West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-11-23
Making Last Desperate Attempt to
Hold on to Pie and Give Pay
rollers Lifetime Jobs-Taxpay-
ers Will be Called on to Foot the
Bill

sion OF the legislature ever held was
convened shortly after noon today
Little was attempted at the first ses
sion, which lasted about one hour in
both holses, but a recess was taken
until five o'clock. when il is expected
that the legislttion advocated by the
governor to preserve his machine will
be introduced.
The initial session was featured by
the governors message. read in both
houses, and by protests filed against
the eligibility OF certain members OF
the House and Senate. who hold or
have held state positions.
The governors message is pronoun-
ced as one of the bitterest state papers
submitted to a legislature in recent
years, the burden OF which is that the
institutions must be protected by re-
tanning all their heads. as we'll as his
other appointive officers. The mes
sage is filled with invective.
Protests against the eligibility of
a. Swiger OF Tyler, George b. Har-
man OF Grant. and G. G. Pierce OF Pres
ton, were filed in the House, and
against A. Bliss McCrum, S. 0. Bill
ings and Dennis steed were filed in
the Senate.
Swiger is a member of the board of
regents, Harman is still on the rolls
OF the tax commissioners Office, and
Pierce, up until few days ago, was
employed in the Office of commissioner
OF agriculture.
Billings is no longer a resident of
the state. McCrum is a member OF the
board OF control, and Steed is law
clerk to the public servicec ommission
Billings came here from Elmira, New
York, to attend the session.
The usual committees were appoint
ed to wait on the governor and to no.
tify the respective houses that a quo
rum was present,
On the committee TO wait on the
governor were Messrs, Glover, Talbot
OF Richie. and Hall of the House, and
Messrs Gregory and Marshall of the
Senate.
The House adopted a resolution pro-
viding for four special committees as
follows: Rules. judiciary, taxation and
enrolled bills.
The reactionary leaders are some
what apprehensige as to what they
will be able to do in the House Some
of the absent members are known to
be opposed to the governors revolu-
tion program.
Governor Hatfield entered into an
exhaustive discussion OF the charge
that fraud had accompanied the cleo
tion, declaring that zone United States
marshal, am informed, carried club
in his hand throughout election day
for the purpose of intimidating vot-
ers"
He also discussed the charge that
negroes had been brought from Ala
bama and illegally voted in Marion
county
;iYet Mr.. GornwellP he continued,
hwouid remove, he says, Republican
who happened 10 hold an appointive
position I'm the state on ground of ne
glect Of duty because he assisted his
party In legitimate way. believe
it my plain duty after reading such
revolutionary threats from one who as
pires to be governor to risk no chance
of what the future has in store for
those who have responsible, elective
and appointive positions do not
feel that the people are desirous OF
eliminating the wonderful progress OF
twenty years Of Republican achieve
ments In this state nor turning It over
to a crowd whose action indicates
their belief I'm a government which
stands for greed, avarice and division
OF spolls which, II carried out, must
bring detriment to our state and stay
It's progress and development. ] do
not need to refer to the Democratic
party wholly as representing a party
OF spoil-diyiders but to a combination
of Democrats and Republicans which
unfortunately controls the Democratic
parly IN Vest Virginia At present"
The remainder OF the message was
taken up with recommendation for
changes In the law as forecasted in the
call for the special session.
In order TO forestall the growing op-
position 10 the governors program
there Is a possibility. and perhaps a
probability that some Of the bills will
be taken up for consideration today.
The minority will protest against
sutn hasty scnon, not as Democrats
but as citizens, believing that It is not
partisan advantage which Is at stake
put that honesty, fair play and real
representative government I'm West
Virginia are At stake However, It 4,
felt that the efforts Of the minority
Piil be 81 little avail in the face % Z
strong lobby Of ONCE holders who ar,
determined to force their program
through at ell costs. The mlnorit,
Will proceed with dignity to contes
every inch Of ground, believing tha
an awakened public opinion will sus
tain them In their fight for fair pIal
and against revolutionary proceedings
The feeling here among Repubil
cana az well as Democrats a. tense