Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-08-12
Greatest Declaration Of Principles Ever Endorsed by
the Great Party of the People in West Virginia-Ad
minstration of President Woodrow Wilson Unani-
mously Endorsed---State Administration Machine
Condemned for High Handed Action---Public High
ways and Agriculture Specially Consdered--Excess-
i've Taxation Condemned as Crime

complete system of permanent roads
throughout the state, with state, as
well as national aid therefor.
while under the terms of the Con-
stitution, automobile license fees
must go into the state treasury, we
favor appropriatiag to the several
counties the respective amounts re-
ceiyed therefrom in such license
taxes, or sums equivalent thereto, for
road purposes.
THE present system for leasing
convict labor is unfair to both labor
and business, as well as unfavorable
to the physical well-being and moral
regeneration of the convicts. With a
view to correct these abuses, and
utilize such labor primarily to pro-
duce cheaply those things that the
state itself must use, and that are es-
sential to the farming industry, we
favor the use OF convict labor inso-
far as possible in the construction
OF roads and in the production Of
road material, and in pulverizing
limestone for use on soil, as in the
great states of Illinois and Virginia
Eve hold agriculture as the basic
industry of permanent public wealth
to be entitled to the fostering care Of
government in the interest of all the
people, and we are gratified to recall
that the five great boons to agricul-
ture in the last century, viz: Rural
Mail Delivery, Cabinet Representa-
ton Federal Reserve Banking, Rural
Credits and National Aid to Good
Roads, all came through the Demo,
cratic party, and in Democratic ad.
ministration.
Water-Power
eve again call attention TO nat
ural water power as the one great
natural resource which still remains
the property of the people of our
state. Unlike our timber and min
eral resources, this great resource is
inexhaustible, and. if properly han
died and developed, will convert the
state of West Virginia into an indus,
trial empire. We pledge ourselves
tc encourage and promote that de-
velopment and that while the Demo-
cratic party is in power, the title to
the natural water power sites in this
state shall remain with the people.
Republicans Threaten West Virginia
Industries
1.-THE coal, iron, steel. glass, oil, gas,
lumber, and pottery business consti-
tute the chief business of the state
outside of agriculture. These bust
nesses deserve the fostering career
OF the state government as does the
business of agriculture. Whatever in
jrres either affects labor and business
and by injuring them and labor the
farmers market is proportionately
harmfully affected. Remembering that
we are in competition with other
states, every power of this state
should be directed to the preservation
OF our markets and to the fos-
tering OF these industries, and we
should look with suspicion upon any
and every effort to increase the diff.
ferential against our products to the
markets which these products have
heretofore enjoyed We are, there
fore, amazed that the Republicans
at Chicago declared in favor Of TAX
ing away from the states all control
of railroads. This is revolutionary,
and it's effect, if not it's purpose, will
be to give our competitors in other
states advantages over West Virginia,
and may paralyze the hand of the
state in its most important interests,
We declare this to be most vital
question to every citizen of West Vir-
GINA. 1t is an assault upon the in
dustries in the name of both business
and labor. West Virginia needs
equal rights in the fight for mar
kets; and the carrying out of the Ma
tional Republican platform upon this
question may mean the ruin of our
industries for an indefinite time.
Election fraud Prosecutions :,
Through fraud and corruption in
elections and primaries, West Vir-
ginia has been brough to shame and
dishonor among her sister states, and
We rejoice that the Federal Govern
ment, through its Department of JUS
tice has set on foot prosecutions in