Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1913-02-27
Washington Letter.



The election Of Judge Goff to the
United States Senate sounds the death
knelI Of the Progressive party in West
Virginia Notwithstanding the fact
that the vote for the Progressive candi-
date for President last November exs
ceeded that for the Republican nominees
by more than %, 600 and notwithstand
ing the fact that the Republican candi-
dates for the legislature were elected
only by Progressive voters, the new
Senator from West Virginia, who was
also elected by Progressive votes is one
of the old line high-tariff, stand-pat
element of the Republican party. Dur
ing his entire political career Judge
Golf has been high protection Repub-
lican. 1t YVES he who originated the
phrase Protection to American labor
by the broad shield of American law"
A generation ago this phrase was popu-
lar and made many votes for the Repub
lican party, although it has been eff
fectual demonstrated many times in
recent years that the ''Broad shield of
American law" protects only the manu-
facturer and not the Iaborer. Senator
Golf belongs to the same type of Repub.
licans as Joseph G. Cannon, Seran0 E.
Payne, Thomaa B. Aldrich and Wil-
liam Howard Taft. He will not come
as near to representing the Progressive
ideas Of the Republicans Of West Yir-
ginia. as the Democratic Senator's from
that State have done in the last two
years. Senator Golf is man of power
full intellect, of great legal attainments
and of personal popularity; but he no
more represents the principles which
caused the Progressives to seperate
from the Republican party in West
Virginia and in the Nation than does
w. Nj. O. Dawson represent the true
principles of the Democratic party
Judge Golf will make an able Senator
but his selection by the Republicans
and Progressives of West Virginia in :
dicates that the Progressive party has
abandoned all effort to maintain a
separate existence in West Virginia and
that its members have once more en-
listed under the reactionary banners of
the old stand pat Republican organi
cation.
AS soon us it became known that
Judge Golf had been elected Senat 7
and had decided to accept the position
friends of Congressman John W. Davis
/ started to boom him as the successor to
Judge Golf in the United States Circuit
| Court. The fact that Judge COTS
election was delayed until it is too late
for Republican President to appoint
his successor will be a bitter pill fol
many West Virginia Republicans who
have had longing eyes turned towarc
the. federal judgeship. When twas
proposed, morethan year ago to have
Judge Golf resign ard enter politics
again is known that Judge Dayton
and several others Immediately begar
to aspire to the position, buta Demo
Graf will succeed Judge Golf. He may
not be West Virginia Democrat, bu
he will be a Democrat, for the appoint
ment will be made by President Wilson
i When Senator Goff and Cogressme,
Sutherland, Avis, Moss, and Hughes taxi
their seats at the beginning of tht
special session of Congress to be calls {
soon after the fourth Of March, they will
find themselves in position that will
be practically powerless to accomplish
anything in the way of legislation. lht
Government at Washington, is Govern
ment by parties, and only the dominan
party is in a position to accomplish
any thing. For many years such Demo
Gratis as were sent from West Virgins
to Congress found themselves in tht
minority and the result was that they
were powerless to put through any leg
islation. The tables have now turned
and the Republicans who will represent
West Virginia in the two branches O
Congress will find themselves mere
fgureheads, drawing their salaries
regularly but amounting to nothing il
the matter of framing legislation OF
any kind. The Democrats will be ir
full control of the executive and legis
lative branches of the Government
/ after the fourth of March and Wes
Virginia will suffer by having larg'
! proportion of its representatives out o;
accord with the majority in poth Senate
and House.
a West Virginia's representatives II
the two houses of Congress have BEEF
successful in having the public build
ing bill carry with it provisions for |
number of new buildings in the State
Every member Of the lower House ha'
! been able to have included in the bill
provision for at least one building il
his district.
RusLro pO~d Dill DooooH