Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-03-23

rs foreign goveTnment by a number
of states of the Union, and such q
system has been voluntarily put into
operation by 8 large number Of the
big railroads and industrial plants,
including some coal mines in this
country Such + law, properly worked
out, applying to those engaged in haz-
ardous employment, would not be as
great u charge upon the industry as
the present system Of Industrial war
fare. A law oil this kind should be
uniform throughout all the states to
insure unjust competition.
Taxation.
I endorse mos1 unqualifiedly the tax
| department of our state and our tax
flaws. The law must, as in the past,
| be fairly and faithfully enforced, and
should be strengthened by new legis-
1 lstion wherever accessory to get the
best results for uniformity. There
are some people in our state, and the
majority Of the Democratic leaders,
who would repeal these laws, as vas
evidenced by the bill introduced In
the last legislature by Senator w. A.
MacCorkle, and but for the IS Re
| publican senators, no doubt the Dem
ocratic fight on the best tax law
| West Virginia ever had would have
been successful.
Primary Election.
/ favor a primary election law re-
| Qsiring nominations to be made for
all political parties on the same day,
allowing the people by direct vote, or
by proper representative methods, to
determine for themselves their can
didates for public offices. This law
should be 80 framed as TO cut out all
| possibility OF machine-made candi-
dates. This law Is what our party
has already declared for, and what
the Democrats a prevented us
from having at this time.
Corrupt Practice.
Republican form OF government can
not succeed where the electorate or
any considerable part of it, is bribed
or corrupted by the use of money o r
other corrupt practice INDUCED in to
thwart the Will OF the majority. /
therefore advocate a corrupt practice
law, so strong and sure In its penal
ties as to make the use OF money
for Illegal purposes next to impos-
sible, and also with such a law should
be a penalty providing hat the can
didate who violates any OF its pro-
visions. directly or indirectly, shall
| be ineligible to hold office for which
he is a candidate. II should also be
provided that the man who takes
money for his vote be DISTINGUISHED
for a long period of time for the first
onense, and permanently for the sec
ond o~rense. and that no person
should be relieved from answering on
the ground that 1t would subject him
to a penalty. The ballot must be
made pure aud its integrity main
talned.
Agriculture.
heartily favor the liberal mainte-
nance of the department of agricul-
ture I believe great good will result
In teaching the modern and scientific
methods Of farming, and a back to
the farm" movement should be en-
couraged. West Virginia has vast
quantities of fertile, tillable lands ly-
ing idle. We are purchasing from
other states. especially through the
southern portion of the state and in
the coal fields. over rs per cent of
the farm products we use. All of this
supply should he produced in West
Virginia. and will be when the proper
attention has been given to farming.
This Industry should be encouraged
by the state.
Public Economy.
neIieve IN the economical admin
ISL tation OF state affairs; that public
money should be used with
consistent with public needs, but with
a liberal and proper care for u hui
name and charitable Institutions and
especially liberal provisions should
be made for public schools. The
education of Il youths should not be
neglected. The state is now spend
ing for educational purposes double
the amount for that purpose under the
last Democratic administration. Our
free schools have almost doubled. the
terms increased from four to SIX
months. We have better teachers and
pay them better wages.
Party Endorsement.
Every Republican should feel proud
of the administration of the states
affairs for the past 16 years. The
party has made good. and deserves
to be retained in power. No period
Of our states history shows such
rapid growth. material development
and boIndless prosperity, as that
which has taken place in these six
teen years Of Republican rule. The
party came into power and found an
empty treasury. while today it con-
tains Over s.. 100000 to the good. All
public. humane and charitable institu-
tions have been enlarged and better
cared for. and with a saving of $780,,
coo per annum I'm their management
by a board of control. The direct
state tax practically removed, and the
lowest tax rate for all purposes Of
any state In the Union. All our four
administrations have been able.
worthy and honorable. and deserve
the highest commentator and APP
proval by all the people,
Conclusion.
am too much limited in space to