The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-08-26
Darst Acted wisely

The fiowls set up by the Scherr
leaders and papers because John
Sherman Darst did not fall into their
well-planned trap to defeat the Re-
publican party. II possible, are con-
elusive evidences of the fact that It
was not through any love OF him that
they offered him a nomination. In
deed. old man Scherr himself now
say he did not want him. Even II
the leaders had had forethought
enough to admonish the Switzerland
born candidate to keep mis- mouth
shut and not give away their secrets,
what they themselves have said IS
sufficient to prove that they had de-
signs in playing with Darst and did
not care a copper whether he really
received any votes.
In the interim between the time
Chairman Matthews made his inquiry
OF Darst and the reply by him, 1t will
be remembered that the Scherrites
were gloating over the idea that
Darst intended to ignore the inquiry
and they engaged themselves dill
gently in lauding him to the skies as
the one man OF all men to run for
auditor. They were happy because
they thought they had slyly made an
lnroad on the Republican ticket.
Truly, their only design was to weak
en- the regular ticket and gain for
themselves the Darst following and
influence. They hoped to establish
some sort of regularity, something
they have been compelled to confess
they have not and never did possess
since the Charleston convention or
during 1t. Darst, however, courage
ously thwarted their plans and plot
ttngs.
Now, they say they cannot vote
for'him. They say this, too, in face
OF the fact that a week ago they as
sured the public they were all going
to vote for him. Along this line the
Charleston Mail makes some obser-
vations they may not like. but which
lead every loyal and fair-mtlded
voter to a closer sympathy and sup
port, so far as Senator Darst is con-
cerned, and, none who review the
case and the purpose OF the Scherr
leaders in offering him the nomina-
ton on their ticket, will deny that
Darst acted wisely and showed good
political sense, when he declined to
become traitor to his party. The
Mail says in discussing the case:
This action on the part OF Mr..
Darst means that he will be elected
along with the rest OF the ticket by
substantial majority. Had he ac-
cepted the nomination on the bolt
ers' ticket thousands Of Republicans
in the state would ha,h marked his
name off their ticket. His loss in
this way would have been much
greater than his gain from the sup
port of the disloyalists. He con-
sidered the question carefully and
decided wisely. He decided as those
who knew him well knew he must
decide. There can be no doubt about
the true Republicanism OF Mr.. Darst.
But the boilers offered him the
nomination not from any love they
had for him. 1t was rather with
the hope of breaking the ranks OF
the regular ticket. The boilers
knew that'if they could persuade a
single candidate on the regular tick
to to accept nomination from
them it would be a considerable
blow. But since their last effort
has failed there will be no more at
tempts along this line and the Re
publican party can go into the cam
paign with the assurance of the sup
port of all true Republicans. Mr..
Darst's action proves him true Re-
publican as well as a good politician.