The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-08-22
POLITICAL TRUISNIs FROM THE
NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Looking to West Virginia for Demo-
cratic Victory.
George WI Summers.


m address at the White House fea
days ago. He asserted that candi
dates for presidential electors are
"dishonest men, III they let Their
names appear on the Republican bal.
lot while intending to vote for the
candidate Of another party If they
are elected The President added
SIT Is essential that we make the
cleavage as clear as Vt can be made
so that those who are Republicans
shall be Republicans and those who
are with the boilers shall bear their
name and title, and not be Republi-
cans and boilers II there are any
men who have been nominated for
electors who are not going to vote
for the men at the head OF their
ticket, do not hesitate to say that
they are dishonest men, in that they
are holding out to the people who are
to vote for them an implied promise
that they will vote for the names on
the ticket, when they In fact intend
to vote for some one else
This is the opinion which ?resi-
dent Taft entertains OF those nomi-
nees for electors ON the Republican
ticket who expect II elected to vote
for Theodore Roosevelt for President
rather than for Mr. Taft.
On one matter the President
and the former President agree.
President Taft says that man who
|accpets Republican nomination
with the intention or voting for thu
candidate of another party is dis
honest man. Mr. Roosevelt says
that in his judgment no honest man
can support Mr. Taft and claim any
right to the suffrage OF an honest
man. Thus 1t is seen that Roosevelt
and Taft agree in their opinions OF
the nominees on the Republican
ticket for electors If they vote for
Taft Roosevelt says they are dis
honest: IL they support Roosevelt,
Taft says they are dishonest
The Importance in national affairs
of electing Democratic legislature
in West Virginia has been called to
the attention Of West virginians in
Washington by Democratic leaders
The election of five Democrats to the
Senate to succeed Ave Republicans
would give the Democrats control OF
he upper House Of Congress, pro
vided the Democrats 40 not lose q
Senator. 1T ID confidently expected
that five Democratic Senators win
be elected before the fourth OF next
March, two coming from Colorado.
one from New Jersey. one from Del
awese and one from Tennessee. DEM
ocr ztic leaders feel confident of the
election of Democratic Senators in
these states, and they are urging up
on states like West Virginia the ne
cessity of returning a Democratic
Senator in order .that the party may
control the NEXT Senate. If West
Virginia should elect a Republican
legislature and Republican Senator
should be sent to Washington to sue
coed Senator Watson It might change
the complexion OF the Senate entire
iy and provide Republican majori
ty in that body which the Democrats
should control.
Another important reason for the
election OF a Democratic legislature
at the coming election is that the
subject OF the Virginia debt will have
to be considered and acted upon by
the next legislature. The matter has
been entrusted for many years to the
Republican party. Attorney General
w. G. Conley has had charge OF the
debt case, assisted by w. M. O. DAY.
son, who for several years was paid
IS, 900 a year to assist in the case.
The result OF their efforts was an
opinion of the Supreme Court OF the
United States holding West Virginia
liable for ait least 100000 and
possibly as much as 100000
The question OF interest upon the
debt Is to be determined by the two
states. West Virginia must act
through its legislature. While the
matter was in the hands of the Re-
publican administration the finding
against the state for $7.000.000 or
more resulted, 1t would seem there
fore to be important that the ques-
ton OF interest should not be left in
bhe same hands but turned over to
legislature for settlement.
For their part In the saddling of a
debt OF millions of dollars uDon the
state General Conley has been re-
warded by the Republican party with
D nomination for Congress, while the
party has made Mr.. Daw-
soL It's National Committeeman ami
party leader In West Virginia.
CO Stuart w. Walker Of MARITIME
burg, the newly elected Chairman OF
the Democratic state committee was
here few days ago and announced
hat after short period OF recrea-d
lion travelling through New York and
New England In an automobile. he
sould go to Parkersburg to open the |
state headquarters Of the Democratic |
sarty. 1t Is expected the headqua.-
,crs will be open by August &c and
will be in. full running order before
he first of the month.
The House Committee on Elec-
ions No ! has been busy for more
han a week past In the preparation
4 IT'S report on the Wiley-Iiughes
contested election case. II II stated
hat the report will vigorously de-
lounce the corrupt political condi-
ions shown by the testimony In
his cage to exist In the Fifth dis
r..t While the COMMITTEES held that