The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18
DEMOCRAT RESPONSIBILITY.

Democratic editors in West Virginia
are contemplating with undisguised
satisfaction the situation In the state
senate where sufficient number Of
Republican votes are recorded along
with the nine Democratic votes on
every roll-cali to defeat every attempt
Of the Republican majority to enact
revenue legislation. The Democratic
theory is that 1t is sup to the Repub.
licans" to solve the revenue problem,
and that the minority party has no
responsibility along that line. +
But the little political game OF vot.
ing down all measures-good, bad and
! indifferent, alike-nerely for the pur.
pose OF putting the other fellows In
the. hole always seems cleverer. while
ills in progress in q Legislature body,
than It does when the participants
have to explain the matter afterwards.
The Democratic eenators were sent
to Charleston by the peopl of West
Virginia, as were their Republican
colleagues, to enact useful legislation
and one of the important functions
OF membership in either house OF the
Legislature ia that celebrating and
deciding on the best and most equit.
able methods Of raising revenues to
meet those expenses has to be derived
from some source and the Democrats
cannot dodge their share Of the re.
sponsibility involved In making choice
OF methods Of taxation.
Senator Chiffon is the "titular
leader" OF the Democratic party In
West Virginia, and it is fair to call
on him for declaration Of Demo.
cratic policy in the matter Of raising
revenue. Refusal Of the Democratic
senators to support any measures OF
indirect taxation leaves only the alter.
native OF enacting a measure increas.
Ing the rate OF direct taxation. Is
Senator Chiffon ready to enter his
campaign for reelection to the United
States senate on record OF Demo.
cratic opposition to every effort of
the Hatfield administration TO make
the corporations that are exploiting
this state bear a fair share of the
burden OF caring for the state institu.
tons? Are the Democratic senators
anxious to shoulder the responsibility
of having voted In favor OF the cor.
porations and In opposition to the
farm and home owners OF the state
In ever division on questions Of taxa.
ton? They cannot escape their share
of that responsibility, SO long as they
maintain their alliance as a party or.
ganization with the bunch Of insurgent
Republicans. The matter OF raising
revenue is no more up to Republicans
than n tD 1tn tn nep.nHraf &c
Is 1t, then, a recognized part OF the
Democratic program In West Virginia
to refuse to support any revenue
measure designed to provide funds
sufficient to carry on and develop the
various state institutions? Do the
Democrats want the state to default
to those institutions in the matter OF
appropriations already made and con-
tracts entered into on the basis Of
those appropriations? Is It a part Of
the Democratic policy, and does Sem
ator Chiffon stand for 1t, to discon.
tinue all development in our educa.
tional institutions rather than levy
additional taxes on the interests en-.
joying special privileges in the state?'
That is the position in which the close
alliance OF solid Democratic delega.
ton with few anti.administratio
Republicans leaves the party of which
Senator Chiffon is TO be the protagon.
list in the little drama of politics to
be staged in the next campaign. II
the question Of raising the revenue for
the state is UP to the Republicans
and to Governor Hatfield, tits also
up to the Democrats and to Senator
Chiffon. Does the Democratic leader
want to go into the campaign as the
champion. of the tax.dodging corpora.
tioIts??
A similar question might suggest
itself to Senator White as to a certain
contest that is likely to be pulled off
under the new White primary law
Charleston Post.