The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-08-09
In That Freak Known as the
Democratic Platform Of
West Virginia.

WASHINGTON, August 9.-Thc first
opportunity TO read, analytic and re
fleet upon the remarkable platform
which the late Democratic convention
at Parkersburg put forth, has been
given the states colony Of politicians.
They embraced it with eXpcctant in
terest. Due to its great length tho
Democratic papers In the state hayo
just been able to print It in its entire
ty, despite the fact that it vas born
OF the second instant.
The Judgment of the Republican
leaders on that novel document is far
from being mixed with anger. as I'M
sophisticated ones might suspect. On
the contrary, it is regarded in thu
smiling light Of an infectious humor.
Apparently conceived in all serious
ness by its authors, approved by a
convention in the same grave attitude
Of mind, and expected by both the
composers and the delegates to be
Eulped down by the public in the same
solemn and unthinking manner, the
fact is that that these well laid plans
and cherished hopes have gang aft
aglce, or words to that general effect,
if the expressions Of many men are
to be relied upon.
Tho prominent leaders here Of the
marty assaiIed are OF the opinion that
in their zeal to spread the molasscs
to catch votes. as W. Wilson was wont
to say OF a certain wrecked platform
which hangs like a spectre in the ma
tional political SKY. the Parkersburg
product went too far. 1t undertook to
include too much territory. They
overplayed themselves with their plat
form" as one expert observer who is
more or less OF a neutral, declared
today. They promised too much and
affirmed as truth too much that the
intelligent people Of West Virginia
know isn't So" he added.
Commenting on The same subject. a
wcII known Rcpublican leader in West
Virginia who dropped off a train here
TODAY to talk politics before interview
ing the sad sea waves at Atlantic City,
declared that the Democratic platform
was so extreme, 50 plainly pyperbolical
hypocritical ana false that it has al
ready started resentment in the minds
of voters who are capable OF putting
a mind OF their own behind their bal
lots. Aimed to softsoap a certain
kind Of party men, those who played
the losers in the primary, and those
who puff with pride when they boast
of their superior independence Of
party principles and organization, the
Democratic platform is so patiently a
deceit. SO bra2enly untruthful, so ap-
parently a trap, baitcd with specious
allurcments and false pretenses. set
TO catch the unthinking and the UNI
wary that it not only defeats the basic
motives which undcrile it but will
rebound to strengthen the unity, de-
termination and activity Of the Repub-
lican campaign. There is such a thing
as oyerplaying ones hand and the
Democratic zcalots who are to blame
for this platform monstrosity appear
10 have done it.
"1P tnoro is any ono hing ina, >hc
RonrhIirans NJ West Virginia in their
nride in thcir nartv,s progressive
a~rbievemants arc fonchy abont il is
ANY, att%mnt NJ mo onnosition 10 be-
itch thcir narty,s c~scutchcnn and
10 attrmnt to blacEen lis record There
arc 'comntless voters in me State who
40 700 Yong n remember whnt kind
. go ,Ho thrfr s,ato had twenty
,oars 400 when no Democratic marty
snd c" rso, WarCorE'o wcnt ont Of
%~"s;nnss as MANAGERS of AFFAIRS There
n"ro NAN Who do wasn't mucb
~ , state in thosn DAYS and if wasn',
nlrcb ~ = povernmcnt as thcy well
ron,orhor II was strictly n south
80 wasontond.Diyon commonwealth n
$50 tbo,wab STATE and'the peopIe
an5 no idoos which prevailed in those
@,nn5s,in yc,rs wore q hltrbt IN nror-
rorr ond ~ioyeIonment
:" "yvha. Wost VIRGINIA is today II
10 mo PonnhIican marty md rs
NJ arosortotiyos h ronk and
0 GU 20 ~ norty is nrond and iustIy
nv M rncnrJ Tboy arc