The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-07-18
POLITICS
in UPHEAVAL
OPEN DISSATISFACTION WITH
GOV. HERRicK, WHO rs A CAM
pIpATE TO SUCCEED
HIMSELF.

the Hiubt VI u POLITICAL revolution.
Conditions are different there from
what they have been within the en-
tire history OF the State. Republican
candidates for governor have been de
feated there In the past, but no Re.
publican nominee ever faced exactly
the &ame conditions that lace Cover.
nor Herrick, who is now standing for
reelection. Senator Foraker was de-
feated in 1889 by James E. Campbell,
but the defeat was the result of a
deep-rooted prejudice against third
terms. and not the outcome of n
objection TO Foraker's actions as chief
executive. Foraker was also defeated
in 1888 by Governor Hoadley, but that
was because of local conditions pre-
vailing in Cincinnati. which spread
throughout the State.
Herrick is the first governor to have
the veto power. Therein he is un.
fortunate. for it is hat combined with
a growing discomfort with what is
known as the machine, headed by Sen
ator Dick, Geo. B. Cox, Of Cincinnati,
and the governor himself, that may
prove his undoing. In the exercise of
the veto power the governor has done
two things which are now working to
his disadvantage and possible defeat.
He first, 1t is claimed, compelled
the Legislature to SO amend the Bran.
mock bill, a temperance measure, that
Its real effect was destroyed. This,
the anti-saloon people say, was at the
request OF the liquor advocates, whose
votes he was eager to secure. The
next move to bring reproach upon his
head was the vetoing of the bill per.
hitting the selling Of pools at race
horse meetings in the State. This, the
followers Of the say, was
a violation of a pledge given them
before his first election. In conse.
quence they are intense in their op-
position. These two things within
themselves may prove the means Of
losing him many thousand votes. That
they will hurt him seriouly even his
most ardent friends do not deny.
Discomfort With the Machine.
The other element Of opposition
discomfort with the machines. per.
haps, the most serious thing with which
he will have to contend. For a num-
Der OF years there has been growing
in the state a dislike to the part
which George B. Cox, of Cincinnati,
has played in the politics of the Com.
~monwealth. The fact has become so
plain that none could fail to see II
that he has been the power to dictate
nominations. Herrick could not have
been nominated without his consent.
Neither could Governor Nash, who
preceded him. Because of this the
Republican in the smaller communi-
ties Of the State have grown discon.
tented and inclined to rebel. Cox is
not the kind of man they think should
be clothed with the power to make
State tickets. They have seen United
States Senators and members of the
House bow to his dictates until It be.
came repulsive.
The Democrats, knowing this, have
Systematically worked upon the feel.
ings Of the Republicans in the rural
districts, until a strong anti-cox and
anti-machine sentiment has been
awakened. One cannot appreciate
this until he has been about the State
some and heard people talk. 1t is con.
fined TO no particular community. but
Is as wide as the State itself. Unless
1t be overcome Governor Herrick will
lose many thousand votes in conse.
quence.
The Democrats in Ohio are not Gift.
ed with unusual political acumen. As
a rule they make mistakes at critical
times and throw away the chances of
victory when victory seems the easiest
to grasp. 1t is a question whether
they did so at the recent State con-
vention held in Columbus. But that
they did something unusual is not
open IL discussion. For the first time
within the history Of the party in Ohio
they nominated a straight out.and.out
temperance man Tor governor-Rob.
ert M. Pattison, of Cincinnati. Their
plan was not hard to see through.
They believed, and still believe, that
the anti-saloon vote in the State,
which is openly against Herrick, will
be sufficient to overcome any loss
which their party may suffer by the
Endorsement of a Temperance man.
HAIR TELLS CHARACTER.