Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-05-03
W. G. BROWN IS STRONG
Has Lost None of His Popularity
Since Election of 191o-Preston
Friends Stick.


| tleman who has just returned from a
business tour of several counties in
the Second congressional district,
made known here his views upon the
/ congressional situation and was out
| spoken in his opinion that Congress
man VIM. G. Brown is stronger in the
district this year than he was two
years ago. He said:
in Preston county, where the re
publican majorities have been large
for many years. the republicans are
torn by dissention which since the
presidential conventions of last Sat
urday, are even more bitter than they
were two years ago.
The young progressive clement
won out in Preston county by sweep
ing the county for Roosevelt. 1t can
be fairly said that it was not entire
ly due to the popularity Of Mr.. Roose-
welt with TIE republican voters, but
| the Roosevelt adherents were spurred
! On to take an active part in the con-
ventions, because the county commit
i tee and republican organ The Pres
ton County Journal were rampant IN
their efforts to capture the county for
President Taft.
| 1T was this progressive element
| in that county which two years ago
gave Congressman Brown his big ma
| jority in the county-the unheard OF
thing for a democrat carrying the
| county. This year, while Attorney
General Conley is not opposed person
ally, for the same reasons that Mr..
| Sturgiss was opposed in 1910. hun
dreds of the voters are favorable TO
Mr.. Brown in that county for Mr..
| browns own sake, and for the rec
| ''rd he has made in Congress.
They speak out openly and frank
| IL about the matter, and / heard it
| discussed in various parts of the coun
| ty by republicans in public, where
met groups gathered together. They
Iefer to Mr.. Browns close attention 70
80 business of his district. His
promptness in answering letters, and
his prompt interest in the pension
cheerful willingness to take all mat
ters brought to his attention by citi
Gems of the district, whether rich or
poor.
''ih Monongalia county l find Mr.
Brown personally very popular, al
though he is of course not as well
known there as he is in his home
county of Preston. But the independ-
ent spirit of the voters seems to be
manifesting itself. 1t was shown also
in the Monongala presidential con-
ventions, and this same spirit is dom
inant among the voters in all matters
and questions that are ,cfore them
for settlement in November
mo one hears any personal OBJ
iections raised to Mr., Conley, who
will undoubtedly be the congressional
nominee of his party But the voters
are saying that he has been well
| taken care of in public Office, and is
| leaving the office of attorney general,
| to which he might have been re-
| elected, to come back into the district
to capture the seat in Congress. They
| argue that the mere political differ
| ence between Conley and Brown is
not of sufficient Importance to make
| it their imperative duty to support an
| untried republican, for tried dem
| ocrat who has made a useful member
| of Congress- and who has worked zeal
| ously, early and late, for the interests
of his district, Irrespective of party
affiliations.
That seems to be the keynote of
the sentiment as it stands. They feel
that Mr. Brown is entitled, justly, to
a second term. That he has been
| hard-worker and while he has sup
| ported the democratic tariff measures,
as loyal party man, that even is a
| better evidence of loyalty than some
democrats have shown lii supporting
republican measures, or some republi-
cans have shown who have supported
| democratic measures. In fact, many
| of the republicans in the district are
| favorable to revision of the tariff
| downward, as the national party plat
form pledged the party, and so far, the
voters have found nothing objection
able in Mr.. Browns course, but very
much in his favor and to his credit.
This situation was a surprise to
me-" continued the gentleman inter
viewed but l believe chat / have
sized the situation up about right. The
republicans OF this county are not
| hide-bound in party loyalty any mere
and Congressman Brown seems to
have pleased the people OF his district.
In several of the other counties
found the same sentiment and same
state of feeling. Especially in Tay-
Tor Berkeley and Jefferson, as well
as this county of Mineral and the two
counties spoken of more in detail. OF
course Hon, VIM. G. Conley has a fol
| lowing and has his friends. The fact
is his friends were free to speak out
about his coming candidacy. They said
they regretted that he had chosen 10
talks this step at this time. They are
| loyal to his interests and are proud OF
| the record he has made in nublic life