The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-05-09
TIE POLITICAL
SITUATION IN
uONONGALIA

sNhereupon the seat in the House no
longer satisfied him, and he must be
Senator regardless of rights and cour-
Iesies due to others. But what has he
ever done to entitle him to claim this
great honoro What record has he
made? o, he may tell YOU himself OF
great schemes conceived and plans
executed of wonderful magnitude.
But to sum it all UP his power and IN
fiuence among the members OF the
Legislature in which he sat were
practically zero. Men who know the
facts and are not identified with the
Grant ring will frankly tell you so.
He can't draw a bill He can't frame
an amendment to bill on the. spur
Sof the moment when it is before the
House for consideration. He can
make any sort of a speech He can't t
either advocate or defend bill eff
.fectiyely at any stage of its passage.
All he ever could do was work around
a IittIe on the outside and get some
body else to do the work of legis-
lator he should nave done himself.
But he couldn't do it.
Now we have McDermott left One
must candidly admit that whatever
claims each of the candidates may
have, no one is qualified by legal edu
cation, and parliamentary training, TO
fill the role of a legislator in the high
est degree. But we are limited in
choice to one of the three. On merit
I regard McDermott as possessing the
Qualities that Will make him more
useful man in the State Senate to his
county and his people than either
Grant or Garrison. Why? He is
openly frank and sincere. He will not
dodge issues. He will act squareiy
with those who favored him and
those who opposed him. He Will not
be yindictiye and seek to eliminate
from politics those whom he can notrule
His acquaintance in the State among
influential men is wider than either
of his opponents. He will command
more respect and attention than eth
er by reason of his blunt Irish non
.esty He is liked and is popular
among those who know him (the
Courthouse ring eXcepted). If he too
can not write a bill; if he can not
frame an amendment; if he can not
make good speech; neither can his
opponents; but McDermott through
his friendships and attractive person
al qualities and influence will exercise
a greater influence than either OF MS
opponents. His antagonist Grant has
many enemies not at home alone, but
all over the State he is regarded more
or less as an uncertain. shifting, Tacll-
Iating factor. He is here today anc
there tomorrow. Nobody knows
where to find him.
You know of course that McDermott
is my brother-in-law; but k1nsh1p IN
this matter counts for little with me-
But the accident OF his relationship 10
me does not alter the facts L nave
related above. l regret that could
not he at home TO take hand my
self l should have taken pleasure
in making school house speeches TO
inform the people of some Things
have learned of the doings OF her local
ring leaders during 90 years. l thlnk
if thew knew what I know OF their i'm
becilitv they would bury them so deep
they would not poke their heads out
for the next 20 years. Then the peo-
NlP' WOULD nave tleii way oAASA 1890
votes and their county would be re-
spected by others
( Those who SOW the wind reap the
yyhirlwind. But fear these local ring
sters have been sowing dragons teeth
among the Republicans OF my Ola
home county. They have been Dig
men in the Courthouse puddle put
small men elsewhere. What means
the election of Democrat as mayor
of MorSantown, with a full-hedSed
Republican ticket backed by the ring
in the field Does the factonal nsht
against Dayton forebode nothlns'
And why a factional fight against Day
ton except that Dayton has peeh
choked down the throats OF the voters
of the district by ring methods anu
official vassalage. Such methoos
split parties Such methods nave
elected Democratic governors in Penn
sylvania Such methods in the Dem
.ocratic party wrested West Virginia
from their control, let us hope forever
1T was their folly. Will Republican
ism in West Virginia take no note OF
warning