Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1913-01-03
DEMOCRATIC OPPORTUNITY

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DEMOCRATIC OPPORTUNITY
With all indications pointing to
division of the Republican. Progress.
sive majority in the coming session
of state lawmakers on the election
of United States senator, and prob
ably also on all legislative matters IN
volving factional advantage, this.
seems to be an opportune time for
the Democratic members to take coun-
sci concerning the course which they
should follow upon purely political
questions.
1t is their first duty to serve the
people of the state, Of course, but az
ter that the interests of their party
should be considered of paramount
importance. We can see no reason
why public and party interests should
clash There will be no necessity,
and there can be no justification, for
fight of Democratic senator's from
the state like that of the Republican
senators in 1910. Nor should there be
another Democratic surrender In the
organization of the senate, as was the
case two years ago. The Republican,
Progressive coalition has advanced no
sound reason why il should be per
mittcd to name the president of that
body, nor will It be allowed to do so
unless some spineless Democrat yields.
On the other and there are at least
two reasons why the Democrats
should be allowed 10 select the pre-
siding officer because they constitute
the plurality party, and because turn
about is fair play"
There is another matter. however,
which is equally as important from
the party viewpoint as the organiza-
ton OF the upper house; it is the at
titude which the Democratic mem
bers shall assume toward the United
States senatorship.
There is nothing to be gained by
Disgusting the truth that factlonal
leadership has proved injurious to the
Democratic party in West Virginia.
The party's representatives in the
legislature. by the policy which they
adopt, will either aggravate existing
bitterness of feeling or eliminate it.
The question confronting them is
whether they shall widen the breach
between supporters of McGraw and
Watson respectively, by inviting a
contest for the empty honor of a eau
Gus nomination, Or whether they
shall seek to promote harmony and
good feeling by dispensing with SEN
atorial caucus, and distributing their
complimentary votes In the joint ses.
sion among the many worthy party
leaders of the state.
The Register feels that 1t voices the
sentiment of an overwhelming ma
jority of the Democratic voters Of
West Virginia in advising the latter
course. Both Watson and McGraw
are courageous leaders with devoted
followers, but their personal interests
are secondary in importance TO party
interest, and the party interest will
not be advanced by senatorial
caucus II the Democratic leaders
should decide upon caucus no doubt
Messrs MeGraw and Watson would
engage in wholly unnecessary CON
test for nomination. which could ac'
complish no possible good, apd which
might do great deal of harm.
There should be no qualifying )r
distinguishing term for the partys
representatives in the legislature,
They should be Democrats, not Wat
son Democrats or McGraw Democrats.
BY entirely eliminating facttonal
feeling they will be better prepared to
make advantageous terms with the
enemy which is itself hopelessly d.
yided. If the Progressiyes and Re
publicans are unable to agree the
Democrats may hold the balauce Of
power, and they may be permitted to
exercise it for the public good. 1t
would be folly to throw away any
advantage which the situation offers
by inviting a factioual quarrel over an
empty honor Wheeling Register
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