The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-08-25
Boss : DoInfnafIon.

Z The delegates to the convention
must vote as the committee says and
not as the people direct, was the posi-
ton taken by the leaders OF the Pro-
gresstve party ut the recent state con-
vention at Charleston, and they saw
that 1t was done that way when they
threw out the delegates from Green
brier and Clay counties and instructed
the member Of the state committee to
cast the vote of the county against
the desire Of the Progressiyes, In those
counties. This came from the LEADER
ship Of party that had it's birth In
the protests against outrageous politi-
cal dictation by committees The ma
jority OF the regularly chosen dele
gates to the Third district convention
realized this and 1t was such action
that prompted them to withdraw and
make Congressman s. B. Avis their
nominee.
A man accused Of horse stealing
would have been given more consid-
Grafton than was accorded to the de-
posed members of the state committee
by the little coterie Of "bosses" that
manipulated the political butchery. 1t
is a we'll defined principle Of justice,
extending even to the lowest type OF
criminal, that he shall be given oppor-
tunity to defend himself This oppor-
Htunity was denied about one-half of
the members Of the Progressive state
committee, who were decapitated on
a wholesale basis because p. M. Grant
and Joseph Handlan were not satis-
fled with them.
NO charges were made against them.
further than Mr.. Grant declared he
was not pleased with their attitude
and moved that they be removed. Mr..
Handlan, as chairman, put the motion
and four or five on the inside councils
Joined In with a formal assent and the
operation was complete.
Among the score or more who went
under the guillotine in this manner
We're Amos Bright OF Braxton county.
Joseph Glenn Of Wyoming county. ].
L. Bradford OF Peasants county. and
E. c. shaffer of Braxton county.
Just to climax the unprecedented
Capitalization OF authority in the
hands Of a committeeman subseryient
to and hand-picked by the leadership
OF the state committee, they decreed
that q member of the state committee
who was not satisfied with the county
committee could fire" the whole coun-
ty organization and change 1t as MANY
times as he saw fiat least, until he
got an organization that carried out
the orders Of the state committee.
The Progressive gathering has re-
suited in definite molding of the
issues Of the campaign. The Republic
cans of the state know that the true
Progresstyes will balk at committee
domination in West Virginia lust the
same as they baked at committee
domination at the Chicago convention.
and they will carry the fight to the
voters in every nook and corner of
West Virginia to show the personnel
OF the corrupt leadership that is run
ming the Progressive party in this
state today.
Republicans in the state who are In
sympathy with Progressive state adj
ministration and with representatives
in Congress who have supported Pro-
gressive principles, believe that the
true-blue Progressives will cooperate
with them to prevent a realization Of
the plans OF the Handlan- Strickline
organization to turn the state over to
"Watsonized" Democracy and place
Democratic representatives in Con-
|gress.