Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-10-19
HAS FAITH IN
WEST VIRGINIA
H {. Williams, Candidate fOI
Commissioner Of Agriculture.
IS A SCIENTIFIC FARMER
Expresses Viows On Questions Hav.
ing TO Do With Development Of
Lands and Other Matters Of Vital
interest to People of the state.

fHtSt|St ~ fISPlS VI TIC SNskCs
In my primary election campaign
stated that in my Judgment. it is not
only the duty, but the privilege, OF
every candidate for Office where the
Tublic interests are affected 10 ex-
press his views on questions in which
the people are interested, 80 that they
may know his position and, with rea-
sonatle certainty, anticipate his ac-
ton did so In my primary election
in what might be termed my plat
form. II rs therefore a matter CT
Pleasure for me to again express my
views to the people Of West Virginia
On some Of these important questions.
In my Judgment the office Of COM
missioner of agriculture is one of the
most important in the gift of the peo-
rle Of the state, because Of the great
responsibility and far-reaching influ-
ence which has boen placed upon this
commissioner by the legislature, and
Of the possibilities for agricultural de-
yelorments which lie within our state.
Possibilities which are limited only
By two things. the appropriations from
the legislature and the mans ability
and willingness to serve the people.
] believe that agriculture is the
fundamental and perhaps the most
important of any of the Industrial
pursuits. The consumption Of food
products in West Virginia is far great
er than the supply. We have much
waste and worthless land in West
Virginia which can be made to bring
good return. Much of the land now
under cultivation is not sufficiently
productive. We ought, therefore, to
exert every effort to develop our
lands, conserve our soils along prac-
teal lines and make them productive
Of the things most profitable, whether
they be apples or blue grass, or some
thing else.
| believe in the development of our
natural resources, such as coal oil
ond gas land, but under such sys-
tom as will prevent all unnecessary
waste. and will conserve for future
generations as much of that product
IS may be in keeping with our present
needs.
We ought to develop our timber
lands, but under such conditions as
will best protect from destruction
that part of the forests not now of
sufficient size to be of market value
The average timber owner or lumber
man is helpless under our conditions
in West Virginia. In my judgment
the state should in some way encour-
age and help in the protection and
conservation Of our forests.
favor the best system of public
schools possible under our conditions
The standard set for our teachers
should be the highest and their com.
pensation in just proportion.
/ believe that the farmer should
have legal protection from the i'm
portation of filthy Cd polluted agri.
cultural seeds, and that the feeders
Should be protected from the importa-
tion of mixed and untrue to name"
feeding stufIs.
favor the creation of a public util.
tiles commission to assess values on
public utilities, and to so regulate
their services that neither the corpo
ration nor the public shall be imposed
upon. A just compensation for SER
vice rendered is certainly the moral
and legal right of both capital and
labor.
favor a primary election law
whereby all political parties may have
nominations made at state expense
on the same day, on the same ballot
and in such manner that the choice
Of the people may be clearly ascer,
tanned.
There are many things along this
line which might be mentioned. such
as a pure food law, properly enforced
The collection of agricultural sta
tstics at such time and in such man.
ner as may be OF value to the state
and the nation in estimating the guam
tity of the product, ard thus being en-
sbled to anticipate prices.
favor cooperation with the real
estate agents of the state, to the end
that our farms may be repopulated
and that new people and new blood
may be scattered throughout our
state for the production of those
things of which we are so sadly in
need, Last, but by no means least,
! favor the construction of a good sys.
TEN of public roads by national, state
and local cooperation.
The cost of food products will con.
time to be governed by the supply
and demand Under our conditions
local competition is entirely removed
for many months OF the year on ac.
count of the cor dition of our roads
Our country churches and country
schools can not prosper as they
should under such conditions.
These questions | have been study
ing for years, know the farm from
the practical. hard work" side, and
my work in school and in college has
been OF the same character.
do not offer solution for all
fhnCn a. 4