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CHAPTER THREE
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c H A p T E R T H R E E THE EVOLUTION OF A PROGRESSIVE GOVERNOR " ... while they askedfor bread they have been given stone."l SOON AFTERTHE ELECI10N, Governor-elect Glasscockwent to Hot Springs, Virginia, for a vacation that lasted several weeks. While there, he had the opportunity to confer with President-elect Taft and try his hand at golf. After a month of intense campaigning, Glasscock felt it necessary to rest before going to Charleston to aid Governor Dawson's attempt to secure the passage of certain bills by the legislature. At that time, West Virginia had biennial sessions that were limited to forty-five days. The organization of state government was not always conducive to efficient continuity. While the governor was elected in November ofan even numbered year and took office the next March, the legislature met biennially in odd numbered years, convening in January and adjourning before the new governor's inauguration. The newly elected governor would then have to wait two years before he could present his legislative program. However, this hardship was often alleviated when the incoming governorelect could work with a cooperative chief executive, especially if the two were of the same party. Fortunately, this was the case with Glasscock and Dawson. Indeed, the latter had primarily written the Republican platform of 1908 on which the former ran. Proffering "a good room at the Governor's house, which we will be glad for you to occupy;' Governor Dawson welcomed Glasscock's assistance in fulfilling party pledges.2 Teamwork served the lame-duck Governor Dawson well. While he had grown weary because of many legislative battles, the newly-elected Glasscock applied his recently earned political influence with the legislators. Glasscock to u.s. Senator Stephen B. Elkins, 21 February 1909, Glasscock Papers. 2 W M. O. Dawson to Glasscock, 18 November 1908, Glasscock Papers. See also Burckel, "Progressive Governors;' 302. 39 CHAPTER THREE Although the Republicans held a majority in the legislature even after serious factional disputes during the 1900 and 1904 elections, Dawson's programs still faced formidable challenges because the party's strength was divided along progressive and "standpatter;' i.e. conservative, lines. The House of Delegates, consisting of eighty-six members, was, as it had been in the past, more responsive to public opinion. On the other hand, the Senate, made up of thirty members, was criticized for being too conservative, too unresponsive, and too small to be democratic. For example, under the existing conditions, the more heavily populated, industrial counties usually dominated the senatorial race in their respective districts. Governor Dawson had previously noted this situation and urged for an increase in its membership. Later, he even suggested that each county have a representative in the upper house in order for it to be more in touch with the people.3 Although the Senate had been uncooperative under Dawson, both he and Glasscock hoped that their joint effort would lead to positive results. On January 13, 1909, Governor Dawson delivered abroad, reform-minded message to the legislature. His actions followed the philosophy of the progressive mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, Tom Johnson, who often said, "Don't rant at the individual. Get after the system:'4 Dawson's program, which would be familiar to most progressives around the country, contained legislation that would control or regulate social, political, and economic systems that had not kept in step with modern times. Reformers desired to instill orderliness and continuity by establishing methods, usually through administrative bureaucracies, that would standardize procedures. This was a difficult task, because powerful elites, usually corporate owners and their henchmen, such as Republican u.s. Senator S. B. Elkins and Democrat Henry G. Davis, usually benefited from maintaining the status quo. In his message to the 1909 legislature, Governor Dawson asked for a local option bill and the submission ofa state prohibition amendment to the people ofWest Virginia. Prohibition cut across party lines, pleasing supporters for obvious reasons, and even drawing support from many business leaders who desired a sober work force. In other areas ofsocial concern, he called for further improvements in public education and an amendment to the constitution allowing women to serve on boards connected with public institutions. Dawson pointed out the deplorable condition of the state's jails and the need for laws limiting child labor. He also encouraged the conservation of 3 Morgantown Post-Chronicle, March 1, 1909. 4 Russel B. Nye, Midwestern Progressive Politics, 168. 40 [44.205.2.188] Project...