Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-01-01

10 give Il attention. employing all the
legitimate authority and power OF The
Governors ofice to The Inauguration
OF methods and practices that viii
guarantee TO the people a safe, pro
gressive and economical administra-
tion Of their business. I am positively
opposed to the creation of any new
office, board or commission Of any kind
or character and am likewise opposed
to the increase of any salary for Off
GERS now employed.
Unrestricted tax limitations often
lead to wasteful and even criminal
expenditures Of public funds. l am
In favor of a reasonable limitation law
that will make it impossible to lay use
t less and burdensome levies on the tax
4 payers in any manner or for any rea.
son whatsoever.
PRIMARY ELECTION LAWS.
Freedom of thought and political ac-
/ ton or the maintenance of party entity
should not be denied to any political
organization within the state. The
present primary election law should
/
litical organizations equal opportuni-
ties to a fair and unrestricted right
to a position on the ballot. both in
primary and general elections.
THE WILLIAMSON CHARTER.
In stating an opposition to the
Williamson Charter" enactment of
the last Legislature. / do it upon the
broad principles that communities
having the right to exist in municipal
/ form under our laws should not be de-
prived, even temporarily, of the right
to select their own officers and manage
their own affairs in conformity TO law.
This position is no departure from
well-settled principles and customs
II is in keeping with the very latest
Republican party declaration, made in
convention OF Huntington In 1912. II
was there declared as a party doe
trine that there should be a limit to
the power OF the Legislature in passing
laws creating and amending charters
Of cities, towns and villages" and pro-
viding that the same shall be made
to conform to a general law" so that
"cities, towns and villages may have
a system of government which will
carry out the will of the people" etc.
Under this view, resting as 1t does
upon the principles of right and JUS
tice, the action of the Legislature.
whatever transient purpose it may
have sought to serve, of substituting
the will Of the chief executive of the
state, no matter how worthy, for the
will of the citizens of Williamson, is
subversive of the popular ideas OF
government, and ought to be over
thrown by legislative act at the
earliest moment, to the end chat other
cities and communities may feel them
selves removed from the danger Of
similar legislative encroachment.
believe in the rights of municipalities
to elect their own officials.
ROADS AND AUTO LICENSE.
AS a member of the Southern Appa-
iachian Good Roads Association and
q lifelong citizen of the state, inter
ested in its material development
am in favor or the permanent improve
ment of our highways and believe that
the national and state government
should assist the local authorities in
the establishment and maintenance Of
connected highways, and that all auto
mobile licenses should be appropriated
for the upkeep of the permanent roads
of the state.
SCHOOLS AND FREE TEXT BOOKS.
! The Republican party was the
founder of the free school system and
has actively promoted and generously
maintained it for all the people, rich
and poor, high and low, without re-
gard to race or color. am thoroughly
in accord with the promotion Of better
schools and school conditions and be-
lieve that, whereas we have provided
for compulsory school attendance, the
state should, as further advance
ment furnish free text books, under
an approved uniform system, to all
whose necessities may require them.
AGRICULTURE.
Agriculture as business and not
merely as means OF livelihood should
be encouraged among all those en-
gagged in this calling. Its advantages
as an occupation, when scientifically
! followed, should be called to the atten-
ton OF the public generally. While
much advancement in farming and
farming methods have been noted, we
have, as a people. subjected ourselves
to the suspicion that too much atten-
ton has been paid to the fiattering
appeals laid open by our more promi-
nent resources, while too little atten-
ton is given the equally promising
business Of farming. Our soil is
! yearning for the attention of skilled
hands and is ready 10 yield favorable
returns to all those willing to meet the
conditions that the business demands
1t should be the aim of the state to
promote, as far as it legitimately can,
the welfare of the farmers and the
advancement OF their occupation. We
oh hA NJ colf