The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-05-09

ton that am not hanging on the
tail end OF progress.
II WAS among the first to make a
fight for a primary election law.
which others are now so vigorously
urging, I am glad to say. In all the
progressive legislation and reform
measures which have been enacted
| since the Republican party came into
power in West Virginia, l have had a
direct part in helping, as the public
we'll knows. The platform on which
I was nominated and on which Mr.
Glasscock was elected. and upon
| which the party won its hast victory
in the state, was a platform written
for me. and in part by me, and had
my approval. That platform shows
how l stand on many public ques-
tons, how I stood four years ago, as
we'll as how stand now, more clear
ly than anything else I might say at
this time.
LAS to platforms, no provision has
been made for the party having one
, this year, but it ought to have one,
| and will. I think. I am in favoS OF
| calling all the Legislative nominees
| together after the primary and let
/ them. In convention, promulgate
platform Of party principles which
: will apply to the coming campaign.
/ This would be as representative a
body as could be gotten, for upon
these men rest the fulfllmcnt Of what.
ever promises the platform of the
, party makes. At the same time, I
would invite all other Republicans
who cared to attend to join in the
/ convention and help formulate the
document and ratify it.
MY idea is that governor should
administer the executive department
I and not try to dictate to the legisla-
! tive department. further than making
| recommendations and urging them
within the limits of the authority con-
ferred on him by the constitution. It
is not his duty to make laws, but to
! enforce them, and # become COVER
nor my chief mission will be to rig
idly and impartially enforce the laws
that we have.
Il want to say, too. that in such an
event. I want to do all I can to help
|, the good roads movement, not by just
talking, but by doing things. want
to see good roads built, not merely
pictured on blueprints. I will strive
to have the convicts in the peniten-
tiary work On the roads. It will be
better for them and better for the
state. I will aim to give an admins
tration that will accomplish things
for the workingmen, the fellows who
compose what Lincoln called the
common people, The time is long
| past when officials should act wholly
for the interests Of the fortunate and
favored classes, = those who have
! wealth and special privileges. Icame
from the common people and my SYM
pathies are with them. and it is my
determined purpose to do things that
will accrue to their especial benefit.
! If this be Partially or discrimination,
| make the best of it. I want to do
| things for those people who need
things done for them the most. I
hope to be the instrument that will
accomplish definite results in a prac-
[ tical and business-like way to promte
| the growth of agriculture in West
! Virginia. There is too much theory
/ and not enough action in this matter.
1t is no hard problem when something
is actually done; it only seems hard
! when theorists and academicians,
with or without highly eolored stere-
optican pictures, lecture about it.
want to advertise and exploit my
state to the outside world and be tho
means of bringing in outside capital
to develop our vast resources. In that
respect ! have already done a great
deal in both private and public
capacity. The very nature OF my bust
ness has brought me in close touch
with capitalists who live in other