The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-11-19

with few thousand over a half
million population, which didn't oc-
eupy the highly important place IL
does today in the sisterhood Of states
But why ask that Of him? i believe
1t was Arthur Ingrahpm Rofeman, the
war governor and later himself. a Uni.
ted States senator who may have,
asked that question:
AT amy rate, Cor was wanted, for
II their plan was to he sprung thar
year, Colt was the only man with
whom they had any chance OF sue.
ceeding with 1t, He could get the mites
in the boxes, and pull through the leg
islative candidates, or enough to give
a Republican majority. And II he
would undertake to do that, then IT
was unanimously agreed that he
should be the new senator from West
Virginia. That would be. no come
down, no turning back no compromis-
ing at a probable loss 10 the honor
and dignity Of his career a spubllc
man. q. 4 y
While that was at once the strength
OF the plan worked up, ii was lat the
same time a par, of its weakness, as
later proved. Just In whit proportion.
1t would be difficult TO STATE proysbly
Con was acclaimed the NOMINEE in d.
riot and race OF nthustasni and cons
fldence. And such q campaign Moth
ing ever before or since IKE 1t. Bon
fires and torches, wonderful paradess
and still more marvellous meetings.
joint debates between Con and Wilson
GW. IL. the people of the state shaken
from center to circumference by the.
conflict. Republican victory, was in
the air. Cor WIS destined to win
Everybody felt it-and he did swinS
But he didn't win the legislature. The
Republican party was one vote shy.
Not very much, but Just as good-or
as bad-as being short fifty votes. The
Democrats with that slight margin
used it to make the margin wider. IT
seated few men of their party who
hadn't been elected, and likewise de-
cided that their candidate who hadn't
been elected, had been
And this is probably how all Of that
happened The Republican scheme
became known. The Democrats ap-
pealed to their scattering ranks to-
stand by their ticket, They said that
IL they voted for Goff, they would not
be. getting him for governor, hut they
would be getting somebody else, and
nobody could tell. who, ,forg under the
law then, the president of the state
senate would succeed to the govern
orship, and nobody on earth could
Rns.nson x,,hn thoI Mould ha but n
would be some Republican whom
Democrats needn't feel like 1hunoring,
etcgetc. Goffs would be United States
senator by reason 20 Democrat votes
cast for him for gagernor-and more
81 the same along the same line.
You can readily surmlse that that
touched of bpmbshen in the midst
Of the Republican brigadiers, as we'll
us in the camp occupied by the ex-
cited, enthusiastic hosts OF that party.
II exploded late illsthe campaign, but
1t played such havoc, That It had to be
met. There were conferences at which
all sorts OF schemes to head this de-
uouncement OF were suggested and
outlined Finally, 1t was Golf himself
who agreed to meet 1t as jtsshould be
met: Itswas the last thing be desired
to do in his heart no doubt. but it
seemed the only thing to do. He would
make the sacrifice and he offered up
himself with the same heroic patrio-
tism he showed as boy commander
in the army, when he wrote President
Lincoln from his prison cell, when he.
heard that he was held as a hostage
for the safety Of a Confederate prls-
oner OF equal rank who seemed GER
tain to be executed, that his tGotf 81
life was insignificant wnens compared
to the Union cause, and II 1t would
help on the cause no heed should be
given for his position nor safety, 1t
was but an incident and atom Of war.
6off was willing to take the gov
crnorship, and ready to say SO, If 1t
would make any surer the success %
the scheme of the party leaders They
doubted that it would, or. ct least,
whether at this late hour, It was nee
essary to receive such sacrifice from
their gallaIA leader. They felt as
sured Of success, and felt Inclined to
believe that what such an announce
ment would gain on the one hand It
would likely lose on the other, and
they figured it a standoff whichever
way, and victory assured. Whatever
the realsreasons held individually and
collectively which caused the decision,
the change in the plans were not
made. and in due time came the cleo
ton with its divided victory, which
that Democratic legislature made a
whole victory by handing, over the
governorship 10 A. B. Fleming, the
candidate opposing Cor.
Now you see what might have nap
peuei in the politics of West Virginia
IF-Go to it, 1t is fine subject for an
argument; none better, for there isn't
one chance in a billion OF finding the
correct answer.