The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-05-02
A Useless Referendum.

Wneellng people are Just receiving
copies Of the referendum circular
that Congressman John w. Davis
recently, distributed here. The
Wheeling Intelligencer thinks that
| 1t Is rather late In the day to dis
tribute the list OF questions but
that it does not matter, as the lists,
whether early or late, are absolute
ly useless The Intelligencer tells
why. as follows:
On the principle OF locking the
stable after the horse has been
stolen, the Hon. John w. Davis is be-
ginning to invite the opinions OF hts
constituents as to pending legls-
lation. He has sent out a number
Of circular letters to voters in the
First district in which he propounds
number OF queries as to their
views, His first question Is:
DO you believe the protective tar
III on chemicals, steels, woolens and
cottons should be lowered?"
In view OF the fact that Mr.. Davis
has already voted for a bin cutting
the tariff duty on iron and steel in
two, and for another bill cutting the
protective duty on wool and wooden
goods in two, 1t would seem that his
questions to the West Virginia voters
have arrived little late. In view,
moreover, of the fact that he has re-
Gently stated to number OF his
constituents, who have appealed to
him In regard to the tariff, that he
was a Democrat and that he in
tended to vote with the Democratic
caucus, 1t would seem that his
Questions were not only a little
late but absolutely useless. On more
than one occasion Mr.. Davis has
told Republicans of the First dis
trict, that he could not give them a
hearing or accord them support in
matters of legislation, because his
views and his votes were controlled
by the Democratic caucus. A prom
inent Republican OF Follansibee, who
attempted to discuss the iron and
steel tariff with him, encountered
substantially this statement only a
few weeks ago.
Who are the majority of the DEM
ocratic caucus, who makes the
views and who control the votes of
John w. Davis on the tariff ques-
ton? The majority of the Demo-
cratic caucus comes from such states
as Alabama, Georgia, Florida,
Mississippi Texas and Arkansas.
They come from states that have
little or no manufacturing interests.
They come from states that care
little or nothing about the wool or
wooden industry. They come from
states that are not interested in
glass or potteries, and yet the vote
of John w. Davis. representative
from the First West Virginia dis.
trict, is controlled by these men,
and insofar as he has any influence
in the Congress of the United States,
1t is exercised only as an asset OF
Democratic congressman who have
no interests in or sympathy with the
great industries of the district which
Mr.. Davis represents.
The interests of the people of the
First West Virginia district are
practically the same as the interests
of the people of Ohio and Pennsy!-
vania. If we are to send repre-
sentative to Congress whose vote
must be controlled by a caucus, let
US send one whose vote will be con-
trolled by representatives of manu-
featuring states, and by representa-
tiyes of states whose interests are
like our interests.
Let US add no further strength to
Georgia, to Mississippi, to Arkansas
and to Alabama in the Congress- of
the United States.