West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-05-28
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
A Sweeping Victory for Congressman
Brown In the jefferson County
Primary-Coi. Beau Also Wins
Out-Repub iieans Trying to Play
the Same Old Game
GEO. w. SuMMERs

| straight out contest was made for the
delegates 20 the State nominating con-
vention, and the first county in the
second district to select its delegates TO
theCongressional nominating convention.
For that reason the results there are re-
garded rs significant. Col. w. Wylie
Beall, of Wcllsburg, and Hal w. DePue,
gresham at Large, whose names were
on the ticket, Col. Beall winning over
DePue by 81 votes and thereby being
privileged to name the delegation from
Jefferson county to the State nominating
convention. Congressman Brown swept
the county overwhelmingly, carrying
every precinct in the county and getting
a majority of more than i 200 over
Charles w. Brandon, out III a total of
about = 900 votes. Gel. Beall telegraphed
William Campbell, of Charles Town, his
most active campaign manager in JefIer-
son county, congratulating him on the
result and exposing his qualification
over what the Democrats of Jefferson
had done for him. Friends OF Mr.. Brown
believe that his sweeping victory in JEFF
ferson, the first county where he has
been put TO the test, means that all
opposition to his denomination will fade
away before the time for the nominating
convention which will meet at Charles
Town June II. The overwhelming en-
dorsement OF jefferson being regarded IA
an evidence that his popularity has
suffered nothing since he was first tri-
umphantly elected TO Congress from the
second district to succeed George G..
Sturgiss. In the fight for Congressman
at Large, Jefferson may be regarded as
a typical county and the result there is
especially encouraging TO Col. Beall
Neither he nor Mr.. DePue was personally
known in the county till few days be-
fore the primary, the voting following a
campaign OF only about four days by
them.
Progrcssives who have been asked to
'amalgamate" with the Standpat party
in West Virginia are wondering what
the inducements are TO be, particularly
since the Republican State convention
was held Mt Charleston last week. The
one thing which Progressives insist upon
above all other things is the right of the
people to control their own parties and
their own political matters. Their whole
fight in West Virginia has been against
bossism and the handling of the parties
by self-constituted bosses, such as have
been in control of tie Republican party
for years and are still in control. The
Republican State convention voted down
a proposition to allow the people to assist
in the selection of their party officers and
the candidates of the party, leaving the
manipulation of all party matters in the
| hands OF few, as heretofore. In other
words the convention went on record a.
approving the old Standpat policies and
repudiating the reforms which the Pro-
gressives have been advocating. Had
the Standpatters recognized the principles
for which the Progressives have been
fighting, there might have been some
hope OF amalgamation of the two parties,
but since the very foundation stone OF
Progressiveism has been repudiated by
the State convention of the Republicans
there is not chance that the two parties
Will amalgamate. In the meantime,
who is the Republican national COM
mitteeman from West Virginia2
What the bureau of Mines would have
done in West Virginia for the protection
| OF the lives OF the miners, il il had the
authority under the law, has been shown
10y the orders given in connection with
| all coal mines operated on lands leased
from the Indians in Oklahoma, which in
cludes practically all the coal mines in
that State. The federal government is
trustee for the Indians and controls the
leasing OF their lands. In such capacity
| the government can make regulations for
the operation of the mines. In the
| interest of safety the government has
directed that after August ], none but
| permissible explosives which have pas
sed the safety requirements of the bureau
OF mines may be used by the miners
| while in the mine. The black powder.
such as is used in many Of the West Vir-
GINA mines, may only be used in the
Oklahoma mines when fired from outside
the mines by electricity after all the
miners have been brought out. These
orders are the result Of years OF expert.
mentation and study and are held 70 be
Imperative for the proper safeguarding
OF the miners. The same regulations
would be enforced in West Virginia il
the Bureau of Mines had the authority
10 do 80, but the matter is left TO the
state 20 regulate for themselves and il
remains to be seen whether West Virginia
Will be guided by the Bureau Of Mines
and require the same precautions for the
safety Of the thousands Of men employed
in the mines Of the State.
Within three weeks the Supreme
Courts opinion in the debt suit Of Vir-
gina against West Virginia will in all
probability have been handed down. It
is customary for the Court 20 adjourn for
the summer about the middle Of June
and there is no reason 70 believe that il
will not do 20 this year, in accordance
with its custom. Last November the
! Chief Justice stated from the bench that
u was the intention 70 dispose Of the
debt case finally before the adjournment
Of The present term, so that only matter
oi less than three weeks remains in which
To decide the case. u is reported that