The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-03-06
PLEDGES AIDE 3 Y 81 e u coM:
n ING eoyE;RNo ID o HAT & e 4;
s. PROPOSES 70 30. NJ 81

L,F-T
obedience to the constitution, i am
here TO take the solemnsoath OF Office
Of Governor Of West Virginia. 1t is
an Office Of high honor and OF great
responsibility With deep gratitude
to the people ofSthc state%for this
mark Of their confidence; with adds
trust {of my own ability TO perform
the duty required, yet with a firm re-,
lance on the strength and justice Of
the people and, above ALL with an.
mistaken faith in the Supreme Ruler,
Of States, | take Upon myself this
great trust. 81
In my remarks accepting the nomi.
nation of the political party 10 which
| belong for this office, ] said:
If elected, and indicted into the
high Office Of Governor of the great
State Of West Virginia, 1t will be my.
constant endeavor to discharge Its du.
ties with malice toward none and with
justice to all, and SO as TO promote the
public welfare and preserve the
blessings OF liberty to all the people.
A public Office is n trust, and was
created, not for the benefit OF the
ohlcc-holder, but for the benfit Of the
people. This is land Of liberty reg.
Etllated by law. Liberty not regulated
by law is license, anarchy. In this
free country there Is hut one law;
the same for the great as for tile
small, for there Is none so high as to
be above the law; none SO lowly us
10 be beneath its beneflcent protcc.
ton. We want law for the govern.
INIT and protection of the citizen, not
for his veXation.''
! am TO be the chief servant of the
people of this State, a governor Of all
the people. 1t is not to be understood
that am less believer now than be.
fore In the principles and policies Of
my political party. | am a partisan.
a partisan is Il man who believes
hard enough 10 fight for that belief
when necessary. But we must al.
ways he patriots before We are par
tisan-we must put the flag of our
country above the emblem of our par.
ty. A political party Is a means to
an end, the end being good and Just
government. And this government IL
self Is not the ultimate end of organ
lied society. The ultimate end is the
prosperity, the happiness. the eleva.
ton of the people The government
was made for the people, not the peo.
pie for tho government.
The Office OF governor. is a high and
an honorable one; and while appre.
ciating the high honor, | must think
most of the great responsibilities and
burdens. In meeting these have
been fortunate in having had close re.
lations with Governor Atkinson ami
Governor White; two men whom
found Incapable of doing a dlshonor-
able act, and each of whom was thor
oughly devoted to the great trust i'm
posed in him. and who discharged that
trust with an eye single TO the public
welfare. Both men are of great exec.
ntive ability, and every department of
the government was administered I'M
der them with honesty. economy, and
TO the great benefit OF the people. j
cannot hope to sllrpass their achieve.
ments, and can only strive not to
fall too far behind the high standard
they set up.
! shall make mistakes. In The few
appointments TO Office that | have to
make. cannot reward 1.-THE of the
many good, deserving and competent
friends who have applied. In select.
Ing from among them, | shall be &c.
cused of ingratitude; probably of bad
faith. All these must bear patiently
and trust the future to vindicate my
acts.
It has been said that am too
friendly TO labor. II It is meant by
this that ! would take from others
their rights and give them to labor,
the charge Is untrue. II 1t Is meant
by this that ! sympathiZc. with the
toilers. with the men who earn their
daily bread in the sweat Of their faces,
who are striving to rise In the world,
to put carpets on the floor of the hum
BILE home, pictures on its walls, and
books in the library, and TO educate
their children, the charge is true.
While am governor the humblest
toiler Will be as welcome to my Office
to tell his grievances and wrongs, as
Will the greatest capitalist. to tell his.
There Is no sweetcr Verse in the
Bible than this: "The common people
heard him gladly" 81. ap'r
West Virginia is young State,
vigorous and growing. Its develop.