Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-01-23
Senator Watson For After Election
Primary.

letter addressed to Judge w. G. Bennett.
Chairman of the Democratic State Exec.
utive Committee, in which he suggests
that III the event the Democratic party
shall elect majority of the next Legis-
lature, on joint ballot, aprimary election
should be called after the election to nom
mate Democratic candidate for Sena-
tor, and that the candidate receiving the
highest number of votes in that primary
be declared the Democratic nominee.
His letter is as follows.
January 18th, 1912.
Hon. w. G. Bennett,
Chairman, Democratic State Execu-
tive Committee,
Weston. w. Va.
My Dear Sir:-I have no information
as to the time of the meeting of the
Democratic State Executive Committee.
OF which you are Chairman. |, how
ever venture to make certain sugges-
tons, which, if approved by the com
mittee and by the party believe will
be conducive to the success of the Dem
ocrats.
l would like very much to see the
Democratic party thoroughly united in
the coming campaign, for the people
need that party and look to its repre-
sentatives to correct abuses, reduce the
cost of living, revise the tariff, regu-
late improper corporate powers or
restore Democratic government.
The State of West Virginia is greater
than any citizen thereof, and it expects
much of our party. The people of the
State hope that we will nominate a
strong, able ticket. upon which all will
be united, and to which the dissatisfied
voters of other parties may turn for re-
lief. We can and will elect an entire
State ticket if we carry out their wishes
and thus meet the hopes of the leaders
of the party in the nation.
l assume that among the MANY dis
tinguished Democrats in the State.
there are those who will desire to SUBJ
init their claims for the Office of United
States Senator to the next Legislature.
There is no method provided by law
for electing Senators by direct vote.
nor is there any method provided bv
law for nominating a candidate. Ex-
perience has taught all parties that
contest among Senatorial candidates.
for members of the House and Senate.
Is demoralizlpg, and the system of COM
pelllng candidates for the legislature to
pledge themselves before nomination or
election is calculated to weaken the
party, if not to humiliate the candidates.
The next legislature will have much to
do besides the election of a Senator.
Our party will be called upon to enact
constructive and progressive measures
already foreshadowej by past positions
of the party and most likely to be in
in the next platform. Be
sides, the local, County and the Con-
gressional tickets are entitled to the
full measure of Democratic strength.
unhampered by the weakness which any
pledge demanded from a legislative
candidate, might entail. In other words.
every Democrat should see to it now
that the Senatorial contest shall not
work for weakness but for strength to
the common cause.
My suggestion, therefore, is that, in
the event the Democratic party shall
elect majority on joint ballot, the
party shall call primary election, un-
der such rules and regulations as the
State Democratic Executive Committee
may promulgate, to be held after the
election, and the candidate receiving
the highest number of votes shall be
declared the Democratic nominee. This
will approximate as nearly as NAV be.
under the law as it now is, the direct
election of Senators by the people.
l suggest that the primary be held
after the election of the legislature,
because IN this way all who may be
candidates for the Senate will be unit
ed IN the battle against the common
enemy. The services of all the candi-
dates should be thus united for party
success.
1t is plain that all of the candidates
On the Democratic side would be strong
er id the election than any one of them.
1t become candidate, | would not
1esire to succeed unless my candidacy
meets with the approval of the Demo-
,rats of the Senate. | realize that the
party and its cause is stronger than any
one or more candidates could possibly |
De. | would dislike very much to see
he cause of the party weakened by
useless ante-election contests. The on
y political matter coming before the
next legislature will be the election of |
4 Senator. If he is to be a Democrat.
as sincerely believe and hope he will |
De, then the Democratic voters ought
% select him after the party has made |
is contest upon its record and platform.
and unhampered by the
PERSONAL ambition of anyone. Nav | |
equest that when your committee
meets, this plan be laid before it for
AS to whether your committee or the
'tate Convention is the final tribunal
or acting upon this question, am not
dvlsed, but in the event the State Con-
ention has jurisdiction, the recommen-
alton of your committee should be
l need not add that. whether be a
andidate or not, and whatever NAV be
one with my suggestions, your com
llttee will have my earnest and active
operation, and l intend to do all in
~ power to win avictory for the party.
Yours very truly,
(Signed,) C. w. WATSON.
Bridge Across the Shenandoah