Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-08-05

OuPl CuC OOuIt III IdVOI OF the
West Virginia Certificate
holders,
That way dishonor lies.
An impartial tribunal-the
highest judicial body on earth
has rendered its verdict, to which
West Virginia must submit, or be
discredited in the eyes of the
world. to her future industrial
undoing.
Already interest is piling up
and the situation becomes worse
every day of inaction passes.
The Republican party is in
power in West Virginia. On it
devolves the responsibility for an
extrication of the State from its
present financial dilemma.
What is it going to do about it
To let things drift along is
merely to stave off the day of
reckoning.
The crisis must be met some
time and the time is now.
Much might be said as to the
management-or lack of it-of
the debt controversy, but true
craftsmanship demands initiative
in securing for the State an equi-
table settlement of the debt due
to it, to Offset the amount she
has been called on to assume as a
component part of the old State
of Virginia. When that is done
her taxpayers will be relieved of
the judgement the Supreme Court
has assessed against them.
But the settlement of that
judgement is condition prece-
dent to future good standing in
court and # would seem to be the
duty of Governor Hatfield to con-
vene the Legislature in extra
session and provide for the settle
ment imposed, as provided under
the State constitution.
When that is done the whole
State #and politics should never
have been injected in this purely
business question-should line up
behind the most feasible plan for
restitution.
It was great Republican,
James G. Blaine, who advocated
the assumption by the Federal
Government of West Virginia s.
share of the debt Of the Mother
State.
The Free Press believed in the
inherent justice of the contention
and was the first to suggest its
adoption. Since then John Ham
ilton has with skill and energy
presented the claim to Congress
where it now ponds.
But it becomes evident, in this
day, of necessarily large appro-
priations and disorganized rev.
enues, that West Virginia, by
herself, can hope for little con-
sideration of the justice of her
claim and its assumption by the
United States at the expense of
the many commonwealth now
composing it.
Regretfully therefore we
turn to other solutions.
Of these the Chiffon plan gives
greatest promise of relief, and it
seems to us that the citizenship
of the State should be unit in
urging the Congress as an act of
simple equity, to give her the
necessary standing in, Court to
enable her to present the Justice
of her cause to the country.
To do less would be manifestly |
unfair, since, Virginia having |
been given her day in court, to
present her case on behalf of the
bondho1ders, surely the same
tribunal which granted that
right will not deny to West Vir-
ginia an opportunity to sue for
her rights before the law.
And when this right is accord
ed, West Virginia will not stand
by herself.
She will have the active back
ing of every Representative in
House and Senate. from the thir-
teen original states, which will
receive, as they should, their pro-
portion of the Courts award.
Briefly stated, as we understand
it, Senator Chilton'S claim sets
forth the indisputable fact, that
when the original State of Vir-
ginia coded to the federal govern
Northwest Territory,
now, composing Eye of the rich
st states of the Union-it was