Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-22
WithdraWs From the Contest
in West Virginia.
TO BRING ABOUT HARMONY
Imposes No Condition as to His
Successor.
CONFEREES ARE APPOINTED
Representatives of State Committee
Directed to Meet the Scherr
Forces in Order to Reach q
Settlement.

CHARLESTON, w. Va. September 90.
AT meeting of the regular republican
state committee here last night the resig-
nation of Secretary of State Charles w.
Swisher as the party's candidate for gov
ernor. was received and accepted. In ten
dering his resignation Mr.. Swisher gave
out the following statement:
ITO the republicans of West Virginia:
In withdrawing my name as the candi-
date Of the republican party for governor
1 feel it is due my fellow republicans
and the friends who have so Loyalty
supported me before and since my nomi-
nation to set forth some of the reasons
which have moved me to take this i'm
portant step, which I have done with
some hesitation and deepest regret. 1
have not taken this action from fear or
the results. but simply because of the
love l bear my party and my desire that
in the presidential campaign now upon
us it be not torn by differences and dis
sensionS. but present an undivided front
to our ancient enemy.
Danger to the Ticket.
"a great many of my good friends be-
lieve, under the circumstances. my con-
tinuance as a candidate would endanger
the success Of the republican ticket, state
and national. For myself. I believe the
ticket would have been elected and 1 was
willing to take the risk. carry out the
command of the republican convention
and hold up the flag of the republican
party through what I know would be
stormy but, l believe, successful cam
paign.
ut is worthy of any mans ambition
T. ho Of
wealth. and fought hard for the nomi-
nation. L confess 1 wanted to be gov
ernor of my own state, where L was
born and which 1 love so well. and
from humble beginnings reach the high
| position of governor and leave to my
| children this proud heritage. While
my personal interest and ambitions,
| however are as dear to me as any
the altar of my party and make any
personal sacrifice for its success.
Offers to Withdraw.
From the beginning I have always
been willing to give evidence of party
loyalty. to work for harmony and not
stand in the way of undoubted success.
Before my nomination, seeing there
was some opposition, 1 agreed to with
draw from the contest once in favor
of my friend, Elliott Northcott, United
-
favor Of my neighbor and friend, the
distinguished judge and jurist. John
w. Mason. After the convention had
nominated me l was still willing TO
subordinate my personal interest and
ambition and l agreed to withdraw in
favor of Judge Nathan Goff. knowing
that he would carry the state beyond
doubt. I was willing to withdraw In
favor of Joseph H. Gaines, our bril-
liant and gifted representative from
the third congressional district. and l
urged him to consent, but he also de-
clined.
There has been no time that 1 have
not been willing to do anything 1 could
to insure party harmony and party
success. 1t is easy to talk about with
drawing as the candidate of a great
party for high office. but to do so and
favor the nomination Of some one who
would be acceptable to all l found at
tended with difficulties.
Withdraws Without Condition.
Finally. having but one purpose before
me and an earnest desire to bring about
harmony in our party. not considering
who should be or could be named as my
successor, and to put beyond doubt In all
minds the success of the republican ticket
I have under the advice of some friends
and on my own motion. freely and WILL
ingly withdrawn from being candidate
without any conditions whatever or with
out knowing whom the committee would
select in my place. l can only promise
that l will support my successor Loyalty.
whenever named. and do all in my power
to insure the election and the success OF
the national and state ticket.
lone word more: No man ever had
truer or more devoted friends. and
thank them everywhere in the state for
their loyalty and the good things they
have done for me. and now beg them to
go forward enthusiastically with high
purpose of joining all good republicans in
making war. not on our own people. but
on the common enemy and insuring the
election of Taft and Sherman and the
state ticket by the largest majority ever
(signed) &c w. swIsHER"
State Leaders Confer.
The meeting of the committee was
attended by many of the state leaders,
including Senator NJ B. Scott, ex-Gov.
A. B. White. State Senator F. O. Blue,
Supreme Judge Ira Robinson, Postmas-
ter S. c. Denham of Clarksburg. Rep
resentative Gaines and others.
Following the resignation of Swisher
there was prolonged discussion of the
proper man for the vacancy on the
state ticket. and the names of Judge
Robinson, Senator Blue. Senator Scott,
former Tax Commissioner c. w. Dill
lon, Banker ]. L. Caldwell Of Hunting
ton and others were put forward.
State Chairman E. M. Grant Of the
Lincoln republican state committee and
that partys candidate for governor
and State Auditor Arnold c. Scherr are
both in the city and were in conference
with the regulars over the telephone
during the evening. They demand the
reorganization of the state committee
and the selection of candidate for
governor agreeable to them before
they Will consent to withdraw the
Scherr ticket from the field. Early
in the day it had been announced from
the Scherr headquarters at Parkers-
burg that a meeting of their state
committee would be held last night
in Charleston, but later this program
was rejected, and Chairman Grant gave
out the following interview before go
ing to Charleston:
"All We can do is to wait and see what
the regular committee does. Unless the
committee provides for a comu ete reor-
ganization of itself, according to the lines
laid down in our propositions In past ne