Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-03-26
OUR NEXT GOVERNOR
HON. ANDREW EDMIST0N

To the Editor of the Register.
Sir:-The question of first import
ance to the Democrats of West Vir-
GINA at the present time is to begin
at once to consider the strength,
claims, abilities and availabiiities of
the men to be selected as our candi-
dates at the ensuing election
In doing this we should rise superior
to every environment of prejudice or
prediction of a personal character,
and make our selections with a con-
scientious and patriotic regard for the
public good, and not at the behest of
any clique, ring or faction of political
schemers, who are aver plotting to
override the will of the people in order
to advance their own personal or sell
fish interests.
The people are the recognized lead
erS of the Democrats party, and they
should make themselves heard as well
in the selection of our candidates as
in their election.
We should mot expect to secure the
electoral vote of West Virginia, no.
matter how popular our candidate for
President may be, if the national ticket
is handicapped with a dead weight OF
unpopular, incompetent State, county
and Congressional candidates. Such a
course is only counting defeat, rather
than laboring for victory; and for this
reason, let us make no mistake in
selecting our candidates for the next
election.
Let every Democratic candidate
throughout the State, from Governor
to constable, be a mar who, by his
own personal influence, "a attract
some strength to the general cause OF
the people against monopoly.
Give us candidates who life, both
public and private, is invulnerable to
the poisoned shafts of INSCRIPTIONS
enemies-whose walk in life, and
whose public record will be an accept
ed refutation of all malicious SLAM
der, and West Virginia will no longer
be placed in the column of doubtful
States.
If such a record is essential to the
success of a candidate for n of the
minor offices, it is doubly SO for a can
didate for Governor.
Our candidate for Governor should
be a man free from all cliques and
rings and thoroughly identified with
Democratic principles-an earnest,
jealous advocate of the principles of
our national platform and in perfect
accord and harmony with the Presi-
Dental candidate.
Fortunately, West Virginia is not
wanting in Democrats who fill these
requirements; but if there is n man
who more fully meets these require
ments than any other, that man, we
believe, is Hon. Andrew Edmiston, of
Weston.
Reserved, thoughtful and -dignified,
he never fails to command the respect
of all who meet him.
Mr.. Edmiston is not only a recog-
nized political leader of the State, but
he is more than that-he is an edu-
Gated, well-read, broad-minded states
man, we'll qualified to fill any office
within the gift Of our State.
A mans popularity at home is gen
orally recognized as the measure of
his worth, and judged by this stand
ard. he has few equals and no superiors
as a political leader.
During his race for the House of
Delegates, when Mark Hanna poured
none like water into West Virginia
to debauch and corrupt our voters, and
employed every device of modern ras-
cality to defeat him, Mr.. Edmiston
pursued the ever tenor of his way,
saying he wal perfectly willing to trust
his election to the people who knew
him; and he was triumphantly elected,
while the balance of his county were
buried beneath the gold of Mark
Hanna.
Mr.. Edmiston's wide experience
among the political leaders of the
State as chairman Of the State commit
tee would be of great assistance to him
as head of the State ticket; but his
highest claim is his thorough fitness
for the office.
His rectitude as a man, his ability
as a jurist, his popularity among the
masses, his power as a leader, his skill
as an organizer, and, above all, his UNI
questioned devotion to Democratic
principles, all point to him as a can
didate who would fill every require
ment of the party as head of the State
ticket.
DoDDRIDGE COUNTY DEMOCRAT.