Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1889-01-12
LEADERS WHO LEAD NO MORE.


For ten or fifteen years Messrs.
Camden and Kenna and others
have been powerful political leaders
in this State, holding the highest
Offices, controlling positions and ap-
pointments, and dispensing political
fayors. They were powerful in pol
itics while success lasted, and ma
jorities ran high. Naturally enough
their friends Jared we'll and their en-
emies were defeated and ignored.
Their section of the State, west OF
the Mountains,) controlled the poll
tics of the party. With defeat comes
a change in sentiment against them.
This is the history of the leaders
of the Democracy of West Virginia.
In distributing Federal patronage ;
in dominating conventions in all
their deliberations there has been
no principles, no platforms, but per.
sonal politics. 1t is time for the par
ty to call a halt. The voters feel
that if the Democratic party is to
be run simply for the benefit and in
the interest ola few men, the quick
er the party goes under the better.
That is the sentiment of papers
like the Putnam Democrat, Wayne
Neacs, Parkersburg Sentinel, Tucker
Democrat, and is shared by many
good men of the party, the best ele
ment of which does not sanction
the fraud and contention policy pur
sued by the defeated politicians to
hold little longer lease of power
not ratified by the people. They see
that in pursuing the same course
utter defeat stares the party in the
face as long as the present manage
ment continues
A general tendency of reversal o.
power is seen and felt all over The
State, III which no personal leader
ship is espoused, but the desire is
apparent to join issues under more
popular representation us a party O
the State and the people rather THAI
of Kenna or Camden, Wilson or Faux
ner. The Republicans will find thai
new material will come to the from
in this county and every county,
new men take hold OF new issues
aud the past be buried. If the Re
publicanS bank on the capital thai
the Democrats are defeated without
any further effort, their day of sur
prise will come. The present Demo
cratic leaders will save what they
can out of the present wreck at any
cost, for the wreckage is al
that is left the leaders in pow
er for their trouble and expenditure
The party ship will then be towe(
to port and overhauled and remain
ed for future action.
1t is therefore essential for tho
continued growth and success of the
Republican party that the organza
ton he kept up its leaders remem
bering that the work is only right,
begun in West Virginia, and tina
the people look for good results IA.
far as We have gone before they
unite with the party to stay. Unde1
the Republican banner in West Vir
ginia in the late campaign men OF
all occupations and political convic
lions have stood shoulder to should
er and worked with hearty gOot
will,-the farmer and the business
man, the labor element in mines AM
OH railroads, and contingents iron
every industry and former part,
utilization. 1t will not do then for
few leaders in any section of tn
State to assume that party success
came alone through their efforts
Every man helped. The party want
to retain that help for another strug
gle as great as the last. The Demo
cratic experience proves that major
tiles cannot be maintained by selfish
ness, sectlonaliSm, factioualiSm o
individuality in the railing powers
There must be unity of purpose, UNI
ty of action, a fair appointment o
leadership, and an honorable an
just division of party recognition
To give exclusive control to the mer
office.seekiDg element in disregar
of the claims OF tho workers for prir
ciple and success, is to invite defea
To provide exclusively for those VIII
have heretofore been literally pre-
; vided for in convention and in th
party councils, is to follow in Demo
cratic footsteps to the very point {
, its disruption. The new and grow
ing elements in the Republican pa
ty,-from the farm, the bushes
place, the workshop,-must be Ell
: couraged and recognized. 1t is
powerful element that will folio