The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-10-17

o'e'uoi anu tbs noCoTo OF NOuh-
~ Court Turn Many of His Own
Party Against Him.
There is probably no more bitter
opposition to the election of DR.. II. D.
Hatfield as governor in any part OF
the state than there Is in his home
county of Mcdowell, where he Is bet
ter known than anywhere else in West
Virginia. 1t Is estimated by various
persons In Mcdowell county that
from one thousand to sixteen hundred
republicans in that county will vote
against Dr. Hatfield's election In No
yember Some place the number as
high as sixteen hundred, and 1t is
scarcely possible to find anyone who
will venture a prediction below one
thousand
The opposition to DR.. Hatfield In his
home county amounts almost to a
popular uprising. The opposition Is
not confined to any one class OF per.
sons, but even among the list Of office
holders, elected as Republicans and
protesting allegiance to the Repub.
hcan party at the present time, there
ere persons openly declaring they will
not support DR.. Hatfield and election.
eering for his opponent. To anyone
not acquainted with the situation it is
astonishing to see the strength or
the opposition to the Republican nom
iDee for governor at his own home.
Friends OF the governor insist that
the primary election at which he was
nominated, shows his strength In Nc.
powell county. 1t Is true that in this
primary the returns showed a very
heavy vote for Dr. Hatfield, much
heavier, In fact, at many precincts
than the registration as shown for all
parties combined In the same pre-
ctncts. 1t was not unusual for pre-
cincts In Mcdowell at the primary
election to give larger vote to DR..
Hatfield than the total vote Of all par
ties cast at any previous election and
larger than the registration Of all
voters at the present time This Is
the boosted popularity of this candi-
date at home
On the contrary. the returns from
this same primary election showed
that more than twelve hundred per
sons voted against Dr. Hatfield In
Mcdowell county for the nomination
Tor governor. If there were that many
Republicans who voted against him in
the primary election. it should be no
surprise to learn that fully that many
Republicans will vote against him in
the general election.
The opposition to DR. Hatfield In
his home county arose largely out or
bis public record as a member OF the
county court Of Mcdowell county for
many years, and as political leader OF |
his party IN that county. II Is charged |
that Or. Hatfield used his power to |
grant or refuse liquor licenses, When |
o memf OF the county court. to at |
tain political ends. 1t Is charged by his |
tellOw.citizens that NO one could Sc
cure or retain liquor license from the
court while he was member Of 1t, or
while he controlled Its members, with,
but performing many political services
and assisting financially and other
wise In the campaigns under DR.. Hat
Held's leadership. The character OF
HE places where the liquor business
vas conducted under licenses granted
~ him has brought almost as bad
lame upon Mcdowell county as have
he political methods employed in the
'Iections for years past The hcens-
ne OF low and immoral dives, whose
'roprietors were used in politics to
urther the political aspirations Of the
'oss OF Mcdowell county, has done
. much to antagonize the people OF
dcDowell as have the political meth
ds which have been such as to bring
pom him the oficial condemnation OF
he United States.
Neither Fair Nor Honest"
1t will be remembered that 1t was
mixed committee of both Republi-
ANS and Democrats which reported to
ongress that the testimony as to DR.
lAtfeld's political methods in Nc
DWELL county raised a strong pre-
lmption that the conduct Of the
lection was to be neither fair nor
Dnest"
Tired OF bearing bad name and
having the politics Of the county
IN along the methods which had
zen employed in the past, the people
Mcdowell are crying out to the
st OF the state to help them in their
int against the leader whose meth.
II have brought them into disre-
Ite. Mcdowell county citizens pro
1t against the election OF DR.. Hat
Id to the governorship, basing their
jcctions upon their own experience
tn him in public life. They are call
: upon the rest OF the state to as
It them in their rights and are ap-
alins TO the voters In West Virginia
Investigate fully the public record
the man they know so wen, who is
Republican nominee for governor,
Tore supporting him at the polls In
Every effort Is being made by Dem :
rats and Republicans to prevent any z
petition Of the frauds which have
Aractsrized Mcdowell county cleo -
Ms In the past.
II