Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-02-11
Our Charleston Letter.
NEWS OF THE LEGISLATURE

4
Charleston, w. Va, Feb. 8.-That
as to corrupt practice and primary leg.
islation the Democrats in the legisla-
ture are anxious to clothe the exercise
Of the right of suffrage with the great
est possible sanctity is fully reflect,
in two speeches made by Senator Fred
Fox of Braxton, the minority leader in
the Senate. Senator FIX expressed
| the attitude of the. Democrats on the
corrupt practice bill when he said: ION
behalf of the minority in this cham
Der, desire to say that while we in
tend to vote for this bill, we do not
feel thar wrought to permit our votes
to be 90 recorded without vote of ex-
pit nation.
I'VE are in favor of corrupt prac-
tice act and we are in favor of great
many provisions of this act; but there
are two provisions. especially, to which
we most seriously object, and in voting
for this hill we desire to point out
those objections. One is, that we are
opposed TO the expenditures which thia
bill legal zes- Our contention is that
thew are too high; that if we are to
have a corrupt practice act that will
reach the point to which we are direct
| ing our efforts; these expenditures
Oh III d have be m made much lower
han they are. We are also opposed to
that proYisioq in the hill which legal
ICES the employment of paid work ers
at TIE polls. Our view is that in the
politics of this state there is no place
for paid workers at the polls on the
part Of any candidate or party. With
this explanation vote AYE,
The attitude of the minority toward
the primary bill was also fully touched
npon by Senator Fox in the following
remarks: II desire to explain my vote
on this bill and have my remarks in
serted in the journal. am authorized,
in making this explanation, to say that
the remarks shall make represent
the views of the minority in this cham
Der. We propose to vote for this bill,
but in so doing desire to enter our pro-
test against certain provisions contain
ed therein especially that provision
which applies to the assessment of
candidates who desire to enter these
primaries. Our view is that this pri-
mary election law, enacted for all the
people of this state, ought TO be entire
ly free to any person who desires to
become candidate; that there should
not be anything 10 the way, financial
or otherwise, of any party who is leg
ally entitled to hold Office in this staGe.
having his claims passed upon by the
electors of the party to which he b, ;
longs.
I'VE also deplore the fact that the
gentlemen ON the other side resisted
provision for the carrying into effect of
our efforts to have an initiative propo-
sition embodied in this bill. We be-
lieve that there should be a provision
enabling citizens Of this state, of the
different parties, to initiate the candi-
dacy of any persons in these prima-
ries. That provision not being in the
bill. we desire to call attention to the
fact that the minority made an honest
effort to place it in the bill. There are
other objections to the bill which we
might .enumerate. but it will take more
time, | think, than this Senate wants
TO give US, and it will serve no good
purpose. .
Numerous bills now being passed by
the legislature vesting certain powers
in the Governor which when considered
separately are of perhaps little signif-
canoe. are when coupled together of
good deal of import to the people of
the State because they give to State
Executive power which in the hands
of any INSCRIPTIONS man would be alb
solutely destructive of self government
end the strike at the very roots of
Repub .ican form of government. They
are the House Bill No. 1872 which per-
mits the Governor to appoint members
of the county court in case of vacancy.
Through the county courts the Cover
nor could control the election machin.
cry Of the State. They are the Will
hanson Charter ripper bill which per-
mits the Governor to name five COM
missioners in Williamson. They. arei
IN the Public Service hiIIl
which permits the Governor 70 remoxei
at will members Of the Commisaion.
They are Section "A Of the same 6ill