The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-01-25
DEMOCRATS BALK
AT MOVEMENT TO
I CONTROL ACTION
Plan Of Certain Clique To Seize
Control of Party Affairs On
Eve of Legislature Opening
| Is Repudiated In Caucus.
LOBBYISTS AND "BL0CS" ARE
RELOCATED TO THE DISCARD
Spirit Of independence And Con-
scientious Thought Is Guiding
! Action of All Democratic
Members, Dunlap Asserts.

Members, Dunlap Asserts.
West Virginia Democracy emerged
from the first skirmish with special
privilege interests with coiors flying,
In the opinion Of trained political OBJ
servers who watched closely the eau.
Gus organization of the house delegates,
which the Democrats control 80 to "a,
on the eve of the opening of the bi.
ennial session Of the state legislature
at Charleston.
The unanimous selection OF w. r..
X. Byrne, of Charleston, on the first
ballot as speaker is accepted by dis.
interested party leaders as silent
rebuke TO certain clique inspired
either by special interests or a sell
hsh desire to seize control of party
affairs and legislation to satisfy per-
sonui ambition and who enlisted high
~ specialized political organizers i'm
medlately preceding the caucus. The
speedy and decisive manner in which
the caucus acted proved that the work
OF these specialists and would-be party
bosses was all in vain, the observers
say. They are conspicuous by their
absence from Charleston since the eau.
Gus, it is further stated In the capital
city.
Byrne A "Free Lance"
Mr.. Byrne Is generally accented az
free lance" in the political game,
and he refused to commit him
lnff 10
make an active campaign for the
speakership. He did not even say at
any time that he was a candidate. his
friends point out. He took the posi-
ton and maintained it throughout the
preliminary caucus maneuvers that the
speaker should be the member OF the
house who, In the minds of the major
ity OF the house Democrats, was best
fitted for the job. And it was solely
because Of his previous experience in
the House and his general quallticn-
lions of leadership and knowledge Of
parliamentary procedure that he was
given the position of honor, his friends
assert.
During the administration of this
office, the gavel will be the symbol
"a AnAA anu Is TIE
way hr. Byrne expressed his senti-
ments In assuming the speakership at
the formal organization of the House
of Delegates. January 10.
"In the organization OF the house
of delegates, the spirit OF independence
and conscientious thought unquestiOn-
ably guided the action OF all the Demo-
cratic members" Is the way II. T.
Dunlap, chairman Of the Democratic
State Executive Committee, expressed
1t to a representative of this newspa-
per. "None OF them made loose COM
mitments. They sought information
with an open mind and retained their
final decisions until the ballotIng ac-
tually began"
AssaiIs Government. BY "Bloe."
Chairman Dunlap assailed govern.
ment by "Bloc" and reiterated pre-
vIous assertions that action on any
legislation will be In line with the
dictates Of the conscience of the In.
dividual members who have the best
interests Of all the people OF the state
at heart.
"While the selection Of Mr.. Byrne
and other caucus nominees was gen.
orally predicted, yet It was impossible
to obtain a definite idea or make n
certain prediction Of the outcome"
Chairman Dunlap continued. THE
caucus was most orderly and business
like and II the actions there are in
dIcatlve of future conduct, we have
definite assurance Of a businesslike
n--~to, ncnluofoa oo1a1v hnufrooe
principles
81 am highly gratified with the man
ner in which the Democratic members
of the House OF Delegates approached
and are performing their duties, and
with the sense of responsibility which
they realize rests upon them, they can
be depended upon, individually and
collectively, to do their best to redeem
as far ms Is humanity possible every
campaign pledge. Retrenchment and
reform In our government expenditures
and tax laws are assured. The people
can feel confident that every dollar
that possibly can will be saved and
every move TO tighten the tax burden
will have the active support OF every
Democratic member Of the House and
Senate, slngly and as a unit"
The text Of the bills introduced dur
ing the early days OF the preliminary
session showed a well-organlzed move
ment among Democratic members to
carry out the program of economy,
thrift and lower taxes. The prellmin-
ary session adjourns January Is I'M
I'll the middle OF March when the
regular session will take up passage
OF bills. IN the meantime the people
and members OF the legislature will
have ample opportunity 10 digest the
various measures and become familiar
With their prOvTions.