The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1912-05-01
a TseIess R-eferendnm.

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 bu,
that It does not matter, as the lists,
whether early or late. are absolute
" useless The IuteITigencet telil
why, as folloEss
oP the principle Of locking the
stable after the horse has been
stolen the Hon, John w.aDayfs is be-
ginning to invite the opinions of his
constituent a pending legis-
.lation. He has sent out a number
OF circular letters to voters in the
First district in which he propounds
a 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 bill cutting
the tariT duty on iron and steel in
two, and for another bill cutting the
protective duty on wool and wooden
goods inltwo. 1t would seem that his
questions to the West virginia voters
have arrived q little late. In view,
moreover, of the fact that he has re-
Gently stated to a number of his
constituents, who have appealed to
him in regard Hto the tariff, that he
was a Democrat and that he In
tended to vote with the Democratic
caucus, It would seem that his
questions we're 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 Follansbee, 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-
tion? 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 r
little or nothing about the WOOL or
WOODEN industry. They come from
states that are not interested In
glass or p~otteries, 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 Pennsyl-
vania. II we are to send a repre-
sentative to Congress whose vote
must be controlled by a caucus, let
us send one whose vote will be con-
tfolled by representatives of mana
featuring states, and by representa-
tives 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.