The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-07-21
Ont for Sutherland.

me Morgantown. POST Chronicle, q
Progressive newspaper to. the very
core, strongly urges the renomination
LOT Congressman Howard Sutherland
Ito represent the state at large. The
Post Chronicle argues that 1t would
be sheer foo1fshness for the Progress
Isiyes not to Join In his Illumination.
The Morgantown newspaper Is GER
ltainly right about that. 1t says:
ut will be piece Of political folly
of the stupidest kind IL the Progress
lsive state convention fails to nomi-
nate Howard Sutherland to be the
Progressive candidate for reelection
as congressman-at-large. 80
With two such men as Howard
Sutherland and President Hodges in
the field. It is peculiarly futile for
the Progressiyes to nominate third
candidate for congressman-at-larg
Should they select a man comparable
with the two already nominated in
character, ability and statewide rep
|utation, the result would almost car-
tainly be to elect the Democratic
ticket, and that result would not
bring US any nearer to enacting into
laws the progressive measures called
for by the Huntington and Charles
ton platforms. With weaker and
less known candidate, the Progress
Fsiyes would still poll votes enough
perhaps. to impertl the. Sutherland
candidacy, but. they would gain Moth
ing in the way Of party prestige. Mr..
Sutherland's record in Congress has
been consistently progressive in ev-
cry respect except that of spelling the
descriptive word with capital P.
He has accepted committee assign
ments from the Republican caucus,
but he has voted on every important
measure with the Progressive mem
bers Of the House. He is admirably
equipped for the work in which he
has been engaged, and In meeting
the multifarious duties that fail to
the lot OF q congressman he has
showed himself tactful, efficient
worker.
ut is urged by the no-compromise
leaders Of the Progressive forces that
Mr.. Sutherland should have allied
himself with the s,out-and-out Pro
gressives in the House. It would
have been entirely satisfactory to the
POST Chronicle had he done so, but
Mr.. Sutherland had been elected by
Republican votes as well as by Pro-
gressive votes. He had perfect
right to select the group with which
he desired to affiliate. The one
thing he was under obligation to do
was to- stand for the enactment OF
progressive measures in Congress,
and that he has done with signal
fidelity and ability.
The function Of a political con-
yention is by reputable. methods to
select clean. strong candidates who
can be elected. Picking men who are
in the very nature OF things foreor-
dained to be beaten does not accom-
plfsh the end for which political
parties are organized. 1t is not nee
essary for them always to win, but
for a convention to throw away in
stupid obstinacy a chance to nominate
the winner Of the highest character
and qualifications is not only to play
punk political game. but it is t.
sacrifice the civic interests Of the
voters represented by the delegates
to the convention.
There Is no sane reason for in.
Producing third candidate into the
Sutherland-Hodges race, 80 II the
Progressivess want to beat Suther.
land and elect President Hodges,
they might better nominate the uni
yersity man. and be done with