The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-12-21

Williamson charter" enactment Of
the last legislature. / do II upon the
broad principles that communities
having the right to exist In municipal
form under our laws should not be
deprived. even temporarily, OF the
right TO select their own officers and
manage their own Affairs In conform
lily to law. This, position Is no de-
parture from well-settied principles
and customs II Is In keeping with
the very latest Republican party dec
laration. made in convention ut
Huntington In 1912. II was there
declared as n party doctrine tina.
there should be a limit to the power
OF the legislature in passing laws
creating and amending charters OF
1 cities. towns and villages" and pro-
viding that tho same shall be made
to conform to general law" 20 that
cities. towns and villages may have
system OF government which will
carry out the will Of the people" etc.
Under this view. resting as 1t does
upon the principles Of right and JUS
tice. the action Of the legislature.
whatever transient purpose It may
have sought to serve, Of substituting
the VIII OF the chief executive OF the
state. no matter how worthy, for the
will Of the citizens Of Williamson, is
subversiye OF the popular ideas OF
government. and ought to be over
thrown by legislative act at the
earliest moment. to the end that
other cities and communities may
feel themselves removed from tho
danger of similar Legislative en-
croachment. believe in the rights
of municipalities to eict their own
officials.
Roads aud Auto Licenses.
I As a member o: the Southern APP
palachain Good Roads Association
and lifelong citizen OF the state.
interested In its material de-
volopment. am In favor
OF the permanent improvement
of our highways and believe
that the nationa! and state govern
mcnt should assist the local author
tiles In the establishment and main
tenancc OF connected highways. and
that all automobile licenses should be
appropriated for the upkeep OF the
permanent roads OF the state.
Schools and FREQ Text Books.
The Republican party was the
founder OF the free school system
and has actively promoted and gem
erously maintained II for all the peo-
Pile. rich and poor. high and low.
without regard to race or color. L
am thoroughly in accord with the
promotion OF better schools and
school conditions and believe that,
whereas We have provided for COM
pulsory school attendance the state
should. as Il rurther Advancement.
furnish free text books. under an ap-
proved uniform system, TO all whose
necessities may require them.
Agriculture.
Agriculture as business and not
merely as means OF livelihood,
should be encouraged among all
those engaged in this calling Its ad
vantages MS an occupation. when
scientifically followed. should be
called TO the attention OF the public
generally. While much advancement
in farming and farming methods
have been noted. we have .as peo-
I pie, subjected ourselves to
the suspicion that too much
attention has been paid to
the fiattcring appeals laid open
by our more prominent resources.
while too little attention Is given the
equally promising business of farm
ing. Our soil Is yearning for the at
/ tentlon of skilled hands and Is ready
TO yield favorable returns to all those
willing TO meet the conditions that
the business demands. II should be
the aim Of the state to promote. as
far as 1t legitimately can. the welfare
OF the farmers and the advancement
OF their occupation. We should be, at
least self supporting. so far as are
concerned the products OF the farm
and ought not to be compelled to re-
sort to the products OF packing and
cold storage houses brought here
from without the state.
New Deals and Faces.
1t will be my aim to provide the
most efficient help In the conduct
of the peoples business. The state
departments will be run with the
same object Of getting results as
any other business concern, and there
should exist the same terms OF emf
pioyment MS are approved In sue
cessful business institutions OF pri-
vate character. 1t will be my pur-
pose. II governor. TO have new
deal and new faces" as far az
possible, keeping in mind. of course.
efficient service to the state.
The Virginia Debt.
This Is a matter to which have
given the most serious thought and
devoted conscientious service during
! the last three years and 1t is sub
ject concerning which ! have strong
personal convictions. But MS the
last regular session of the legislature
places the matter of settlement and
compromise in the hands of special
commission. with which l am not Of
fcially associated and as the matter
of settlement is now under negotia-
ton anlsin process OF adjudication by