The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1912-10-24
,ernment--an EpOc=n1alkin
conspiracy from its Beginning up TO the
Read the Record of Riot Of Political
Crooked Corporate Business, then
Your Answer at The Polls

who desired to become candidate
for United states Senator. Then il
was argued, that the call OF the Gov
erpor vas purely partisan. a scheme
OF Governor Glasscock to unite the
Republican party. OF course. it was
easily recognized by the ADVOCATES o.
{ direct primary law. that the purpose
OF these Arguments was to befoS the
public 1ind and divert the attention
OF the people away from the main
issue.
The day for the special session
came Among the first arrivals at
Charleston were Senator's A. C. Nc
Intire and Cray Silver; Speaker C.
NJ. Wetzel. and Delegate c. NJ. siebert'
all of them representatives from the
eastern Panhand1e. They came
through Washington where they were
in conference with Senator's watson
and Chiffon. and upon their arrival
here boldly proclaimed their OPP
pos sion TO the enactment OF q direct
pri1 .ary law, at this time.
At the regular session Of the Leg
islature in the month of January. the
House Of De1egates, by a vote OF u
to 5. had passed what was popularity
known as the CampbeIl-Cooper bill.
1t was drafted by Judge c. w Camp
bell, DeIpocrat, Delegate from Cabe1
county, one of-the most a6le--E1aeuae=
bers CT the Legislature, and the
Chairman OF the Judiciary Commit
tee OF the House OF Delegates. The
bill was OF democratic origin. but it
was Acceptable to Governor Glass
COCK. This, assuredly, was evidence
that the Governor had not called the
Legislature together with partisan
motives and did not seek any partisan
advantage in the character Of pri-
mary legislation which he desired
enacted.
when the call for the extra session
of the LegisIature was issued, Gov
ernor GIasscock had no doubt, be-
cause of the Former vote on the Camp
BEN bill that the House of Delegates
would pass the Campbell Bill or some
other primary measure equally as
good. He expected the State senate
to agree upon a bill satisfactory to
everyone. The confidence Of the Gov
ernor in the State Senate was not
misplaced, Tor the upper branch Of
the Legislature passed an excellent
direct primary law. but that his judg-
rnent and that OF 80 per cent Of the
people Of West Virginia in the House
of delegates. vas erroneous was dem
onstrated clearly by subsequent
events
For ffteep days the advocates OF
direct primary law fought faithfully
to beat down the opposition waged
by senators Watson and Chiffon.
through their accredited representa-
lives, NIacCorkle in the senate and
Wetzer in the House. Some of the
most able Democrats of the House Of
Delegates, men like Judge c. w.
CampbelI, OF Huntington; ". T. Ice,
Jr.. OF Pbilippi; James w. Robinson.
of Clarksburs; Nelson c. Hubbard OF
Wheeling. and Edward a. Brannon.
of weston. worked together with the
Republican minority for the enact
ment CT fair and honest legislation.
but it availed nothing. one thing.
however. was accomplished by the
courageous advocates OF a primary
law. They defeated every flank move
ment made by the Chilton-watsou
opponents OF the primary law and
forced the latter to consider primary
legislation. Tney succeeded in pass
ing fair and equitable primary law
through the state Senate. but the
House was held in vice-I:ke grip by
the forces OF corruption. and on the
evening OF May 80. the Legislature
adjourned sine die without the enact
ment OF direct primary law,
I'VE did not come here to do it and
we do not Intend to do it" was the
statement OF senator a c.. McIntire
of Morgan County. one OF the support
ers Of the Deuoeratic senatorial ma
chine and it accurately illustrated the
position Of the senatorial allies and
exposed to the people OF the state
the reason for the failure OF the Leg