The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-06-07
MINE STRIKE
INVESTIGATION
BRINGS UP INTERESTING CUES.
TON THAT 10 BEING DIS
cusSED.
Claims Il 10 Tearing Out the States
Rights Plank From Democratic
Platform.
lnssrfgenosr Bureau.
waaAaarton. D. O., June 9.

mssnfgenosr Bureau.
W~AsAan6ton .. O., Juno Q.
10 the Democratic parry tearing out
from its platform the plank OF states
rights, once its greatest timber: was
Q question widely discussed In Con-
gress as a result OF the announcement
that q committee from the Senate
and decided TO 90 to West Virginia
to investigate the miners strike.
This question was reached by the
committee after a hearing OF repres.
entatives OF the mine wners, who
urged that even the semblance OF
Federal interference would tend 10
disturb labor conditions now pretty
we'll Strengthened out. For n com.
uittee of the United States Senate
10 enter the state and hold Official
hearings OF local questions. argued
the operators. would impress unthink.
ing persons as a review by the Senate
OF the work OF the Governor and the
State courts.
While Senator Borah and n or
two others accepted this view in part.
the committee decided to visit West
virginia next week and will meet al
Charleston next Tuesday afternoon.
Moore Raises Question.
The question of Democratic aband-
onment OF its most cherished princi.
pie was raised first by Representative
J. Hampton Moore. OF Pennsylvania,
in a debate in the House on the sub
tect OF a new Roads committee and
Federal control OF highways in IN
dividual states. Since then II has
been in many months. and to-day was
discussed nero widely than ever.
Three recent indications in particular
OF Democratic change OF heart were
cited in these discussions: Federal
control OF roads in the states. the
plan for a Federal Bureau OF Health
and finally the invasion OF West Vir-
ginia on the initiative of the Demo
cratic leader OF the Senate.
Since its first platform. in 1855. II
was shown. the Democratic party con-
~tinuously and consistently has urged
respect for States rights, IFS lutheran.
ceS being conspicuous IL 1896. 1850.
1881. 1883. 1852. 1900 and 1904. In
the platform OF 1912 was written:
Relieving that the most Efficient
results under cur system OF govern
mont are 10 be attained by the full
exercise by the states of their reserv.
ed sovereign powers. We denounce as
usurpation the efforts or our oppon-
ents 10 deprive the states OF any OF
the rights reserved 70 ihcm and 10
enlarge and magnify nv %indirection
and powers OF the Federal govern
ment."
Wanted Federal Control.
In the discussion IN the House OF
tho proposed Roads committee was
the spectacle OF the Democratic party
fighting for Federal control OF State
highways and Republicans protesting
and fighting against II. The attitude
of the Democratic party was describ-
ed by Representative Kelly. OF Penn
s~ylvan.a. as follows.
The indiv!dualistic state ri2hts
idea OF the Democratic party has com
pletcly broken down. This resolu-
ton proves hat fact. II any further
proof is needed"
\ large proportion OF the protests
against a department OF Health are
based on protested fear that may
usurp or conflict with the work OF
such bureaus in the various states
The Democrats s'ill deny hat they
have forsaken their pet doctrine. but
many observers aver that State
fights now is In the discard.