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

li'e Legislature was not prepared, and
was not competent, at this time, to
enact primary legislation. But the
question OF direct primaries is not
new to the people OF West Virginia.
For almost eight years 1t has been
continually agitated and the people OF
this State have been students OF pub
lie questions. The men OF this State
have as much intelligence as those
of any other State, they are Just as
competent 10 seisct their candidates
for public Office. They have Just as
high regard for the public officials,
and they have insisted with much
emphasis that these public servants
who represent them, must be men OF
the highest character, whose love Of
State and country cannot be question
ed and whose zeal for the public well
fare cannot be impugned.
Notice Of Special Session.
When the regular session of the
Legislature OF 1911 adjourned on Feb
ruary "a, without the enactment Of
a direct primary law, Governor Vim.
z. Glasscock announced on the ensu-
ing day that he would assemble the
Legislature in special session for the
sole purpose of considering this I'M
portant measure. Three months
elapsed before the Legislature as
sembled in special session. Certainly
those who were unprepared to vote
on primary legislation did not avail
themselves of the opportunity in this
interim of three months TO acquaint
themselves with this proposed leg
islation. the only subject the Gov
ernor stated he would include in his
call for the special session.
Pursuant to this announcement,
Governor Glasscock, on the 18th day
of April, 1911. issued proclamation
convoklng the Legislature in extra
ordinary session on May 16, 1911, for
three purposes:
First-To pass direct primary
law, providing for the direct nomlna-
ton OF all candidate for public office,
including the office OF United States
Senator
Second-to amend and strengthen
the Corrupt Practices Act, passed By
the Legislature of 1908
Third-To pass appropriation bills
defraylng The expenses of the special
session
1t will be observed from the record
that the last suggestion of the Gov
ernor in his proclamation was the only
one observed by the Legislature.
q. $. Senators Fight Direct Primary.
Immediately following the action Of
the Governor convoking the Leglsla-
ture In special session. the opponents
of direct primary law, the men who
were afraid to trust the people TO
make their own nominations, went
to work to defeat the proposed leg
.slation. This opposition was led by
the two men whom the State of West
Virginia had honored with the highest
Offices within her gift, the two United
States Senators-Wm. +. Chiffon and
Clarence w. Watson. The latter was
and is a candidate to succeed himself
in 1912. His first nomination had
been secured in a manner repugnant
to the people OF the state, II pri-
mary law was enacted he would be
forced to submit his candidacy to the
people, II the primary law was de-
feated he could secure another eau
Gus nomination. The latter might
Ibe more expensive. 1t was, also,
more certain
1t did not tage the two United States
Senators long to determine which
course was best for Watson to pur.
sue. Immediately there commenced
a campaign of fabrication and viii.
fication. 1t was promulgated by the
twin organs OF the two Senators, the
Charleston Gazette and the Fairmont
Times. the former owned by Chiffon
and the latter controlled by Watson
In unison the subsidized newspapers
proclaimed that the call for the spec
Iial session was issued at the request
Of former Governor W. NJ. o Dawson