Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1914-03-18

bdIHeS are sllll fepuDi1CanS, and mat
Mr.. Taft has lately, in an article in
popular periodical. laid down the
things for which the party stands. AZ
20 Mr.. Taft's article, which is an ex-
preston OF his personal views the as
sertion OF these men borders on the
ridiculous. III Mr.. Taft, while Presi-
dent and with all the power OF that
great office, could not impose his
views on the party, how is he going
to do 1t when he Is merely private
citizen! The assertion as to the pres
ent national committee is unfair and
untrue. 1t does the membership Of
this committee an injustice. 1t is not
the same committee that dominated
the Chicago convention OF June, 1912;
1t had, in fact nothing to do with tt
The attitude OF the members toward
the rank and file is different. The
membership Is different.
The national committee has zone
TO the very limit OF its power and au-
thority to change and reform the regu.
lions OF our party respecting the consti.
utlng OF our national conventions
IL proposes to cut down the represen.
tation from the southern states more
than 30 votes. Had this been done
previous to 1912. We would to-day have
Republican national administration
and West Virginia would have had
Its choice for president. II is worthy
OF note that this basis of representa-.
ton, which 1t is now proposed to
change radically, has existed since
1850, when Abraham Lincoln was nom
mated for president Notwithstand
ing the fact that persistent efforts
nave been made since 1880 at least to
cut down the representation from
southern states and the fact that the
committee on basis OF representation
In the national convention of 1884
niaue report In favor of it, which
report was favored in committee and
concurred in by the member of that
committee from West Virginia, moth.
ing has been done. This unjust basis
continued under Garfield, Harrison.
Blaine, Mckinley and Roosevelt. Up-
on this basis each of these great lead.
ers received his nomination for presi
dent.
Other reforms proposed by the
national committee is to put in the
power OF every state to elect their
delegates to national conventions in
any fair way they please, especially
by primary election. The committee
mas Invested itself of the power that
Is inherent in every committee that
calls convention. of making I'D a
temporary roll of the delegates. and
proposes that each state shall decide
all of its own contests, this to be
done OF course, by law. Many states
already have presidential preference
primaries. 1t is believed that prac.
tlcally all the remaining states, es
pecially Republican states, will before
1916 enact such laws. Certainly West
Virginia will do so. / feel sure she
VIII If our progressive brethren will
JOIN with us in electing a legislature
Now, the national committee has
left all this to the voters by way of
a referendum-to the voters acting
In their respective states, where thew
can meet together with the least DOS
slble cost in time and money, and un.
der conditions which will secure the
largest possible participation by the
individual voters. The national com.
mittee itself did not have the power
to put these reforms in operation; but
believing that the power to do so
is inherent in the voters of the par
" who are In fact the party and the
source of all power in the party, they
have referred them to the voters. The
national committee favors these re-
forms; they hope, believe and expect
that the voters will ratify them.
The way is open for the nomination
OF the candidate for president on our
party ticket to be made by the people.
am sure that whoever the nominee
may be, the principles that will be
enunciated In the platform of our par
ty in 1916 will be dedicated to the con
tlnuation OF achievements for the ad.
Vancement of humanity and for human
rights. The rank and file of the par
ty Will demand that the nominee be
one who will go forward with solldar
ity OF purpose In battling for the
achievements In the nation just as we
are battling for them in our state.
am ready to do service in helping
TO eliminate those who have crept into
our party and who have abused their
position for selfish motives and have
hindered the progress OF our party
and entered to bossism and domino
ton rule. | am opposed to such tao.
tics and stand ready to help eliminate
the arbitrary class which has hereto.
fore directed in part the administra
ton OF our party. / am quite sure
mat a majority OF the voters can be
depended upon to do this at all times.
There Is no reason why we should
transfer our banner to some other par
ty because we have had a few self
constituted bosses. 1t seems to me
to eliminate those who do not stand
for a rule by the majority Very few
indeed you Will find of this class oc.