The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-08-19
STATE CHAIRMAN
(conanusd Prom first Pags.)

and no successor was ever selected
to MI the uneXpired term thus Gre
sted.
Temporarily Filled Before.
At a meeting OF the National
Committe held in Washington. ID. G..
in 1913. Gov. n. ID. Hatfield was ap-
painted by Chairman James Lakin,
OF h State Committee TO represent
West Virginia al the meeting. The
National Committee accepted thu
credentials OF Gov. Hatfield. as a
temporary committeeman. and he
was duly appointed and served on a
subcommittee during the meeting.
No objection was raised then by
Mr.. Edwards and his friends over
this action. he apparently being salts
fed with the Bull Moose party. and
not caring to be known as a Repub-
lican. This action did not stir up any
controversy among the apostate Re
publican and Democratic press. they
too apparently being satisfied with
their conditions as they were"
After receiving the letter from Sir.
Reynolds. l debated the best way TO
get the sentiment of the State com
mittee. There was no other business
to come before the committee. and n
did not seem necessary TO me to put
the members OF the committee TO the
expense OF attending a meeting for
this one purpose. Had ! done so. prob
ably there would not have been any
more than a quorum. IL that many.
present. and the result would not have
been satisfactory. So ! sent a letter
TO each committeeman. suggesting
that they designate their preference
to the State Secretary Il. B. Bern
helm. the majority preference TO be
n to the National committee as our
choice.
His Great Mistake"
Il see now that I made one mistake
in choosing the method Of getting the
sentiment OF the State committee. 1
should have consulted the Democratic
press. and selected a method approved
by them. Had / called a meeting OF
the committee the Democratic press
would have wanted TO know II the Re
publican state committee was nOt
blessed with a super-abundance OF
funds TO call a meeting OF men from
all parts OF the state for his one per
son. In fact whichever way I chose.
I should have selected the other
method, IL our critics are to be taken
seriously. believe that better re-
suits have been obtained by a Of
the referendum and a greater number
Of the members of the committee have
given their preference than could be
secured by a meeting al this time.
AS the National committee made
the vacancy from this state. they must
be given the responsibility for 80. We
acted on their suggestion in making
a recommendation to nn the unex
plred term The National committee
can ratify our selection. n they rare
10. or they can reject IL. and recognize
Mr.. Edwards. Mr.. Elkins. OF anyone
whom they see NJ. This matter b.
clearly up to the National ommittee.
But one Candidate.
To my knowledge there was but
one candidate for the position. Mr.
Highland. There was no secret OF hts
ambition 20 represent West Virginia
on the National committee. he had OF
ten stated publicly that he would be
pleased 90 serve In this capacity And
being the only candidate. and with
previous statements Of HE desire 60
be- a member OF the National commit.
tee. he was Eiven the preference Of
the % members ~ the committee that
"|.|M. Jul" NJ. |NN |NN.N"N|. |. m H' N
tho Democratic press refors ana
about which they are trying 10 stir up
Internal strife in the Republican party.
~ the Democratic State Commit
tee can face fhe coming campaign
with n clean slate and ~ clear a 0n
science as the Republican Committee
they are decidedly fortunate But
a0 long a. the parkersburR conven
ton will live in tho minds Of Demo
Gratis. and that dis~Eraceiully bossed
affair will always linEer IN the bis
tory OF state politics. we ask our
Democratic critics 10 BE- generous
with our political frallties a. with
their own Misrepresentation OF
facts viii not b. ~ material aid when
the cold uRht ~ reason is turned ON
the conscpicious failure OF The Demo
cratic party and their measures The
Republican party. In state and nation.
will rest their a a with the people.
and they have no fear OF the verdict
that will be- rendered IN 1915 We ask
that the election day may be hasten
Cd that the wheels OF industry can
again b. heard. and the honest toll
crs Of The country can ind the mar.
kets for their labor that have been