal the
sores that are in their own ranks,
by iabbing down the peoples threats
a bill that will do that. You need
not expect any help from the Dem
ocratic party in order to clean your
own back door of the dirt you have
carried there. We have no trouble
in our own ranks. We are not
caring anything about the troubles
you have got. WE DO NOT NEED
ANY PRIMARY LAW"
Contrast the statements OF Sena-
tor McIntire with those made by the
Republican members OF the Senate.
The Republicans offered to join the
Democrats in support of any bill
which would permit the direct nomi-
nation of candidates for public Of
fee, provided it did not contain a
referendum clause to make the law
imperative for two years, and pro-
vided further that it did not contain
a Acknowledgement clause which
refused a single voter participation
in the primary elections. The Re
publican party has never stood for
the Acknowledgement of any citizen,
regardless of his political affiliations,
race, color, or mental accomplish
ments and the Republican members
OF the Legislature, WITHOUT being
false to their party, could not stand
for the enactment of law which
aimed to disfranchise thousands OF
voters in primary election.
There were at least two OF the
) members of the State Senate on the
Democratic side of the chamber who
.a.a..:.n4 1ho e,jroaeo 80 fha CofT-