Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-12-09
Soan AsceraW.
To no man in West Virginia does the

democratic party owe more than it
does 70 John L. aicGraw Of Grafton,
and the Democratic party Of the state,
aud the Democratic press of the state
( especially owes it TO the people to be
absolutely frank in regard to- these
candidates for United States Senate.
In the first place John r McGraw is
senatorial size. He is man Of SPLEEN
did ability. He Is great big bralny
| fellow. He is one of the States big
men. In the next place he is to the
manor born. He was Dorm in Grafton
( Taylor county, West Virginia, "a 1856,
and is now fifty four years of age,
in mature manhood aud all his intel.
| lectuaI vigor. lie is thorough Demo
crat. In the pariv's darkest hours,
john T. McGraw was always in the
thickest Of the fight giving his time
aud talents to tlie cause. tie is a bat
tie scar ed bero No meeting Of The
Democratic state committee has been
held for years-uo Democratic state
convention has been held for years
thai John T. McGraw was not the re
ever willing, anxious and ready TO do
his part for Democratic success. 1t
cannot be successfully charged that
John I. McGraw ever flekered on the
firing line. Let the Republicans say
what they viii, it can never be said
of John L McGraw, that he moved
into West Virginia from New Mexico,
put up one slush fund and captured
! the senatorship.
He was educated in the public
schools of Grafton, at st. Vincent's
High School, Wheeling, and gradu-
ated from the (law department Of Yale
inl $40. He opened g law Office in
Grafton, and served Taylor county as
prosecuting attorney from 1885 to 1885.
He was an A d. c., on the staff of
Governor Jackson, and has been a
member of the Democratic state COM
mit,ee fer more tban twenty years, be-
ing fra number Of years chairman of
that body. lie was a delegate at-large
to the Democratic national convention
in 1895, at which time he was elected q
member Of the nationel Democratic
committee, and still holds membership
in that committee. He was the Demo-
cratic candidate for United States SEN
ate in 1899 against Nathan Bay Scott,
and was defeated by but one vote. He
contested Senator SCOTS seat, but lost.
He was a candidate for the senate In
1900 against Senator ElSins, expert
encing another defeat. He was twice
the nominee Of his party in the second
district for congress, but lost both
times to Aston &. Dayton, now
judge Of the federal court Col. Me-
Graw has been closely identified wit b
the railroad, coal and timber develop
ment of the state. He owns and con-
trolls The magnificent Webster Springs,
hotel property at Webster Springs,
and maintains a handsome sum mer
home at Deer Park, Nd, where he
has at times entertained some of the |
leading Democrats of the nation,
among them being the late Grover
Cleveland, President Of the United |
States, and William Jennings Bryan,
the great Nebraska Democrat. Col.
McGraw is at present engaged in erect
ing a 100000 hotel In his nstivel city
of Grafton, has givenshis home town
splendid electric street railway service,
a magnificent electric light plant and
is closely affiliated with every ENTER
prise established in that city in recen
years.
=. We say these things about Col. Nc
Graw, not Gin disparagement of the
candidacy or prospective candidacy of
others, but in what we believe to be in
simple justice to one of West Virginia's
biggest, brainest and best men. He
never forgot the Democratic party in |
the days Of their troubles aud, defeat. |
What will the Democratic party do to
him in the days of herl triumph and |
victory.
Jcha t. McGraw is every inch
man aud good.one al that. lie be-
gan life without a dollar and his spieL-
did success is due to his own untir ng
efforts. He is one IF us--a reA. Ameri-
c1n-R raj man Of the l.eoplc, whom |
to know is 10 love aud aumire.- Hin
ton Independent Herald.