The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-02-27
Concerning the Political Poll
cies of the Day in the State
of West Virginia.
AMENDMENT SUBMISSION
To a Vote of People on Initiative
and Referendum is Favored
by the Committee.

publican state cOllIHlOlee HIS ISSUES
the Following address to voters:
The state committee Of the
Republican party of West Vir-
ginia, in meeting at Charles
ton this twenty-fifth day of February,
1914, whilst disclaiming authority to
promulgate what is known in politics
as a platform, nevertheless believes
that we may make a statement or ;po-
litical politics so far as respects sub
jects of concern to our OWL state OF
West Virginia, that we believe are
favored by a very large majority OF
the voters of the Republican party IN
this state.
The last platform promulgated by
the Republican party OF West Virginia,
and which dealt with state matters OK.
clusively, was that adopted by the
state convention at Huntington on the
sixteenth day of May, 1912 Tnat
platform contained a concise ana
truthful statement of the failures Of
the Democratic party in its conduct o.
the government of the state in tho
quarter of a century OF it's rule, from
1871 to 1897; and also statement OF
the acts of the Republican party IN
the manageae nt of the affairs Of the
state, from 1897. 1t noted the enact
ment OF the new system Of taxation,
fax commissioners department, pub
lie accounting law, the state board OF
control, the abolition of the fee sys-
tenn in state offices, and other bene-
fetal legislation enacted by the Re-
nubliean marty. That platform de-
clared in favor of the enactment OF
workmen's compensation law, OF
primary election law, whereby az
nominees for public office to be voted
inc N
and vice presidents, United States sem
ators. and the members of state and
county committees, would be CHOSEN
nv direct votes; of a corrupt practices
act tn Dreyent bribery and the lavish
and corrupt use of money IN, elections,
and provide the seyerest punishment
of candidates and voters violating the
law, and for the publication or ali
POLITICAL party contributions and ex-
men ditures in all elections; of all pos
sibIe encouragement to agriculture,
and an organized system of good roads
making; of a law fixing definitely the
number and compensation OF the
officers and employees of the legisla-
ture, so as to stop the long stanoins
waste and extravaganza eXistlns IN
this matter; of laws for the protectlon
of our forests, waters, soil ana n mn,
eraI resources, and for the. establish
ment Of manufactures within the
state which will consume our coal ana
gas and other raw products OF home'
FOR the creation of q Public Service
Com ission for the regulation and su-
neryision of all public service cor
porations; to prevent the ISSUING o.
stocks and bonds on water" or IN eN-
cessive amounts-tlle blue sky law;
for an amendment to the sCAls CON.
eti+ution prohibiting the legislature
from creating or amending charters
| If cities. towns and villages, and pro-
yiding for the same by general law
or municipal code; for laws proVlu-
inq for the submission to the voters
iof municipal corporations, OF tue
granting of important PUBIC iran.
lchises; for the abolition OF contract
labor in our prisons, in competition
with free labor; for better ENFORCE
ment of the law, the removal OF De-
relict officers by summary but Just
method: for the simplifcation OF F-o
cedure in our courts, reduction IN COSTS
Of litigation, the doing away Win
technicalities as far as possible, ana
/ fine substitution therefor OF principles
of equity. - 1Y..
I After the PRONUNCIATION OF the Hun.
4 tington platform, a large number OF
our fellow citizens who had thereto
!! fore been members of the RepnhlIcan
I marty. owing to the unfortunate ana
rre rec e occuranees at the Chicago
4 convention OF June, 1912, Withdrew
land organized the Progressive party.
! In a state convention at charleston
! nm July 80, 1912, they adopted plat
/ form The Progressive party stare
+ committee. in the campaign OF that
/ wear. printed and circulated a pamph-
! let containing both the Huntington ana
| the Charleston platform, under the
heading: ..,,os
1 OF West Virginia. Note:-The FRO
gressives of West Virginia, IN 1917,
adopted two platforms, one by the re &c
lpubIican state convention, May 10
and the other by the Progressive parl .s
! state mass convention at Charleston
INV 10. The Progressiyes organ
I lied and dominated the Huntlhs Ton
4 convention; the supporters OF heSse
] yelt outnumbered the supporters Oh
/ Taft about three to one"
The two platforms are markeuay
alike. So far as respects state maLters
the Charleston platform, like tne
Huntington document, fayors asFuo4lS
j Service Commission; a blue SKY
law to regulate the issuing Of sale OF
! stoeISs and bonds; the encouragement
Of agriculture, and a permanent plan
% good roads making; the publication
Of campaign contributions and expen-
ditures; declares against the conVlct
Labor contract SYSTEM faVcrs work
ing convfctsl on public -oaoss the
itsinpIffcation Of court pEocedure' ti1e
I enactment Of q municipal eoaes ana ?
comprehensive primary erection lssyt
It adds paE,rpl 1s 70 tt 81
activity by the government as 81
r