The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-10-24
EXTRAORDINARY SESSION
Showing the Maneuvcrfng Of the
Chilton-Watson Combine to
Prevent Primary
Legislation.

Prevent Primary
Legislation.
Pursuant to the call issued by Coy
ernor Glasscock from the capitol on
the 18th day of April, the LegIsla-
ture convened in special session at
Charleston on May 1G, 1911. And
from the very moment that the Leg,
tslature convened in extraordinary
session the forces of Chiffon and
Watson, under the command OF Mac,
corltle in the Senate and Wetzel in
the House. opposed the legislation
proposed by the Governor and en-
dorsed by the free and uncontrolle
Democrats OF the state.
Fifteen days before the session
began, the Charleston Gazette, per
sonal organ of Senator Chiffon. pre-
dicted there would be no primary
bill passed at the special session and
limited at an early adjournment
without even considering the sub
fleets enumerated by the Governor In
ibis proclamation.
In fact this was the scheme OF tn
chilton-Watson combine to adjour
the Legislature when it assemble
without even the consideration Of
direct primary law. This pla
failed because there was about TWEEN
ty Democrats in the House and Sen
ate who were loyal to their parts
and the platform pledges of tn
party a2a who refused to enter
caucus where a vote on the question
would be binding.
That the plan to force an early
adjournment OF the Legislature wa
defeated was due entirely to the ac
ton OF these Democrats who insist
ed upon the redemption OF the par
ty pledges. Delegate VIM. B. Ice
of Marion county, the home of Gar
ence W. Watson, controlled dele
gate, made such motion in con-
ference of the Democratic members
of the Legislature but it raised such
storm of opposition that Ice was
forced to withdraw his motion.
Failing in their first effort to ad
iourn the Legislature before an ex
/ presslon was secured from either
House on the subject of direc
primary law, the Watson-Chilto
combine turned their thoughts in an
Iother direction and conceived tn
brilliant idea that they could pre-
vent the House of Delegates fro
taking any action by the appoint
ment OF a packed committee whic
could effectually strangle all bills
resolutions and measures which di
inot have the endorsement of the cor.
irupt combine. Speaker Wetzel an
tnounced his willingness to help the
senatorial machine tie the hands o
those who insisted the party shoul
carry out us pleuSeS.
The Special Committee OF 81.
Under the rule Of the House which
governed that body at the regula
session of the Legislature, all the
bills introduced in the House O
delegates. were referred to the APP
propriate committee. Naturally al
bills Of the nature OF a primary cleo
ton law would be referred to tn
Committee on the judiciary.
The regular Committee on the Ju
dietary was headed by Judge c. w
Campbell, of Cabell county, himsel
the author of the Campbell primar
bill, and on his committee we're 9th
er strong advocates of the primar
legislation like Nelson C. Hubbard
of Ohio county, and E. F. Moore,
Marshall county. The committee
whole was favorable toward tn
enactment OF direct primary law.
Speaker Wetzel and the Chiffon
Watson combine knew this fact and
they formulated plan by which
special committee could be created
for the consideration of all matter
referred to in the call OF the Gov
ernor.
Delegate John Dice, of Greenbrier
county, adherent of the Chiffon
Watson combine, was picked for the
disagreeable task OF introducing the
resolution which would take away