West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-03-09
THINK IT OVER

Ihere ~ one thing which our Republi-
can brethren must realize before they can
hope for any tax reduction i'm this state,
namely, that they must change the POI
htical complexion OF the state house Off
Gals. They cannot successfully deny that
the Republican state organization ia in
complete control OF set OF men who are
using the organization 10 advance their
own selfish interests and those who are
satisfied to accept the crumbs that fall
from the machine table. Sixteen years
oil trying TO remedy the evil of the fac
tional fight over the spoils OF Office
should convince them that there 10 no
hope of correcting the evil which has
plunged the state hopelessly In debt and
enormously increased taxation. For six
teen years the Republican machine has
been promising TO remedy this evil. Each
time the machine has won, and in place
OF correcting the evil it has plunged the
state deeper in debt and added 70 tn.
burden OF taxation. This pledge of re-
form has been given by the Republicans
ia.
Each time it has been ignored. This
year the same old pledge is renewed
Can the rank and file Of the Republicans
accept it2 IL they do. what do they base
their hope on2 Past promises? Grossly
deceived four times in succession, how
can any intelligent and honest Repuhli-
can accept the promise OF the machine in
1916? Must not reason and common
sense dictate to them that the time ha.
come when they must join hands with
their Democratic brethren and elect a
state and Legislative ticket that will 90
to Charleston and open the books and
turn the rascals out2
Conceding for the sake Of argument
that Democratic state administration IL
not endowed with a greater degree of
honesty than the Republican machine,
Is 1t not fair TO presume that il would At
least make every effort tor four years to
reduce expenses and taxation. II after
the first two years it failed TO fulfill il.
pledges, have not the people the power
TO elect Legislature that could tie the
hands of the state administration? This
is purely business proposition ami
should be treated as such. There il
scarcely state in the union that dives
not change the political complexion OF
their state administration after a fair
trial. Take the adjoining state OF Mary.
land 1t changes the political complexion
OF its state administration about every
other election. Thus they serve notice
on the political parties that unless the,
come clean with the people they must
step down and out. Maryland is con
ceded 70 be a Democratic state. but th.
Democrats do not hesitate TO turn TN.
Democratic party out and place the Re-
publican party in power when they be-
lieve the Democratic party has betrayed
the trust reposed in it, Are the Republi
cans OF West Virginia less patriotic? Are
they so politically hidebound that they
are willing the state shall be run hope
lesslV in debt and the tax ticket increased
each year in order that the party they
affiliate with remain in power? Can n
man who does that claim to be a good
citizen? Can he conscientiously say that
he 10 not imposing a hardship upon his
fellowman and posterity?
We have noqusrrel with those who
hold different views 70 ours We con.
cede the right to every man TO worship
according to the dictates of his own con.
science. We hold that il is the God
given right Of every man to cast his bal
lot for the candidate of his choice, and
we would defend that man i'm the exer.
else of that right. But we believe the
time has come when partisan politics
must be eschewed il the people are TO
rule in this country. We believe that
there is nothing that will destroy a re.
public form of government as quickly AZ
political prejudice. Let us reason to-
Rether As neighbors-not as blind aud
incorporating political partisans
When we curtail the rights Of our neigh
bors we are unconsciously digging our
own grave Might never makes right
" y 'A'NA'N 70 N'ASAah VI the rights OF our
neighbours Intolerance is deadly
weapon. Il may be used on you TODAY
and your neighbor tomorrow. Thus you
both become the victim of intolerance
Exchange your views as friends. and not
az enemiss, You will be pleasantly sur
prised TO learn that there is no material
difference in your views. You will dis.
cover that Il is merely a misunderstand-
ing and that an honest explanation il all
THAI Is necessary to clear it away.
The onel thing we would ask our Re
publican brethren to consider well before
they cast their ballot, and that is are they
satisfied IN their own mind that the Re
publican party will eliminate the horde
Of useless office-holders and reduce taxa
ton Il entrusted with power for fonr
more years. II they are satisfied their
party will do this, then we would like 10
ask them, how IL il that the Hatfield ad.
ministration has not reduced the army
Of useless ofiice-holders instead OF increas-
ing them daily? How can they square
their conscience with inconsistency Of
their party? Has the party lett them one
leg 70 base a hope on?