The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-02-26
DEFylNa THE LAW.

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burgh Dispatch is responsible for
what seems to be an inspired story
published In that paper, stating that
the city administration will probably
ignore the new charter and refuse to
hold the election provided for by It.
That will be no surprise to those &C.
quainted with. the Democratic tactics
OF the past. The present ndministra.
ton has been defying the provisions
OF the present charter every day since
they have been In office, and this, de.
spite the fact that the old charter is
OF their own creation. Their oaths
seem to be considered Of little conse.
quence when a provision Of law comes
between them and their political de.
sires. In spite of the fact that the
charter provides for a so.called non.
partisan administration the city pay
roll has been made the plaything OF
the Democratic machine. In spite OF
the charters plain provisions other.
wise one Of these commissioners has
continued to hold another position
paying him more than his salary as
commissioner. Many other instances
might be cited to show how little re.
gard these tools OF the machine have
for the law. Under such plain eyi.
dence OF past disregard for law, It will
not at all be surprising TO see these
same men defy the law creating the
new charter, and especially does this
seem plausible when their jobs are at
stake, which fact alone can be atl.
yanced for opposition to a charter
which reduces the expenses OF the
city and provides for fair elections.
II the advocates Of the new charter
are compelled to go to the courts with
a uandamus to have their rights as
citizens respected. It will not be the
first time the venal machine has shut
Its eyes in defiance Of law and forced
them to do SO. When the first city
election was held under the old char.
ter the Republicans wtse forced to
apply to the supreme court for q man.
damus to get even tye representative
on the election board. They were
forced to again 60 to the courts last
fall In the general election to got
their lawful representation, and all OF
this disregard for law was inspired
and directed by the bosses who own
the city administration. They own
It because they put up the slush fund
to create 1t. 1t cannot afford to disre.
gard the mandates Of its creators,
whose slogan ito hell with the law"
has been the rasping words to fall
upon the ears Of Republican election
officials who have pointed out the
grossest kind Of violations OF law in
the past In the lawful discharge OF
their duties.
When a riot occurs in mining
camp these same men who manipu.
late the city government Of Fairmont.
and uphold disrespect for law. cry out
"the law must be enforced" We agree
wit hthem on this point. but II they
want any respect shown their devo.
ton to law and order In one instance,
they must become respectors Of the
law In the more quiet and orderly ar
fairs OF civil government. People are
learning to have very little regard for
those who know better, who are endu.
Gated and have the means Of under.
standing the full consequences ot
their actions. when they for political
reasons are known to be violators OF
law themselves. 1t seems to depend
upon whose OK Is being gored.