The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-11-30
SWISHER
Was Just Like Some of the
Great Men in His Youth
and He Succeeds.
Editors Telegram: :

Editors Telegram:
The question of a candidate for
governor is one of Importance to all
Republicans. The politicians have
had their turn and the laymen now
certainly have a right to speak. rs
one who does not scratch his tick
ct and who believes that the Repub-
lican voters today. with few excep-
tions, are of the Abraham Lincoln
faith and honesty and integrity, 1
am writing you my beliefs in the
matter, with the hope that you will
accord me the courtesy of publishing
them.
/ have read a good deal pro and
con as to the candidates for the
nomination and am surprised at the
woeful lack of knowledge as we'll as
the intense prejudices shown by
what appears to me to be a few.
who want to manipulate the politics
of the State and dictate the policies
and even the nominees OF the Re-
publican party, assuming to them
selves The right to say who the vo-
ters' choice shall be.
Some Of these few wise ones and
self-appointed guardians OF the party
decry an imaginary inferiority on the
part. of those who are now mentioned
for the governorship. They ought to
know the voters know better and
quit trying to treat us voters as
yaps. Now, let us look into this
moment. There Is Governor Daw-
son, who like the great Lincoln,
came up from humble position-Lin-
coin from the rude log cabin and the
hard labor of pioneer life, and Gov
ernor Dawson from the lowly trade
of cooper. Then there Is Govern
or White, who was a printer in the
days when the type was all picked
by hand, also take Judge Mason,
elected repeatedly to office and hon
or by the people. He was in his
boyhood a blacksmith. one of the
village kind learned about in my
school reader at the public schools.
A great many more examples might
be mentioned, but these four are
enough, though l will also include
the martyred Garfield in the list.
who was canal boat driver. These
men were chosen to office without
there being an outcry about the low
illness of their trades and ayoca-
tions in their youth. Their history
impresses the fact that our great
men often come from the humblest
walks OF life. and now it is most
unfair for any man of this dav Of
American freedom and good cit;-
zenship to narrowly set himself m
and scoff and turn up his nose at
the man of toll, who has been eIa-
waited to public office and never
proved himself false to the public
interest or fallen down in the dis
charge of the duties of office.
With this 1 have in mind Cbo~,o,
w. Swisher. Like Lincoln. Garfield
Dawson. White and Mason. he was
so poor and humble in his youth
That he followed the life OF a coal
miner and experienced all Of a
miners hardships. peril and expos-
ure. But. what did he do aftar
that? In my county at the time
Marion county. he as the nominaa
of the Republican party for tha
house of delegates changed the conn
" from the Democratic columns 10
the Rpuhlicar. His course in tho
legislature measured up well win
that of others of greater ADVANTAGES
In youth than he had. So well did
he serve the people that his soma
torial district elected him to ~
State senate and then the party IN
State convention nominated him h,.
acclamation secretary of state ana
the people elected him. The oe,oa
mas been we'll administered unda,.
him and there has been no comploint
against him. coal miner he was
and good secretary of state he IL
Like Lincoln. Garfield. Dawson
White and Mason. he grew and a.
Veloped with his public experie,co
became bralnier and brainier ana
truly statesman. and today. rs
know him. am satisfied he is ,s
well equipped to be governor as any
man before him. and certainly in the
sense OF being close to the peopIe
and having the faculty of finding ont
what they want. he is better ftted
than some who have gone before
him.
me last few years have been
living in Harrison county. bpt 7
never lost sight of Charles w
s~isher and the remarkable career
he has attained for himself by his
own effort to improve himself and 10
mt himself for greater usefulness. !
am not forgetful of him now. I
Know he truly represents the policies