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

A
our whole schem and system Of cleo
tion machinery will be such as will
properly safeguard the ballot and ac,
complish, as far as is possible by
legislation, that honesty and purity
In, our elections so much desired by
all good citizens; and,
Whereas, Several of the States have
enacted primary laws and tested their
efficiency, which laws differ very ma
terially in their provision, and, it is
desirable that the provisions of these
laws and the results obtained from
them be inquired into, in order that
we may profit by the experience OF
four sister states and avoid mistakes
of some of them! and,
Whereas, it would be unsatisfactory
and unwise for this Legislature, at
this time, to undertake such an inves-
tigation at great, expense to the State,
or to attempt such legislation without
investigation.
Therefore, That Joint committee
of five members of this Legislature,
consisting of two members OF the
Senate, to be appointed by the Presi-
dent Of the Senate, one of whom shall
be Republican and one Democrat,
and three members of the House of
Delegates to be appointed by the
Speaker of the House, two OF whom
shall be Democrats and one a Repub.
lean, be appointed, whose duty II
shall be to examine primary election
laws of other states and to inquire
, into the operation and effectiveness Of
such laws, and results obtained from
them. and TO examine and consider all
laws OF this State affecting the integ-
rity of elections, the state registra-
ton law, the corrupt practices act and
general election law and ballot law,
and report to the next regular session
of the Legislature, by bill or other
wise, the result of their investigations,
and said committee is authorized to
sit during the recess of the Legisla-
ture.
said committee shall be allowed per
diem of four dollars per day each for
the time actually employed in the
matters herein committed to them.
and actual expenses paid in travelling
to and from the places Of their sit
tings. The first meeting of said com
mittee shall be at time and place to
be designated by the clerk of the
House who shall notify each member
by mail; and then the committee shall
fix the times and places for subse-
quent meetings, and the chairman
shall give each member reasonable
notice by mail of each meeting. A
majority of the committee shall con-
stitute quorum.
Resolved, further, That until the
coming in f said report of said COM
mittee that no further legislation upon
the subject of the Governors call
shall be entered upon, except an APP
preparation bill to pay the mileage
and per diem of the members and the
per diem of attaches of both Houses.
This resolution, of which Mr.. Gilke,
son claimed to be the proud father,
was placed before several conferences
of the House and Senate, where strong
opposition was manifested. Efforts 10
bind the solid Democratic vote of the
two Houses in favor of the resolution
were unayailing, Twenty Democrats,
free from control of the Watson Chill
ton combine, and who stood to the end
for the redemption of party pledges,
stated they would leave the confer
ences If any effort to bind the Demo-
Gratis in favor of the subterfuge, was
pursued. So strong was this oppose
ton that the effort to bind the legisla-
tors through caucus vote, was aban-
doned as a dangerous proceeding.
On the 18th day of May, the record
discloses that Mr. Gilkeson opposed
the motion of Mr.. Hubbard to have the
Hubbard resolution. declaring it to be
the sense OF the House that a primary
bill should be passed, taken up for
immediate consideration. On the next
day, the 18th of May. Mr.. Gllkeson In,
troduced his resolution to kill the
primary bill, and then moved that ref
erence to committee be dispensed
with and the resolution taken up for
immediate consideration. A little
thing like consistency did not bother
a man of such pure motives as Henry
,Gilkeson who demonstrated that he
was in the clutches of the bosses OF
his, own county, while they, in turn,
were controlled by the Watson Chill
ton combine.
At this point when the motion of
Gilkeson to take up, his resolution for