The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-09-28

1t is a beautiful sign of party yigoc
when the best and most popular men
Of an organization come forward as
candidates, Though it is yet nearly q
year before convention time, some
good men have offered themselves for
Republican consideration for various
State offices.
The latest formal announcement of
Kelsey Hall for State auditor, for that
same office about which he and Audi
tor scherr waged one of the most
terrific combats in the history Of polit-
ical conventions in this State. That
dramatic battle vii be well remem-
bered by Republicans all over the
State, The prize was worth having, and
The fighting was so fierce" that IT
would have possessed the elements Of
danger to party peace and harmony
had the two chief participants not
have been Of the most loyal stripe OF
Republicans. It fell to the lot Of Mr..
Hall, after the struggle, after nearly
a years hard canvass, at, doubtless,
much expense, to have been beaten
by narrow margin. He had devoted
followers all over the State and there
were, naturally, keen disappotnt-
ments. The party faced an important
campaign, and the result did not ap.
per certain in advance by any means,
The party managers Of the campaign
Of 1900, and active Republicans, gen
orally, who knew what was going on,
will recall that the man most needed
and most wanted to take up the, fight
for the ttcket.wa the same James X,
Hall. He was, thereupon, at the In
stance Of Governor White, then the
candidate for governor, Governor Daw-
son, then State chairman and secre-
taryi of State, and othes having charge
Of the campaign, elected by the State
committee as its secretary. Not hest
tatlng a moment, but in obedience to
his party's call, he took up the work
Of secretary OF the committee with en-
ergy and devoted loyalty, and, ac-
cording to the records Of that cam.
paign and the knowledge Of those
managing 1t, no other man in the
State, 1t may be safely said, contrIbut-
ed more than he to the splendid Re.
publican victory which followed in No
yember. If we mistake not the sentt.
ment of partymen all over West Vtr.
ginia, James K. Hall is remembered
gratefully, because Of those things We
have here above briefly and made
'Quately reclted. In the saying Of
them, we are furthermore actuated By
no motive other than the honorable
and disinterested one of paying testI-
lnonial to a patriotic Republican, and
a very popular party leader. That
proposition can properly stand in its
own basis without reference to lis
effect on any other candidacy for any
State Office, and in this sense we mean
to convey it. Neither do we mean to
care, what were Mr.. Halls predictions
concerning internal party matters
tho we understand him to be free
from identification with any faction.
He is likewise known as man Of
splendid ability, Of sound business
sense and sterling character, and
would make a most capable, efficient
and conscientious State officer.
Without reference to who may be
governor. or who may be auditor, or
who may receive any other party nom.
nation, we think all Of the above anil
much more can be Justly and honestly
said, personally and politically, Of this
latest deserving Republican candidate
for important State office. Parkers;
burg Dispatch:News.