The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-06-10
"Wednesday. June 10. 1911.
THE REAL PARTY OF REACTION.

The solieitude Of the Democratic organs and space writers. first.
Tor the welfare of the Progressive party. and second. concerning the
unregenerate condition of the Republican party, is the most beautiful
.disinterested and entirely altruistic feature Of West Virginia politics
TOT gay TO day WI c such newspapers as The Charleston Gazette.
owned by Senator Chiffon and its other creditors, The Wheeling
Register subsidized by c. W. Watson, and correspondents like Geo
W. Summers and J W. Weir once ardent supporters of Iohn T. Me.
Graw, but suddenly converted by Mr.. wanon's money. filling much
space WIN piteous tales concerning the condition of the Republican
State organization and particularly concerning its deadly 7eactonary
standpansm. All of this means, of course, only that Nj. Watson and
MS alIes nope to continue a division in the Republican ranks and 10
maintain Democratic power and prestige in West Virginia thereby
The Progressive party, a 5 a party in West Virginia, has ceased
TO exist. Nothing can be clearer than the fact that the erv Ia,o
majority OF the men who supported Theodore Roosevelt in West Vr-
ginia in 1912 have already returned to the Republican party. What.
ever earnest and vigorous opposition to Democracy, and the Demo-
cratic theories of administration, will he made in the election this
AL VIII be made by the Republican party and Republican candidates.
As an adjunct and ally of the Democratic organization. a a tool Of
IN Gold Dust twins, and of the shameful debauchery of West Vr.
sm" Po""es Pracueed by them, the Progressive party in West Vr-
gina may be effective. As a party. however, capable of eIecting its
candidates, capable OF carrying out a program of legislation. and can
able of putting administrative policies into force. II does nor exst
Such men as VIM. f. GlasScock. Vim. O. Dawson. Geo. w. Curtin
Amos Bright, Edward Cooper and dozens Of Others. who represented
by far the most important and most influential forces in the Roosevelt
movement IN 1912, have again aligned themselves with the Republ-
a organization and Republican party. They are only types. ThOus-
ands OF Others who have not been so conspicuous have done likewise
In West Virginia, as in the nation, the Republican party has
been and will continue to be the real progressive party. Every line
OF progressive and liberal legislation written on the statute books Of
ms state was placed there by Republicans. Every honest battle that
has been fought in this State against the powers of entrenched wealth
against corrupt influence in public affairs. for the rights of the neoclc
as against a few, has been fought by Republicans. In its ffy wears
of history in West Virginia the Democratic partyb has beer co,sis,o,,
y the tool OF great corporations and their representatives II on.
posed the tax laws designed to make the great railroads nav their fair
share OF taxation. 1t opposed the two cent fare law. II opposeJ The
uniform accounting law. 1t opposed in this state the income tax
amendment to the national constitution.
! a rea'riOnary party ever existed, bound hand and foot to
selfish corporate influences, the Democratic party in u West VIRGINIA
controlled by Z" W. Watson and W. +. Chiffon. is that party.
The people of West Virginia understand this fact wei. Recub-
leanism, whatever its faults, has within its ranks the me, ub, -
heve in and have fought for liberal and popular legislation and II,
It's continuance IN power in West Virginia lies the only hore Of the
people of this state for the development of such p-eat o-oc-.ss,o
measures IS the workmen's compensation act. the public utfities 1sv
the hydroelectic law, the conservation of natural gas and III.
measures OF vital importance to the people of West Virginia.