The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-12-22

When Governor Henry b. Hatfield
undertakes to do a thing he puts his
whole Drawn and brain and sOul me-
it. However. We ned not tell that 70
the folk whose governor he is. They
know 1t. But 1t was exemplified
again to some OF them. aud entirely
anew to Others from sister states, at
the meetingIof the Republican Ma
tional committee. In the harmohious
deliberations OF that body from which
issued forth such satisfying results t
Republicans throughout this broad
land. this big, able, thirty.six-yearss
old the says so himself) governor OF
ours. doomed large as an influential
factor in shapingt the destinies OF his
marty. He was the only individual
mo came win acknowledgements
ort plan for party reorganization. the
other plans coming from the National
Congressional committee. In pre-
senting it, and explaining 1t, his was
the only formal address. Also, II APP
plause means anything. there Is cause
for West Virginian pride, for Hat :
field received the most generous be-
stowal OF that. Tie plan that was
evolved by the subcommittee, and fl
nally adopted, he had hand IN tile
making. He served on that commit
tee in place of, and at the request OF
Governor Hadley who had business
before the Interstate Commerce conf
mission. He had The satisfaction OF
seeing some OF his suggestions en-
bodied in the final draft. lie It was
who offered the resolution providing
Tor a committee Of three to draft and
give to the country an address cover
ing what had been done, and he was
appointed OH that committee with
Senator Borah and Charles warren
OF Michigan, He was counseled with.
sought after. and was an active. ana
influential participant in everything
that was done. West Virginia Re
publicans foregathered at the meet
.uk were proud of the part their gov
ernor Hatfield played in the history
making political drama. Mighty
proud OF it, and him, indeed.
Aeto tho Meeting. it was harmoni-
Gus beyond the highest hopes. There
wasn't a division of opinion worth
speaking of on anything. There
wasn't division on progressive or
regular" lines-not once. Take the
question whether or not there should
be held national convention next
year. Hadley and Cummins, along
with Barnes, favoring it, Bora9 lead
ing those opposed to it. Both l9l2I
factions mixed up together on TINS
question so you couldn't tell them
apart. and each man guided by theI
pcculiarly local laws and conditions
which prevailed in his own state
These conflictions, especially as 20
primary and election laws, made II
apparent to very large majority IN
n very short space Of time, that II
would be almost impossible to have 2
national convention next year and
Get away with it tremendously. Al
though, Governor Hatfield, as did eH~
cry West Virginia Republican pre-
scented, was in favor of convention
and so voted, believing that was the
sentiment of the party in West VIZ
ginia, he felt that the plan adopted
was the better one after all. Indeed
everybody felt the same way about Il.
The down-South Republicans sacri-
ficed their proportion of delegates
clear down to 164 without a murmur
and with fine spirit of party pa
triotism. The committee shorn itself
of the power to make up the tempe
rary roll of delegates with an air oil
noblessc oblige. By 1916 every
Northern state will boast its primary
laws, and the people OF the party may
select their own delegates, and they
will be seated, too, No committee
will have anything to do except to
act as the laws agent. So there you
arc. West Virginia's apport:ocment
will remain the same-siXteen votes.
D.