The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-02-27
State and Local Authorities Have Been
Powerless to Deal With the Matter
Under Present Laws, He Declares
STATE SHOULD PROTECT IT'S CITIZENS
Chief Executive Thinks Bill He Offers Will Reach Fla
grant Offenders And Also the Landlords Who
Boost Rents.
LBy Associated Pressl

[By Associated Pressl
CHARLESTON. Feb. 27.-The
West virginta legislature, called into
extraordinary session by Governor
cornwell largely for the purpose of
acting on resolution proposing rati-
fication of the Susan B, Anthony suf-
frage amendment to the federal con-
stttution, conxened here at noon to-
day with prospects for a close fight
s0st5i he resoitt tiUn. Z. - = -; =
Coy efior CornWell place. the iwos
mans suffrage anie ndment IN the
forefront OF this message to the legis-
ilature and urged the enactment of
laws necessary to curb the activities
OF profteers in the necessities OF life.
The message follows:
E II have felt constrained to convene
you In extraordinary session TO con-
slider two or three eiimportant- matters,
primarily.
II deferred the call as long as pos
sible with the hope taht the OIL and
gas tax litigation might be terminal
ed, in our state courts at least, but
1T finally became apparent the mat
tersto be considered could not longer
be delayed. e
Confronted as we are, by the stat
ute requiring the County courts to
convene the first Monday in March TO
set in motion the machinerytfor regis
tering the voters; confronted with
the. certainty of the Equal Suffrage
Amendment to the Federal Constitu-
ton being ratified before the general
election, regardless OF the action or
the non-atcion of West Virginia, 1t
was apparent that If the male voters
were registered under our present
system and there was no registration
of the woman voters special session
to amend the registration law would
be inevitable later and second reg
istration would be necessary, causing
a great deal of extra expense and con-
fusion. Then, 1t goes without saying,
that the women should be admitted
into the primaries and allowed topaz
ticipate in the nomination of candi-
dates. To be given the privilege of
voting for candidates after they are
nominated but denied, the right to
participate in the nomination of the
candidates would be an anomalous
situation.
I'm addition to all this. the women
Of the state who favor the suffrage
for their sex very naturally and very
properly feel that they want the men
OF West Virginia to. participate in
their enfranchisement, and they
would feel humiliated at the thought
OF suffrage being extended to them by
the men Of other states, solely; with
out the aid or assistance of the men
of their own state. Both of the lar
ger political parties are committed. to
the suffrage amendment through
their platform declarations as well
as through the utterances of their
antional leaders, consequently 1t is In
no sense partisan question, but is
one upon which members OF both'par-
ties can unite,
The cost Of living Is the one seri-
Gus question. confronting the average
citizen. Prices Of all kinds of COM
omdities continue very high and It is
not possible to. reduce them to pre-
war prices by legislation. However.
there are Instances where extoftion
lis practiced, where. unreasonable pro-
fits are taken by dealers, purchasers
being unable. to protect themselves.
Such cases have. been. brought. to. my
attention. have been powerless, as
have been the local authorities. TO
deal with them. The federal depart
ment of Justice has been making an
effort I odeal with this question and
has accomplished something In that
direction, numerous prosecutions
having been Instituted throughout
the country. However. its machinery
Itslnot sufficient 70 properly and fully