The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1912-11-21
Rewnre "a the serpent.


There are but few men in West
virginia Who refer to the recent
state victory IN politics other than
Republican. It is true that what
called itself for the time being the
Progressive party contributed to the
victory, but only that part of that
party that was previously known as
Republican really voted for the Hat
field ticket and those nominated at
the June primary election for the
legislature. Many former Democrats
voted for colonel roosevelt but they
did not vote for DR.. Hatfield or
other nominees of the June primary.
They did not vote for men for the
legislature on the ground that they
were Progressive Democrats who did
vote for legislative nominees Of the
June primary did SO for the sole
purpose OF Kidding this state OF
what they knew to be Wisconsin
Under such circumstances, it is an
erroneous assumption to insist that
the progressive party, as it is called,
should stick together in the legisla-
ture like leeches, and block the will
of the people as the Horgantown
Post-ChronicIe. an unbalanced
newspaper, urges. That newspaper
declares that the state should be
without representation in the Uni
ted states Senate two years rather
than send anyone else there than So
called Progressives. It argues that
everyone who did not openly identi-
fy himself with the Roosevelt move
ment is a reactionary-
Rational thought ought to lead
the Morgantown newspaper to the
conclusion that the Roosevelt move
ment, known as third party
merely means an incorporation of
the. more cardinal principles OF that
party into the policy and practice OF
the Republican party. NO number
of men who enlisted in the Roose-
Welt movement, which under neces-
sity had to be based on a so-calIed
third party, is willing to acknowl-
edge that the movement was meant
for more than a chastisemenS. They
are all Republicans and will con-
tinue to be Republicans if they
find that the Republican party ad-
iusts itself to the demands OF its
former members who have become
estranged for the time being
Mere party prestige will not JUS
t-fv the Progressives in blocking
legislation. whether they be few or
many in the legislature, they should
remember that they were nominated
and elected as Republicans with the
endorsement of the Progressive part
of the Republican party, If former
Republicans now in the Progressive
party may be styled as such They
should remember that regular DEM
ocrats and Progressive Democrats
did not elect them and that what
Democratic votes they received were
on account of the shameful proceed
fngs engaged in by the previous leg
islature at the instance Of men who
had nc. scrupIes in politics The
fact that there may be some mem
bers of the legislature who believe
in principles as propounded by Col
Onel Roosevelt DuI AO1 , CT
porated in the Republican platform
win not justify those few men IN
playing into the Democratic hand by
falling to cooperate fairly and ra-
tionaIly with what may be known
as regular Republicans
1t is iii advice to urge legisIa-
tors not to elect any man TO the
United states Senate unless he rush
radically To the radical idea There
is no good reason why community
not have a law because the law pro-
posed does not go the limit. There
is no god reason why a community
should not have degree OF reform
because, it can not get reform per-
feet and absolute.
Were the Post-Chrontcle less pref
udiced, disappointed and grouchy (to
some extent for personal reasons), it
would be hopeful of a solution OF
the problems that confront the Re
publican party and less active in try
ing in its sour and bitter feeling
in trying to lend the Democratic
party a helping hand by its failure