Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-08-12

machine and to reduce the cost of
government wherever it can be done
consistently with a high standard of
efficiency, and in this effort we are
entitled to the help of every honest
man of every party, for all alike suf-
fer forced tribute. The clique of
political highbinders dominating our
state calls itself Republicans, but it
is not in fact entitled to the party
name of Lincoln, Grant and Garfield
for graft and grand larceny have no
politics.
Money Due the State.
"In March, 1910, at a time when
both the National and State admins
! trations were Republican and West
Virglnia's delegation in Congress was
solidly Republican, and when the Vir-
GINA debt suit was pending before
THE Supreme Court of the United
Stataes. our Democratic press called
the attention of the State administra-
ton to West Virginia's claim for ff-
teen million dollars against the Fed
eral government growing out of the
Northwest Territory Trust. Under
Republican administration. State
and National no step was ever taken
to give West Virginia the right to
sue for that claim against the FED
eral government until Senator VIM.
/ T.. Chiffon introduced a bill for that
purpose, and by reason of his posi-
! ton on the Senate Judiciary com
mittee, and his untiring efforts, sue
ceeded in getting a favorable report
! thereon.
"Engrossed in machine building,
land jealous of any honor that might
come to the author of the bill, the
Hatfield administration has failed to
/ help push this claim of such vital in
terest to the taxpayers and has
scoffed at it is as being politics. We
declare that it is politics in the high
/ est and best sense of a patriotic serv-
ice to the whole people of the state.
I'VE pledge our candidate for Gov
ernor, and other state officers, to Wig
! orously cooperate with our represen-
tatives in both branches of Congress,
| TO put this money the Government
owes us into the state treasury, to
the end that if we should be required
to pay any part of the Virginia Debt
claim, regarded by many of our people
as unjust. our taxpayers may be saved
1 from the ruin. and if we escape pay
ment of that claim the money should
be used to tighten the heavy burden
of taxes under which our people al
ready staggar.
we call especial attention to these
things, believing them to be of such
vital importance to the people that
the states duty and interest in them
must not be allowed to longer remain
pawns in the hands of a corrupt ring
struggling to hold place and power.
Primary Election Law.
while the Democratic party, in its
platforms. has favored a primary cleo
ton law and a majority of the Demo
cratic members of the legislature
voted for the present law, they did
so only after vainly trying to amend
liz by eliminating its Objectionable
features. We declare in favor of
the amendment of said primary law
wherever required in the interest OF
fairness, and especially in the follow
ing particulars:
4. The abolition of the objection
able oath of affirmation.
%. Restoring the right to the
smaller political parties of represen-
tation on the ticket.
g. Eliminating the payment OF
fees by candidates.
Excessive Taxation Crime.
Eve declare that to use the taxing
power Of the state, whether by i'm
posing a direct levy upon property or
by license or income taxes, to raise
more revenue than the state abso
lutely needs for its public purposes
lunder an economical administration
of its affairs. constitutes crime
against the citizens Of the state. es-
pccialIy when such funds improperly
collected are used as they hare been
in this state, to pay salaries and eS-
penses Of state employees. a'i Sc
places could won be dispensed VIII
and whose chief activities are pol.ti-
cal and partisan.