Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1913-05-20
From Washington.
From Geo. W. Summers. l

| Notwithstanding the nationwide de
mand that has been made for reduc
ton of duties and consequent reduction
in the cost of living, West Virginia is
Represented in Congress by but two
men who voted to reduce the tariff
duties against which the people of the
entire nation have protested. when the
! Underwood tariff bill was up for pas
sage in the House last Thursday. Cong
ressmen Davis and Brown, the two
Democratic representatives from the
State voted to reduce the heavy toll
which is now levied on the consumer in
order that the manufacturer may in
crease his profits. but not Republic.
can vote from the State was cast in
support of the measure intended to re
duce the high cost of living and to pro-
tect the consumer against the extor-
ton of the protected manufacturer,
Congressman Avis, Moss and Suther-
land all voted against the passage of
the bill and Congressman Hughes, who
was unable to be present on account of
illness, had a speech printed in the
Congressional Record explaining that
If he had been able to vote he would
have voted against the Underwood bill.
Thus there was practically solid line
up of the Republicans from West Vir-
GINA against reduction in the duties
which have oppressed the consumer in
order to enrich the manufacturer. Da-
Wis and Brown are the only friends the
consumer had in Congress from West
Virginia and when the Underwood bill
becomes effective and the cost of living
is reduced the consumers in West Vir-
ginia should remember that the law
which brought that condition about
was passed over the protest of the Re-
publicans in Congress, but with the
assistadce of the two Democrats from
the State-Davis and Brown.
The action of the Republican mem
bers of Congress from West Virginia
in opposing the reduction in tariff du-
ties which have been demanded by the
people of the entire country, and their
adherence to the old Stand Pat, reac-
tionary policies of the Republican par
ty, against which the people of the
country have rebelled, together with
their votes against Victor Murdoch,
the Progressive candidate for Speaker
of the House, has definitely determined
where they stand as between the Re-
publican and the Progressive parties.
In some unaccountable manner the
,Progressives were led to believe that
these men would represent their views
and carry out their policies, if they
were elected to Congress. They were
elected by Progressive voters and not
in ? single instance has any one of them
shown since he has been in Congress
that he is anything but stand-P Pat Re-
publican of the Aldrich. Cannon, N. B.
Scott type. In the name of the Pro-
gressive party, the voters of that or
ganization put into power four repre-
sentatives of the old school of Repub-
licanism against which the Republican
party had already rebelled. The people
of West Va, are tired of Scott, Hub
bard, Sturgiss, Gaines and woodward
How much better, from the standpoint
of opposition to privilege and the pro-
motion of the welfare of the people are
Golf, Avis, Moss and Switzerland?
The fact is that the West Virginia Pro-
gressives have received nothing. They
helped to elect State ticket, Con-
gressional ticket and legislature which
in turn selected Senator, and every
one of the officials they assisted to elect
has turned out to be Republican hold
ing the views of the old Republican
party which the Progressives were try
ing to put out of existence.
To get rid of the old gang which had
been running the affairs of the Repub-
lican party in West Virginia and to put
new men in power, who believe in new
principles, was one of the purposes of
the organization of the Progressive
party in that State. See how well they
succeeded in getting rid of the old fell
lows. In the as years that have passed
since Nathan Golf was rs years old. he
hss been on the payroll of the United
States government for Al years, and is
now on for period of six more years
drawing double salary. Senator Golf
was for fourteen years District Attor-
ney; when the fees of the office were
estimated to amount to $4,000 a year.
He was for two months in the cabinet
as secretary of the navy OF So, 600 a
year. Six years he served in Congress
at SIS. 600 year aud for Fl years he
was judge of the United States circuit
court at $1,000 year. He is now
Senator at 81. 500 year and at the
same time is drawing full pay of 81. 900
a year as retired judge, making.his
present salary s14. 500 year or 800
a year more taan member of the
cabinet receives. If the estimates as
to the fees while Senator Golf was dis.
trict attorney are correct. he has drawn
in the last as years S318. 1888 from the
government, while at the end of his pres
ent term as Senator he will have drawn
from the government in salary S405,
1888. And yet the Progressives, pro-
Tossing to want new deal and new
set of men and principles. helped to
elect Judge Golf Senator So far the
Progressive party in Vest Virginia has
accomplished nothing for itself but has
been merely tool in the hands of the