The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-02-28
The DEBT SUIT
COMMISSION
BY ]. ". Mason.

impOrNdut Outy IMAM lndl OF seieNtlus
men TO compose this commission.
West Virginia will be rescued IL the
Governor measures up 10 the respon-
sibllities OF this occasion. The great
danger Is that. being busy. he will
hurry when be ought TO go slow. and.
unconscious OF being influenced by
supposed party politics. appoint g
unfit for work like this. There is no
need for haste: thirty days hence will
be in ample time. IL the right sort
OF men are hunted up. the Governor
Will be honored by the honest part OF
the most intellectual class as few
governors have; whereas. II wrong
men are appointed. then a tornado
will presently burst and he will be
made the scapegoat of the politicians
now SO ignorant. or else so cowardly.
as 10 profess TO think that West Vir-
ginia does not owe anything.
\ work like this consists of three
steps:
First Step-To make such investi-
CATION and study that members OF the
commission will convince themselves
and be able TO convince others that.
as matter OF good conscience. West
Virginia does owe "A part OF the Vir-
ginia debt. The States salvation de-
ponds on appointing men brainy
enough TO feel conscious of ignorance
till they have made a special study.
IL requires men who will take the
trouble TO make enough study TO act
wisely. Many problems look simple
TO a man who does not know enough
TO see their ~perpleXities." For eX-
ample. politicians have been prattEng
that, Slaves were untaxed. and hence
western counties ent TO Richmond
more than their share of taxation"
The truth is, western counties wanted
20 separate only because eastern coun-
ties insisted on representation based
on Federal population. Read the
speeches OF Doddridge. etc. in the
convention of 1929. Slaves were
taxed in proportion TO land. inc west
ern counties did not contribute 70
State expenses in excess of their Just
proportion. except. perhaps. as to the
interest charge. II this fact is official
ly published by a proper commission,
the grand jury class will repudiatc
certain politicians now prominent.
Second Step-To find out how
much good conscience requires us to
pay.
Third SteI-To so manage the sit
uation that our debt will not exceed
what We honestly do owe: and his
can be done with almost absolute Ger
tainty. In n event. an honest effort
10 bring II about cannot possibly do
any harm.
This State will surely suffer IL our
Governor appoints play-to-the-gallery
politicians who seek office by deceiv-
ing ignorance. and who talk one way
conhdentially and another way public
~ about this matter. 4 tornado is
certain 10 burst unless he selects men
who will stronger the more they
are investigated. II a man has a vel
low streak his neighbors are sure to
see II before he is forty.
Those who have followed this debt
:Iit scheme know that IL will succeed
ii West Virginia is tricked into
Ilacing herself In the attitude OF
Ringing defiance TO the court while
trying 10 repudiate what she ought 10
pay and IS able 20 pay" On the other
hand. the tribunal OF public opinion
will not tolerate the conduct OF Vir-
GINA. II She is strip ed naked and
exposed TO the public gaze as trying
To compcl West Virginia to pay a
larger percentage than she forced the
AptAflH ~ Nlf NNb-AlllIlS 10 ACCEPT IN
settlement. and Is doing so without
any interest and without any motive
except 10 get fees for several Vir-
ginia lawyers and a rake-on for Wall
street promoters. Observe. IL the
facts are published by a commission
which commands public confidence.
then the honest politicians. now so
t'mid, will become bold a. lions. and
right-thinking men all over the land
Will ask. why was IL that. after in
sist.ng FOR over twenty years. that
West Virginia must settle with the
certificate holders and not with her.
Virginia suddenly changed her posi-
tion when certain members Of her
Legislature were offered large re
ward
or course. any observant man. if
Iast h.ty. knows how difficult IL IS for
private individuals 20 make truth
heard when e gigantic rakeon de-
ponds ON SURPRISING IT, but the diff
hcuify vani-hcs the instant a proper
commission is appointed The March
Bar points out. and a proper commits.
sion Will publish that. commencing in
lNN-. about eighty per cont Of the Ger.
tfcaios were purchased. az an aver.
age a. less than thirteen per cent
to accept a settlement which would
not holders twenty per cent and limit
thr rakC-oN % s15O.OOO Fifteen ard
f halls millions 40 twenty. plus $3.50
NnI. equals $500 600.
Charles Town. " Va. FEB q. 1913.