The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-07-14

hto +tataLsteoh nAiSA aelto Justly
proud.
When politics was preached he
sought to eyade the issue. Il don't
think i have anything to say politi.
cally lust now he said, smilingly.
~ u see, Ialaye been entirely out of
touch with all things political ever
since the Parkersburg convention. I
haven't even seen my mail IN all the
time, though understand there IS
enough Of II at the office 20 keep me
busy for a week.
Making Things Hot.
Then, with a reminiscent laugh
s1sexpect there will be some interest
| ing reading In some OF those letters
land kilograms, DIS i understand the
friends who stood so loyalty by m1t
lin the convention are making things
hot for the nominee" 3
But, colonel went on his ques-
! tioner, DR.! Hodges says he IS holding
/ back his final decision on whether TO
accept or not until he learns. first
hand, the means used to name him.
Has he asked you for any informa-
ton to this end 0.
Tho shot strdcs llon:e. mo, not
THAT ! know of, he hasn, g replied
the colonel reflectiyely.
Then WY not explain 1t as you
know Tito be?'i
Thon gradually Swas there unfolded
q sordid story OF political strickery
and lknayery that coming from n
source less responsible and from any
lother than a man Of the lofty ideals
and purposes of the Wellsburg bank
er, would have sounded almost IN
belieyable.
At the start the colonel was evil
dently'stilll reluctants but once the! fec
was broken the story came forth
simply, directly and almost uncon=
sciously And here in effect, Is the
"insidepl OF the plottings and betray-
ais which led to the nomination Of
iDr. Hodges, leaving a trail Of shat
TERED promises, broken friendships
! and fallen idols:
II first made up my mind to enter
fthe race for congressmansat=largc
Hate last winter,.s said the colonel Il
consulted a few Of: my friends here
iabonts and between us we laid oft .
fplan Of battle, the principal feature
Eof which was our determination TO
Keep away from any alliances with
fthes Chiffon ring and the federal of
tfice holders trust. q.
Always Been Friends.
Senator Chiffon and i had always
been good friends and Il admired him
las a man. and thought 1lrealized that
lhis only power lay IN the influence
The welded In the distribution %
patronage. I knew this power to be
Transferable, but did not want tick
terted in amy behalf. To be frank,
lneithert ii want turned against
lme. Therefore G happening to be I'm
lWashingtons at Easter time, on. a visit
Ito my daughter, who was in school
there, 1 decided to call on Senator
Chiffon and inform him Of my In
Itentions to make the race. I did so.
The senator expressed pleasure at the
announcement and Voluntarily pledg=
ledsme his support. I told him ] ap5
preciated the pledge aud would count
lon: it.. We! both agreed, however. that
do me moro harm than good.
lHe.agreed with me: Before u depart
led he again assured me that he was
with me and would do all In his
power to assist me. This converse
tion took place in the presence of Mrs.
iBcall and others and cangreadily be
verified. -. II. : s
About a month before the con-
lyentiofi u Started out on a Campaign
over hesstateS Atf the very begine
ming / tb6gan To- grow suspicious that
fIswas being double crossed for the
news was Ibrotig hty 10 me ny friends
l@hose loyalty u could not doubt, that
tcRilton was supporting Hal wv. De-
Ipue who was my only active oppo-
lnent On reaching Kanawha county
h learned the truth!
Arriving at Charleston I went to
call o snex:G Governor w. a.. MacCor-
lkle, and a few others whom i had
every reason in the world to believe
were with me. told Gov. Maccor=
|: kle of the promise Senator Chiffon
| had mad me. Wac orkle seemed rem
dcred speechless with astonishment.
Then Ct developed that my early sus5
picions were correct, for Chiffon had
passed out the word to Mace orkle
and to others OF his followers, as we'll
as 70 every federal office holder In,
the state, that 5Depue was to be the
nominee, and they were to support
lin.
Strengthened Determination.
.sThe realizati ion that was being,
played for a sucker served only to
strengthen my determination to get
into the; fight Ia! win. Accordingly 1
lredoubled my efforts. Twisted az OF
| 1.-The IS counties 10 the state and sue
|ceeded In building up an organization
Independent OF the ring that seemed
| certain to land me the nomination.
Then came the convention. went