The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-10-24
'GItkESON RESOLUTION
Mere Makeshlft to Defer Primary
Legislation for Two Years in the
Interest Of Clarence W.
Watson.

Legislation for Two Years in the
Interest Of Clarence W.
Watson.
Failing in their efforts to adjourn
the Legislature without the consider
alton of a direct primary law; re-
cording themselves in opposition to
direct primaries by defeating the Hub
bard resolution, and having succeed
ed in the appointment of a packed
committee in which primary bills
could be smothered, the Chiffon Wat
son combine then took a step to es-
cape the consideration of primary
measure by referring the proposition
to a commission which could report to
the Legislature of 1913.
Coming from the boss-riden county
of Hampshire where John ]. Cornwell,
at the dictation of eastern financiers,
had sunk a knife into the form OF his
erstwhile benefactor, Col. John T. Nc
Graw, and was now doing the bidding
of the Chilton-W Watson combine and
opposing primary law along with the
other Democratic county bosses who
manipulated the nominations In
Hampshire county, Henry NJ. Gilkeson
became the patron OF a resolution
which to that time was the boldest
attempt made during the special SEES
sion to prevent Clarence W. Watson
from seeking denomination at the
hands of the voters of West Virginia.
II was a measure designed to thwart
the will of the people and would de-
fer primary legislation for a period
of two years and was approved by the
leaders OF the senatorial machine.
The Gilkeson resolution, couched in
language to befog the thoughtless
reader, was a mere makeshift to keep
the Legislature from considering q
direct primary law at the special ses-
sion and on the floor Of the House Of
Delegates it was denounced by able
and loyal Democrats as party perfdy
land subterfugs. BY one it was char
acterized as a dishonest measure
which admitted the incompetence OF
the Legislature to deal with the pri-
mary question.
The object Of the resolution was to
authorize the appointment of COM
mission of five members of the Legis-
lature who were to draft primary
law in the ensuing two years and re-
port TO the next regular session of the
Legislature which would meet in jan
uary, 1913. Clarence W. Watson, with
his millions, would be a candidate
for Senator in 1912. Was this resolu-
tion designed for the purpose of pre-
venting Watson from submitting his
candidacy for reelection to the yot-
ers of his party? Could more con-
vincing proof of the servility of the
Democratic majority to the interests
of the senatorial combine, be had?
The only argument advanced in
favor of the Gilkeson resolution, even
by the patron himself, was that 1t
would require time to secure law
that would be satisfactory to every
one, and in order to avoid bad legisla-
ton it would be necessary to appoint
a committee and give them sufficient
time to draft law based upon the
experience OF other states, Yet at the
regular session three months before,
Mr. Gilkeson himself, had voted for
the passage OF the Campbell bill. He
did not state then that he was incom-
petent or that he did not know it was
necessary for a commission to con-
slider this subject. Three months
elapsed between the time the Gov
ernor stated he would call the extra
session and the onvening of the Leg
islature. Was not that sufficient
time for Mr.. Gilkesou. who had been
certain OF his knowledge of good
primary bill in January when he vot-
ed for one, to have acquired some of
these details which he desired to refer
to a commission?
The aim of the Gilkeson resolution
is shown by the resolution itself:
The GiIkeson Resolution.
Whereas, the matter of a compul-
sorry primary election law is one of
grave importance to the people of the
State, and one that should receive the
most serious, careful and intelligent
consideration at the hands of the Leg
islature, and especially in view of the
fact that there is a wide difference OF
opinion among our people as to wheth-
er the good results expected from
such laws in the other States. that
have enacted them. have been obtain
ed, in the eliminating and lessening