The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1912-10-24
Story Of the Great
Present Time.
Knapery and
Give
.eMoNTAXI sEMPER LIBERT
an Accepted Truth Ignored by n
Controlled Legislature-The
Record on the Primary
Election Law.

Election Law.
Recently magazine writer, a man
OF national reputation, known from
coast TO coast. asked the pertinent
questloa.:-"What are you going TO
do about it2"-referring to the usur-
patton OF the rights of the people by
men whom the people had created
and placed in high public Office.
This question, at this time. is es-
pecially pertinent to West Virginians,
for a Legislature Of this State. chosen
by the people. and entrusted by them
with authority, has refused to reeog-
nize the sovereignty of the electorate,
and has denied to the people Of West
Virginia their demand to make their
own nominations Of candidates for
public office. This statement should
not only interest you-it should as
found you, for it occurred in the year
1911 when the right of the people to
govern themselves is no longer in
question.
This is the story of the courageous
struggle for popular reform, sim
pIe.uarraaon of facts and faithful
recordation OF. deeds, showing Why.
how and by whom the people OF West
Virginia were refused by the men to
whom they had delegated authority,
to allow them to choose their own
candidates for public office. II is not
tale OF Russia with her autocratie
government and despotic rulers 1t
is a true story of what occurred in
West Virginia Legislature in the year
1911.
The Rights Of the People.
A direct primary law. providing for
the direct nomination OF all candi-
dates for public Office. was the re-
form the people of West Virginia
urged before the Legislature Of the
State. such a law is not an innova-
ton. It IS not a radical departure
from our fixed form of government
It merely prescribes that the people,
instead Of deIegating the authority to
Others who pervert this given power
TO reap dishonest profits. take unto
themselves that which is righuuliy
theirs-the right to name their can
didates for public Office. No matter
the party to which you render alleg-
lance. that right is yours The right
Is so apparent that it has never been
denied by even the bOldest opponent
OF primary low or the most sub
servient creature of a political ma
chine, and it never will be- Instead
OF being a departure from our fixed
form Of government. it is one OF the
statutes which mark the progress OF
this nation in an era when the rights
of mankind are making themselves
manifest through fearless champions
who boldly proclaim that the old order
cbangeth, that human rights are more
sacred than property rights, and that
the perpetuity OF our progress and
prosperity depend upon our recogni-
ton OF popular government
Direct primaries are not fad any
longer Instead, they are regarded
as being as fundamental as the Dec
Iaration itself. They have proved
tbeir worth and have brought the
government closer 10 Tue PS0PiS'
the present time more than one-hah
of ire states OF this Union have d.
rect primary laws of a mandatory
character for the selection Of their
candidates for public office. And very
recently we have witnessed the UNI
ted States Senate. needing the over
whelmlug sentiment OF the people
s,,huit - the States for their ratfi-
cat;on or rejection. an amendment to
the FEDERAL constitution, proposing
the direct election OF United States
senators And when, we might ask
did the people ever reject a propo-
s;tion to allow them to name their
own public officers?
One Of the faIlacious reasons given
nv the opponents of direct primary
law. at the recent special session OF