Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1899-11-07
Ion. Henry q. Davis for Govern,
From the Monroe watehmanl

Many excellent men have recently been
recommended for the next Democrats
nomination for Governor ofwestvirginia.
The Democratic party differs from the Re
publican party notably in that its nomina-
tions are not dictated in advance from the
headquarters of a political machine. There
is scarcely an informed man in the State
who does not know that next years Re
publican candidate for Governor has al
ready been prescribed and that when the
Republican convention meets nine OF ten
months hence it will be only to automati-
cally register the will of the ruthless au-
tocrat who rules that party with rod of
iron. Not so with the Democratic party.
In its ranks the rights and responsibilities
of the individual are recognized aud re
spected and its party assemblies are de-
Lucrative bodies wherein all members
have equal opportunities and equal privi-
leges. And so we now have many valua-
BILE men presented to the consideration of
their party comrades for places on next
years Democratic State ticket, from Gov
ernor down.
Under these circumstances the Watch
man makes no apology for suggesting the
nomination of Hon Henry G. Davis, of
Randolph county, to succeed Governor
Atkinson. Mr.. Davis commenced life as
brakeman on the B. &; o. railwav-he
is now one of the most distinguished,
wealthy and useful citizens of West Vir-
ginia, an ex-senator of the United States,
greyhaired gentleman of broad mind
and broad possessions and amid all the
changes and chances of his remarkable
career he has ever been Democrat In
the development of West Virginia he has
wrought mighty and invaluable work
Under his wise and energetic direction
and potent influence immense resources
in raw material have been developed, coal
mines opened, railroads constructed
towns built, and sparse1y settled wilder
nesses transformed into scenes of thriving
industry teerning with busy population
of many thousands. Having himself
known the sweat and travail of labor he
has been just and considerate in his treat.
ment of the workingman, and that he is
looked upon as friend by his employees
is happily attested by the cordial regard
in which they hold him. In the domain
of public affairs he has acquitted himself
with honor and during his term in the
United States Senate he represented West
Virginia with dignity and ability,
In politics Mr.. Davis is tolerant of the
opinions of others, but in loyalty to the
Democratic party he has always been as
solid as rock. In 1896, when so many
old line Democrats of large wealth were
frightened or bulldozed by the money
power into deserting the Democratic par
ty. an effort was made by certain Wall
street magnates, who conceived that they
had him in their power, to coerce Mr..
Davis, They threatened him, as they
threatened others, that unless he would
support Mr. Mckinley and the gold stand
ard they would withdray their financial
backing, force his properties to sale and
so ruin him. But the rugged old Demo-
crat never faltered for moment He
defied them to do their worst and declared
his unalterable determination to support
Bryan and the cause of free coinage; and
when Mr.. Bryan visited that portion of
West Virginia he presided at one of his
greatest meetings and introduced the
Democratic nominee for President in
ringing speech in his behalf
Again, in last years campaign, one of
the strongest, most practical arguments it
evoked on the Democratic side was Mr..
Davis Piedmont speech. So highly was
it regarded that it was printed and many
thousands of copies circulated through the
State. Mr. Davis has never failed his
party in any political battle. He has in
variably come to the relief of the impov-
erished Democratic committees and given
freely to exc out the means for maintain
ing at least the skeleton of an orgauiza-
ton in this far-fung and difficult State
and that, too, when the pocket books of
others upon whom the party had stronger
claims were closed. If loyalty and devo-
ton count for aught, Mr.. Davis is entitled
to the hearty gratitude of every Democrat
in the State.
We believe that this grand old man