The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-02-28

liEhtch were purchased In some In
stances at 25 and 50 cents per acre,
or even less; as forfeited and unap-
propriated lands. TIE recipients of
these royalties pay no taxes TO our
state, but live in other states and
other! nations and care nothing for
cur future. Hundreds Of thousands
CT acres that have been acquired in
the same way, still undeveloped, arc
Held by large corporations Of other
states, from which the stateis receiv-
ing only paltry tax consideration
yearly. ;rhe holdings Of these cor
porations that were purchased a few
years ago for q mere song, have null
tiplied and are multiplying in value.
a very large portisn of these great
natural products, as they are being
developed are transported in their
raw condition without our state. In
Coed, very few industries Of the fin
ished product class are located with
in n 4our borders. ,,s5 ,.,siiiss ,E - !
Improvidence Of Our Fioreiathers.ii
riff our forefath ers9had not given
away. fora essong thissgreat nat
ural wealth, placed here bystliel crea-
tor for the benefit Of ALL we could
do, as! Minnesota is now doing, run
our free schools on the income from
coal, oil and gas lands, thatsthc state
practically gave away. Had the
state retained these valuable lands,
Itliey could have been leased and the
immense income therefroms would go
far to supply present needs and pro-
lvide for the future generations.
While we cannot undo what has
been done, We can do something
along theylines have indicated. II
we do not, coming generations. when
these vast Tesonrcess shall have been
exhausted and there is left only the
empty shell, will irightfully blame us
flor such ascourse of folly Viewers
1.-THE legal heirs Of this heritage, to be
Handed down by us. in turn to our
posterity. Ifwant to say to you, and
Through you4send q. messagei back to
1.-THE people of tile state, tnat this is
| the beginning Of the battle for the
flair rights of the people in this re-
gard-a battle we shall caryion with
malice toward none, but with jus
tice and square deal for all. We
purpose to- be just to the owners Of
This vast natural wealth, and we
purpose that they shall be just to
the state.
Union Essential to Success.
To eradicate the existing evils in
the body polite, toSprevent others,
Ito bring to pass the good things de-
sired-in short, the work of promot-
ing the general welfare - always
brings on a conflict with powerful
and selfish interests, a conflict in
which the public welfare loses out
unless those who stand for it are
rigilant, courageous, wise, and uni
I ted. A few selfish men have fire.
quently ruled communities and in
some instances a state for'a many
years, because the good people Hop'
posed to them failed to unite their
forces in an effectual attempt to Dust
them. The selfish men stood, togeth-
or, the good men divided and quar-.
relied among themselves over non,
essentials, all the while suffering
themselves to be misgoverned and
plundered.;
| In 1912 a majority. Of the voters
of West Virginia stood together fol
advancement, progress and still bet,
ter. things incur state. We wen
before the people with our declara.
tion of policies and won. Now, there
10 Tain VI ulNiSlou III Jul lhHhs
though the work is not near hall
done. We ought not to divide, espe
,cially concerning these policies at
lfecting the welfare of our state. Lei
us look at the facts dispassionately;
let us strive to understand each 9th,
er. If there are differences, let. u.
zee what they are; and, above a,
b else, let us, see whether there be an,
l good reason for differences about
i these things. AS. men ought Away
10 do; let US consult our, reason, no,
Jour prejudices, our enmities, oul
likes and dislikes. 4.
4 Conduct Of the Campaign m 912.
Il What cause Of complaint has an!
Republican or Progressive vote,
against the management Of the Re
publican party In West Virginia ii
sl1a12 or sincee 1,know of none abso
Elutely. The voters were given, ..
the voluntary act Of the Republican
State committee, statewide