The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-10-24

letter to Governor Glasscock prior tt
the calling OF the extra session, col.
MeGraw voiced the demand OF the
Democratic rank and file, when he
said:
Outside Of and far beyond, the
public duty which deyolves upon
you as Governor OF the State ana, as
civic duty, wholly Invested OF po-
litical consideration, think you
should call an extra session OF the
Legislature for the purpose of pass
ing a primary election law, the prin-
cipies Of which constitute primary
declaration by both political par
ties.
1.-THE law, If enacted, should carry
with it an enlargement OF our cor
rupt practices act, with proper pen
alties for its violation; and among
others forfeiture OF the office by
the candidate in whose interest an
iI1fraction of the law shall have been
committed.
II see divergent opinions express
ed from various sectibns of the
State upon the question as to wheth-
err you should call an extra session
for this purpose or not, and as an in
dtvidual citizen, / cannot refrain
from expressing to you an earnest
expression that the best interests of
the State demand the enactment OF
such "a law"
That the statement Of Col. McGraw
was not made for political effect was
proved by his attitude during the ex-
ira session of the Legislature, when
he came to Charleston from his
home at Grafton and pleaded with
the Democratic members OF the Leg
isiature not to forget their pledges
to the people of the state.
Three Democratic members of the
State Senate assured Governor
Glasscoek OF their support to the en-
aetmett of a direct primary law.
Senators A. Hood Phillips, of Graf
ton; George w. Bland, OF West
Union, and Senator Jake Fisher, OF
Sutton, commended him for his ac-
ton.
Senator Fisher, in public state
ment, made prior to the assembling
of the Legislature, said:
Certainly am in favor of the
passage of primary election law.
I have been surprised to find that
there should be any opposition, par
ticularly on the part OF Democrats,
to this law. The party stands undfs-
putably committed to this important
reform. 1t involves no more than
the right OF the party to manage It's
own affairs. I do not see how indi-
vidual Democrats can justify the po-
sition that they, instead Of the
party, have the right to control It.
It occurs to me that the Democrat
who takes issue with his party on
this proposition. attempts to consti-
tute himself master of his party
rather than its servant.
az have been surprised to notice
the comments of the Charleston Ga
zette and a few other Democratic
newspapers in which it is sought to
consouud matters now immaterlal
with the issue that will be pending
before the Legislature. They take
the position that the Governor made
a mistake in calling the extraordi-
nary session; that the session is for
the purpose Of disrupting the Demo-
cratic party and uniting the Repuo-
ncau party, and that there are many
designing Republicans in the State
who advocate the primary principle.
Mt is plain that these comments are
made. with the sole view OF mystity-
ing the issue to be fought out in the
Legislature.
st occurs to me as being absurd
particularly for Democratic Journals
to take the position that the Demo-
cratic party would lose an advantage
IN the special session. Do they forget
that the House of Delegates has ma
1ority Of 40 and do they mean to state
that this majority is not sufficient
safeguard for the party interests? l
have observed the fact that many
columns of these newspapers have
been wasted in an attempt to befos
the issue. They have pointed ont all
the iufrmities of the situation, and at
the same time they don't openly say
that they oppose primary election
law. rather the most of them, to main
tain regularity, say they favor it. The
fact is becoming more apparent every
day that the self-constituted bosses in
both parties are opposing the primary
election law.
when the Legislature meets, If