The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1896-08-08

nor any axe to grind in aid OF whichit
will ask the Democratic convention to
turn the crank.
But we have very positive conyic-
tions, which we have from time to
time expressed, that the best interests
Of the party in the ensuing campaign
demand that the gentleman whose
name heads this article shall head the
ticket the convention win name on
the 18th instant.
There are many and obvious reasons
why this is so, which we will not at
tempt to enumerate. yet we direct the
attention of Democrats who have re-
gard for the welfare OF the party as the
chief consideration, to one or two rea-
Sons about which there will be no
controversy.
First and foremost, Col. Smith is
the only man prominently named for
the position, whose nomination would
excite no antagonism from any class
or faction and to whom the party
would rally as one man with hearty
confidence and enthusiasm as soon as
he received the endorsement OF the
convention. All the most influential
popular forces of the state are already
with him. He is brother to every
newspaper man. He is fellow soldier
among the militia. He is an old ae-
quaintance among the leading public
men of every county who have repre-
sented their people. in the legislature.
He is intimately associated with the
prominent business men and capital
lists connected with many of our State
enterprises and institutions and pos
sesses their confidence as an astute
man of affairs. He is Democrat who
has long been active and influential
in the councils of his party and whose
judgment carries weight in every body
with which he is associated. He Is a
'hale fellow, well met" with the
mrsses of the people and has as many
friends and fewer enemies than any
public man of the state. There is
probably not a Democrat in the state
who would not give him his hearty
support.
Moreover, Col. Smith is clean man.
There is nothing in his record as a
public man or private citizen that
would not stand the search light of a
political campaign. He is enterpris-
ing, aggressive and able. He would
give us an administration both clean
and progressive. He has the expert
ence in affairs and that discriminating
Judgment, together with a courage
and steadiness of purpose that would
give all parties confidence in the ''mar
at the helm.
We believe this estimate of Col
Smith is without color or yarnish
and but expresses the general estimate
in which he is held. That this is SC
evidenced by the fact that without
any personal effort on his part or ma.
nipulations by his friends he has stead
ilv grown ON the popular sense as the
/ mo "a Vol h 10 1....1 81. l.
to victory, In short he is the mar
who can poll the most votes ant
whose nomination would excite M
antagonism from any source.
There is just one other fact that al
will admit. The geography of tn,
ticket to be made in this campaign il
of no small importance at this partic
ular time. Whether well founded O
not, it must be admitted that ther,
is a very decided and general feeling
against the nominee for Governor be
ing taken again from the southern
section of the State. Our Kanawh;
friends ought not for the sake of thei
reputation for equity and fair di
vide," to put themselves in the atti
tude OF monopolizing the governor
ship. They may not be greedy, but i
is all the same in politics to have the
name, and they cannot be oblivious t
the fact that there is something NOR,
than latent feeling of that kline
abroad in the state. There is no MAJ
among the many eminent statesman
of the Kanawha valley, whose nomi
nation would not dampen the ardor O
the party to large degree simply OF
the ground that there is believed tt
be a disposition on the part of thai
section of the State to ''hog the Of
fees"
i We hope the convention will Civ,
us a nominee without luggage fol
our standard bearer-a man who viii
have no load to carry or compel tn,
party to carry load, but clean
; magnetic candidate, who will sliI
smoothly and without friction int
the place TO" which his party designs
him, as though he belonged there
/ And we think the sober judgment o.
the Wheeling convention will be that
wa have pap,a6 him