Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-09-30
The Policy OiDeI.y F.tuou..

The Policy OF Delay Fatuous.
How, win it advantage West Virginia
to thrust OF and postpone indefinitely
any and all action In relation to the
Judgment given against her by the Su-
preme Court Of the United States in
the Virginia debt case7 The ostrich
policy of pushing our heads into the
sand and lying still is not likely to help
us one iota. Consider that the interest
onthis judgement for more than $l2. 00O-
600 is accommodating at the rate Of very
nearly $1,000 q day. If the State is
disposed to yield to the decision OF the
Court of last resort, % the citizen must
do. in ordinary litigation or incur the
penalty of being treated as an outlaw,
then it is certain that an adjustment
can be effected with Virginia and her
creditors whereby the interest rate
would be greatly reduced and terms OF
long time for the payment of the
principal covenanted. from this point
Of view the taxpayers Of West Virginia
will be relieved of heavy interest bur-
dens by the effecting of prompt and
final settlement.
On the other hand, if West Virginia
is going to defy the Supreme Court OF
the United States and attempt to re-
pudiate the debt, there are equally good
reason for taking such action without
delay. Reputation Ito which the
writer Is fatty opposed) will be just as
easy now as it will be next year, or
two years hence or FIVE years hence.
If it should succeed, them of course
the matter would be ended, insofar as
the payment of the State debt is con-
cerned. But suppose reputation
should not succeed; suppose the Su-
preme Court of the United States should
find way to enforce its DEGREES, as
the Chief Justice plainly told one of
our indiscreet attorneys it would; sup
pose we should find that resistance Of
the Court paced West Virginia in the
attitude of instruction against the y.
is. Government and that this State
must successfully cope with the army
and navy of the Federal Union in or
der to make reputation effective,
then we take it that West Virginia
would be compelled to recognize re-
pudiation as a failure, Along this un-
trodden pathway it is very possible for
these difficulties to interpose them
selves. What then? Why this-that
after protracted delay and the last
desperate effort of reputation had
failed, we would find ourselves at the
mercy of Virginia. cred tors and sad
died with the interest accumulations
at 6 per cent which had run all the
while we were pursuing the fatuous
policy of non-action and evasion.
| And SO it seems pretty clear that
whether we are going to pay the judg'
ment against US on the best terms pro
durable, or whether we are going to de-
fly the Supreme Court and seek 20 re
pudiate the debt, prompt action will be
best that is best for the taxpayers Of
West Virginia. Itmay not be best fol
self seeking politicians who want tt
side step this grave subject until they
can get into public Office again. W.
were not thinking of them, but "
.twere and are thinking Of the people
who in the last analysis are bound t.
bear this burden and pay The penalties
: incurred.
In our candid judgment Gov. Hat
field should at once convene the Legls
lature to deal with this whole question
the most momentous financial problem
that ever confronted our State. Thos
) who have influence with the Governo
should urge this upon him. AS sure
you are born. we have all to lose an
nothing to gain by indefinite, delay.
And at the same session the Legis
lature should take up the subject 0
our interest in Virginia's claim agalns
: the United States under the North
. west Territory grant, already original
ed in Congress by Senator Chiffon, an
{ send to Washington commission com
t posed of West Virginia's ablest mer
of all parties, to help set forward wit
every energy at their command the en-
actment of the bill authorizing the Y
S. Supreme Court to adjudicate thi
great question.
v Citizens of West Virginia, the finar
. cial salvation of our State is hangin
in the balance. Let US awake and, put
ting away small and vain things. &C
with decision to protect our rights an
e interests. ALBERT SIDNEY JOHN
STON in the Monroe Waterman"
Where Your Money Goes