The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-06-09
CHARTER DOES NOT
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Is entitled under the new charter 70
vote at any municipal election. How
ever, It is further contended that no
organization or party can have Its
candidates upon the municipal ballot
at any election except the Democrats
and the Republicans. Such Is not true.
It may be fact that the /. W. w. or
ganization and the Bolshevih party
would have some difficulty in getting
their candidates upon the municipal
ballot; possibly this is one Of the
meritorious features OF the new char
ter It Is an evident fact, nevertheless,
that any organization, whether politi-
cal or otherwine, can get its candidate
on the municipal ballot at any election
II there is any substantial sentiment
among the voters for such candidates.
Under the new charter, 1t only requir-
es that ten per cent OF the voters OF
the city subscribe to petition or GER
tificate In order to have its candidates
placed on the ballot. II any organi-
cation or party can not secure ten per
cent of the voters OF the city, it would
have no chance of electing anyone at
the municipal election. Section 1871
of the new charter provides as fol-
lows:
Members Of the board of directors
may be nominated otherwise than by
conventions or primary elections. In
such case, a certificate shall be signed
by the qualified voters within the cor
porate limits OF said city to a number
equal to ten per centum Of the entire
vote cast at the last general municipal
election, and for the purpose of NOM
mating candidates for members of the
board of directors to be voted for at
the first general municipal election to
be held hereunder. certificate shall
be signed by qualified voters OF the
said city to number equal to ten per
centum of the entire vote cast at the
last general election for all candidates
for governor, within the corporate linn
its of said city" 1t is then an OBJ
vious proposition that any organization
or party, having members or support
ers in the number Of two or three hun
bred voters can conveniently and cas-
lily have their candidates placed on
the ballot for any municipal election,
It would be useless for any one to be
candidate If he would not have some
substantial sentiment for him, and
supporters equal to two or three hun
dred voters, otherwise he would not
have the remotest chance OF election.
No candidate in good faith deserves
to run for the sake of running, he
wants to know that he has at least
some chance OF election.
Again there are others finding fault
~ a.
members and not for four members OF
the Board Of Directors under the new
charter. Each party or organization is
only permitted TO place in nomination
two candidates for members of the
Board Of Directors. There seems to
be no good reason why any voter
should vote for more than two candid
dates. He can give no satisfactory Elk
lplanation why he should vote for his
own candidates on his own party
ticket, and then cross over and vote for
some other perty's candidates. There
! exists no other election in which q
voter can vote forhis own party's can
didates and then switch over on the
ballot and also vote for all the can
ddates Of some other party. A voter
can scratch any candidate on his own
party ticket and then cross over on the
ballot and vote for the candidate OF
another party. But it ds again urged
that the new charter IS unconstitution
al because a voter can not vote for ali
four members of the Board OF Direc-
tors. Happily, this proposition of Law
has been decided bythe supreme court
OF the state OF West Virginia, in case
OF Booten vs.. Pinton. In this case. the
court decided that tho provision OF the
state constitution pertaining to mu
nicipa1 authorities els not q limitation
Of the Legislature to prescribe the nun
Der and official character OF the mu
nicipal authorities, and tho manner u
which they shall be elsosen." Tn,
Legislature could provide under tn,
constitution, that me Governor appotn
the members OF the Board of Direction
or that any voter could vote for ont
OF such members. This proposition d
entirely In the discrimination of tn,
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