The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-04-14

-9. -. -
ing The Repu team party ~ West
Virginia faces CRISIS just as grave
ana Just as deandee as that which as
sailed IL in 1912 hut u faees.an op-
poftt1n fty just Is HI finite and Just az
missing as the cflsi 3 gTayR. II
the Rspubl icans Of Vest Y trssinia vi! y
meet properlY the eOnd1t tot1st which
now confront the party; crisis esan be
turned into victory and rehab1l1ta-
ton made complete
In this work much depends upon
the coming state convent onF ana
Just as much Upon the spirit Of the
local conventions which viii raise the
state convent delegates. II the
Repu biicans, in state convention as
senibled. will grasp the opportunity
which VIII there present ITSELF; 4
they viii show, proper recognition OF
existing conditions; IL they will show
proper regard for the signs OF the
times; if they VIII, as a majority OF
those who still call themselves Re-
pub1ieans desire TO do, make Just and
proper concessions. and no unfeason-
able concessions at that, the Republic
can party in West virginia will renew
its youth, its strength viii be restored
and 1t will continLs the progressive
legislative and administrative inftu-
ehce in the state of West Virginia.
Notwithstanding the attitude of
those who declare that there can 5s]
no compromise, no middle grouMd OF
mutual agreement: reached by m u tn u
concession, it is we'll known that
ninety per cent OF those who call
themselves Progressives, however
great or however slight q per centage
OF the Republican party of 1912 this
may represent, are willing and even
anxious to return to the party fold,
upon terms which to them may seem
just and honorable. And IL the Re-
publican organization, as 1t will be
represented In the coming state con-
vention, and as It will be created by
the people at home il; The local dele
gate conventions, shall rise to this
situation with generous and patriot
ic purposes. 1t can lay the foundation.
for a .cu1ilon SO nearly complete ;As
to !es,Se little to be desired.
The Progresslves and the RepubH-
cans were as one on matters Of state
purport in 1912 They supported the
heritage in the Republican state plat
form. document as progressive as
has ever been put forward by a poo
IitcaI party in any state,
The majority OF the ProgressIVes
are today awaiting definite official ac-
tion' on the part of the Republicans,
and If tbs action shall be in accord
with what Lh9y COnS1QeE TehsoQdD4S
and just treatment, and if 1t encom-
passes the concessions which the
Progresstves might reasonably de-
mand, in view Of their strength the
beginning of the end of strife Will
have been reached in West Virginia,
and West Virginia will have shown
the other states the way to peace and
reunion.
This the Republican party can do
without any sacrifice of its dignity or
muttlatioA of its principles. 1t will
represent merely a transition which
will bring the party into harmony
with itself, leaving of the few tenets
that the times have outgrowh, and
taking on the tenets that the new
times demand.
The Democrats OF West Virginia
will not be found over enthusiastic
this year. The Office seekers will be
active, and factional strife will run
high. But there will be little enthus-
iasm among the masses. Republic
can opportunity beckonss in spite of
which, at first blush, may
appear unpromising. The Democrats
will be weakened by strife within
their own ranks. But this will not be
all. When confronted with the as
surances given the people in 1912
that a Democratic tarin would cut the
cost of living in half, they cannot ex-l
plain why their panacea has failed,
though forced to admit that it has
failed utterly.