West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-04-09
THE PRECEDENT

III the state administration is looking
for precedent as to the best method of
economizing it will find il i'm the rail-
roads OF tins country. When the railroads
find that the expenditures exceed the
appropriations they do not hesitate TO re-
duce the forces so as to make the expen-
ditures and appropriations correspond,
which is commonly called retrenching. 1t
Is the belief OF many il the Governor
would WELD the knife OF retrenchment
vigorously in every department of the
state government that he could remove
the superfiuous without the least bit of
Impairment or efficiency in the various
branches OF the government. This would
place the government on business basis
instead of a political basis, upon which
30 many of the commonwealth are
operated.
SO FAR under the Hatfield administra.
ton there has been no evidence of pruning
or retrenchment, but on the contrary we
find that the Governor, by dilgent cult
walton, has been able to grow two offices
where one formerly grew before, which
no doubt is highly appreciated by those
who otherwise would have had to content
themselves by waiting until some one
died, as they never resign.
- However, il the Governor has been
derelict in the art of pruning and re-
trenching he cannot be accused OF mac
tivity along the line of amalgamation.
No one has been more energetic than the
Governor in pointing out to the office
holders the necessity of amalgamation il
the state house machine is to survive. IL
is regretable to the machine that the
Progressives have not taken kindly to its
brand OF amalgamation. The results of
the 1912 amalgamation have never been
satisfactory TO the genuine Progressives.
Ihey observe that the only thing accom-
plished by the amalgamation OF 1912 was
placing Bill Dawson and Charley Elliott
ION the state payroll. They also note
with no small degree OF disgust that when
Dawson and Elliott stood up in the
Charleston meeting and voted for amalga-
nation the "standpatters declared it the
greatest victory of the day and there was
great rejoicing" which was duly chroni-
cled by the Wheeling Intelligencer that
the standpatters throughout the state
might learn that Dawson had turned the
Progressives over to them. But Dawson
reckoned without his host in 1911. The
real Progressives refused TO accent the
state house machines invitation to ANAL
Ramate, and when they met at Hunting
ton they peremptorily declined to ANAL
gamate with any party, and with the due
process OF the boot they kicked Bill Daw-
son out Of the party. Thus was the state
house machine foiled IN its amalgamation
scheme.
Can Gov. Hatfield understand the les
son taught by the failure of amalgama-
ton? Can he not read the handwriting
on the wall? 1t is plain to the people
and they thoroughly understand it. 1t is
a case OF the Hatfield administration
living up to its promises. He has re-
tanned and appointed men to Office who
have been the sole cause OF disorganizing
and destroying the Republican party in
this state. In his campaign tour he was
duly warned that he would be supported
on the condition that the old faces must
be eliminated. He has retained and an.
pointed them. 1t is needless for him to
cry amalgamation