Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1916-11-23
Extra Session of the Legislature.


Cornwell when he assumes office mex
March, il is interesting to note some @
the comments in regard TO this remark
able procedure. The Democratic and in
dependentpress condemns Governor Hat
fleld's action in the strongest terms, ant
so do many influential Republican papers
AS sample of the latter, We reprint th'
following editorial from the ParkersburI
State Journal, one of the strongest ant
most influential daIies in West Virginia
There is constitutional provision en-.
abling the Governor to summon the legis.
lature in extraordinary session when "ttt
public welfare" demands if. Ii make:
the Governor the sole judge OF the occa'
sion, and he has taken the oath and not US
Nevertheless, the State Journal canno
refrain from expressing its regret that DR.
Hatfield has put forth the extraordinary
proclamation which emanated from hi:
office last night, convening the lawmakers
The Governor, in that document, has as
sumed that it is his duty 10 protect wha
he conceives to be the interests of the
Republican party regardless OF his obi
CATION TO the people at large.
This action has come at time wher
the people have shown their disapprova
of the Governors office, and have gone
tothe extreme OF sanctioning Democratic
Governor in a Republican State. Read
ing last weeks election returns, we are
safe in saying that Governor Hatfield
could find no warrant for his action in the
public voice.
The first specification concerns itsel
with the primary election law and the
registration law, both more or less abor-
tive statutes. The election day registra-
tion has proven farce. The primary
law, with its five per cent restriction
clause, was OF itself OF almost sufficient
adverse influence to cause the defeat OF
Republican candidate for Governor. Yet
between the present time and the next
election there will be new legislature
fresh from the people and it as an idle
presumption that an extra session should
be called to meet situation, which surely,
after the election. presents no genuine
emergency.
The second specification respects the
statute of 1882 which governs contests.
The fact that il has existed since 1882 and
that IFS danger was not discovered until
the moment is sufficient ground for the
statement that il presents no emergency.
While it would afford the opportunity 10
an INSCRIPTIONS organization to upset the
expressed will Of the people by revolu-
tionary methods, it is broad assumption
on the part of Governor Hatfield that
revolutionary methods will be pursued,
and the assumption is that OF the partisan
and not properly that of Governor of all
the people.
The same may be said with regard 10
the third specification, which advocates
the repeal OF the statute OF 1872, permit
ting the Governor 10 remove elective Of
ficers. That power has existed perpetu-
ally under the archaic statute. Cover
nor Hatffeld's disapproval OF tits an after
thought, because he himself co 'sidered
the use of the statute within his own ad-
ministration for the removal OF Attorney
General Lilly. II is perhaps an unwise
law and maybe dangerous one. But
having existed since 1872 without either
use or abuse, il is partisanship and not
craftsmanship to assume that il prevents
an emergency which threatens the public
welfare because a Democrat and not a
Republican has been elected Governor.
The fourth specification concerns itself
with appointments and removals. We
cannot, of course, in the light OF The par
tisan and factional use made of the ap-
pointive power in the last three years.
accept the declaration for non-partisan
and bipartisan boards as made in good
faith. Governor Hatfield did not so use
the appointing power, and it is presump-
ton for him TO ask that this innovation be
legislated for his successor, particularly
in view of the fact that new Legislature,
with a commission fresh from the people,
comes into being in fortnight.
We say this regardless of the principle
involved. We say this because if that
were wise now as an emergency measure
it was wise when DIR. Hatfield forced
through the legislature measures which
defeated bipartisan and non-partisan
commissions and boards, and brought
them subject TO his own individual pow
er.
The State Journal would regret to see
the patronage Of the State turned over 10
the Democracy. II would regret raid
of partisan character upon the public ser
vice il realizes, too, that such a con-
summation is inevitable. but cannot con-
done the use or abuse Of the extra session
prerogative in matters which are purely
or primarily partisan, particularly in the
face Of the fact that this legislation pro-
posed is TO defeat the effect OF the elec-
ton not yet two weeks old.
In our opinion programme such as
that proposed, with ifs obvious design.
will meet resistance from Republicans. II
is in our opinion unwansnted, and calcu-
lated to react upon the party responsible
for If. The best thought in The party was
against an extra session. We believe the
Governor has made mistake
He-And that night We drove The Ger
mans back two miles.