The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-01-18
ADDRESS TO
REPUBLICANS
WAS ISSUED
e aft Boomers
Hard at Work

T.
PARKERsBURG. W: Va, Jan. 1S.-I
Em, H. Taft for President, is the
slogan Of the Republicans Of West vir!
ginia. What was called for and in
tended to be meeting OF the State
central committee for the very prosaic
purpose OF naming places and dates
for holding the two State conventions
has been turned into great demon
stratlon of enthusiasm for William H.
Taft for President, and 1t was made
moreover, not by the state committee,
hut by the 500 odd Republican leaders
and workers who gathered from the
rembtest corners OF the State to aid
the committee in its work.
Allday long TAFT boomers poured
into Parkersburg Governor Daw-
son came here booming Taft. Charles
f.. Teter. who made such bitter fight
against Dawson four years ago. camc
also, bringing Taft sentiment. Prac.
tioally every avowed candidate for
place on the State ticket came as
TAFT boomer. An early poll of the
State committee showed that fully
ztwo.thirds of the members were Taft
men. Any resolution for action that
the Taft people desired might easily
have been taken by the committee and
ii was on this question that the great
est contest ragged during the day.
An Agreement Reached.
Many ardent Taft men were of the
opinion that an out and out endorse
ment by the State committee would
saTsr OF unHairness and snap juds.
ment 1t was said that such action
was unprecedented in West Virginia,
Early in the day it looked as If the ex-
treme Taft leaders would insist on
passing resolution of endorsement
through the committee. Later. how
ever, wiser counsel prevailed. Attor.
ney General Wade Ellis. OF Ohio, who
was here as the PERSONAL representa-
tive OF Mr.. Taft, was called into con
.sultatlon and an agreement was finally
reached that the individual members
of the committee who were so inclined
should Join in an address to the Re
publlcans of the country, setting forth
the facts of the preference Of the Re
publlcans OF West Virginia for VIM
IA. Taft for President. That is the ad'
dress presented above. It is not au
unwarranted pledge of West Virglnias
vote to any candidate, but it's stir
ring appeal to the voters of West Vir
ginia and Of the country for the man
whom the large majority favors foT
the Presidency.
Woodyard With Cannon.
In the committee practically the
only member who opposed the Taft en-
dorsement was Congressman Wool
yard. Mr.. woodward is known to be
warm friend of Speaker Cannon
and very recently he has received 9
signal mark of favor from the speaker
and he doubtless felt in duty and
honor bound to stand by the interests
of his friend. Hon. VIM. E. Glasscock
of Monongalia, and Mr.. G. H. Watkins
of Ohio county, both ardent Taft men
took the position that endorsement by
the committee of any candidate woult
not be the right thing. stallings, o
Tucker county, and Henshaw, Of JEFF
ferson, to some extent sympathizer
with these views.
The members of the committee
while not insistent on endorsement
expressed a willingness to pass suct
resolution If 1t was desired by th'
Taft leaders. After many conferences
the frm but temperate attitude taker
by the more moderate Taft men ha,
lis effect with the result that the ae
tion was taken, which emphasized the
loyalty OF West Virginia Republicans
to wr H. Taft, without in any man
ner appearing to forestall the final &C
tion Of the Republicans voters Las
might Parkersburg rang witm Tai
enthusiasm. The hotel lobbies were
crowded with hundreds shouting 70
TAFT. Parkersburg has already organ
lied Taft Republican club. bant
IS out parading the strshrdluetaoinul
7 was out parading the streets with Tai
banners. So far as West Virginia 4
concerned the campaign Is on witt
TAFT in the lead and all others dis
tanced.
Many Politicians Present.
3 It was matter of general commen
among old time Republicans that II
the days gone by State convention
had not attracted so many Reput
1icans from all parts Of the state a
this meeting Of the State committee
did. All three OF the candidates 70
Continues on Page Four.l