West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-08-24
pawns In the hands OF corrupt ring
struggling TO hold place and power.
Primary Election Law.

platforms. has favored a primary cleo
ton law and a majority OF tho Demo
cratic members OF tho Legislature
voted for tho present law. they did SO
only after vainly trying 20 amend ft
by eliminating its Objectionable fea-
lures. We declare in favor OF d the
amendment OF said primary law wher-
ever required in the interest Of fair
ness. and especially In tho following
particulars:
Tho abolition OF the Objectionable
oath or affirmation.
2-Restoring tho right TO tho small
er political parties OF representation
on the ticket.
eliminating the payment OF fees
by candidates.
Excessive Taxation a Crime.
We declare that to use the taxing
power OF the state, whether by i'm
posing n direct levy upon property or
by license or income taxes, to raise
moro revenue than the state absolute
ly needs for its public purposes under
an economical administration OF its
affairs, constitutes n crime against tho
citizens OF the state, especially when
such funds improperly collected are
used as they have been in this state.
20 pay salaries and expenses OF state
employees, whose places could we'll be
dispensed with and whose chief ao-
uvities are political and partisan.
Believing that protection against
excessive taxation can be had only
through strict economy I'm public ex-
penditures. and economy, however,
that does not impair the efficiency OF
our state institutions; and further be-
lieving that the same business efii-
cheney effective in the management OF
the best regulated private corpora
lions should prevail in our public in
stitutions and in our state government,
we endorse the plan proposed by our
candidate for Governor in the pre-
primary campaign OF creating a BIZ
partisan commission OF high-class
business men, with sufficient patri-
otism and public spirit to serve the
state without pay, who will make a
careful study OF the states financial
condition and OF the needs OF the vari-
Gus state institutions, with the pur-
pose or ascertatning where waste may
DO eliminated and better business
methods applied. and especially with
the purpose OF abolishing all useless
offices and saving TO the people the
salaries OF such places. and OF saving
the cost OF extravagant salaries where
the same are paid. We pledge the
Democratic candidate for Governor, II
elected, to the creation OF such a COM
mission and likewise pledge him and
his associates on the state ticket to
The carrying out, In good faith, of the
program OF such commission.
We also believe that the best meth
ID OF insuring economic and intelli-
gent handling OF the fiscal affairs OF
the state Is by budget, carefully pre-
pared by the heads OF the different de-
partments OF the state, In consultation
with an efficiency commission, with
power TO the Legislature to make
changes In the appropriation recon-
mended, limited to reduction of esti-
mated amounts, and We favor such an
Improvement in our state government.
6l-Partisan Commissions.
We believe that the spoils system
by which boards and commissions arc
appointed entirely from one party, and
thus made potential cogs I'm a political
machine, has reached a point in this
state where II is grave menace TO the
liberties OF citizens and the security
or property. Especially is this true of
the Public Service Commission, WELD
Ing autocratic power over three hun
dred and twenty million dollars in.
vested In public utilities in this state.
all the members OF which belong to
one party, and are removable by the
Governor at his pleasure. without ap.
peal.
Such things are incompatible with
Tree government, and are detrimental
TO the welfare OF the state by dIscour-
aging the investment OF capital I'm en-,
terprises that may become the helpless
prey or political grafters and dictators.
The Democratic party declares tia
purpose TO make the Public ServIce
commission and all other appointive
bodies bipartisan in their member
ship, and now pledges its candidate for
Governor. in event OF his election. to
make the same bipartisan, whether
the law now requires II or not, and to
select for such appointments. only men
or known integrity and special fitness.
who will lift and hold the service far
above partisan politics.
The power should be taken from the
Governor TO remove at will Public
Service Commissioners and other an
pointees who have been confirmed by
the Senate. Such officials should be
Independent OF executive influence.
and secure in their positions. except
oy process OF impeachment for cause
as Is the case OF judges.
Roads and Agriculture.
National aid for good roads has iust
been voted by a Democratic Congress.
and In the necessary readjustment OF
our road laws 10 give our state the
benefit OF this Government road
money, We pledge ourselves 20 take
the construction OF these roads. that
mean so much in the moral and ma.
terial welfare Of West Virginia. out Of
partisan control, 80 that II shall never
become new cog in any political ma
chine, or prize for politicians To
night Tor; and we favor a complete
system OF permanent roads throughout
the state. with state. as we'll as nation.
al, aid therefor.
While under the terms OF the Con.
stitution, automobile license fees must
go into the state treasury. we favor
sppropriating TO the several counties
the respective amounts received there.
from r. such license taxes or sums
equivalent thereto. for road purposes.
Inc present system OF leasing con.
Vet labor is unfair to both labor and
business. as we'll as unfavorable 20
the physical well-being and moral re.
generation Of the convicts. with a
view 70 correct those abuses. and Mt.
lie annh labor nrirnnrnu 10 r...a....