The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-11-17
BY Referendum Vote Now Be.
ing Taken, According to 4
Commute

a national referendum OF the So
cialtst party is being submitted to the
membership looking toward the
adjustment Of q national convention
for 1915. National Committeeman q.
H. Kintzer, Of this city, gives it as his
opinion that the referendum will carry.
This year" Mr.. Kintzer said. "the
Socialist party dominates its prest-
dental candidates by referendum, in
which every member Of the party will
have the. right to vote upon the noni-
nees for candidates"
It is explained that each local Of the
Socialist party is given nominating
blank upon which they are to report to
their national Office their choice for
president, vice president, and the
executive officers Of the national or
ganization. A certain length OF time
Is given each person nominated in
which to accept or decline the nomina-
ton. When the time has expired,
those who have accepted will have
their names placed upon a ballot and
referred to the 5000 locals for vote.
1t will require majority vote to
make the candidates the actual choice
of their constituency, either for presi-
dental candidates to be placed before
the voters Of the country, or the cleo
tion Of the executive officials.
Because of the manner in which the
candidates Of the Socialist party are
to be selected this campaign, 1t Is I'M
likely that the Socialists will vote to
have a national convention. They say
that it is not Of any great use that a
convention be held, at great expense
to the party and inconvenience of the
delegates, for the main purpose Of
making platform, which at any rate
would have to be submitted to the en-
tire membership for vote upon, para
graph by paragraph.
Officials Of the party state that it is
their belief that practically the entire
platform Of 19l2Swill be adopted, with
the notable exception Of some "imme-
date demands, " which, 1t will be re-
called, in nineteen planks were dupli-
Gated in the Roosevelt platform.
Therefore they are considered too mild
for the militant Socialist. Another
plank Of great importance to that par
ty which will be inserted is the
ayowed expression of the Socialists
against an Increased armament and all
manner OF war.
"There is no need to make any
change in our party's platform" said
Mr.. iKintzer, unless to make a declara-
ton Of some kind in regard to the
European war and, the proposal to
spend on an increased army and navy.
Our position on the other great ques-
lions that affect the working masses
is the same this year as it was In
1912. Capitalism is today what 1t was
then. We stand for the adjustment
of the economic order which produces
wars and the less apparent miseries,
such as periodical Unemployment, i'm
poverishment OF the masses through
adulterated foods. and exploitation
through the wages and profits system,
1t is true that in 1912 Mr.. Roosevelt
stole some Of our thunder: But this
was not harmfully missed. We con-
soled ourselves in the fact that Mr..
Roosevelt, or any other politician or
political party, viii not steal our light
ming. Lightning is more effective. Our
lightning is "the adjustment of pri-
vate ownership in the. social means
OF life" !,