The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-01-13

OF Senator Goff, and as they did get
together afterward and have since re-
NAMED together In their attempts
I to discredit the administration OF
Governor Hatfield, one OF them would
most likely be now serving as a
member OF the United States Senate.
Coat Making Attempted.
Failing to accomplish the goal oil
their ambitions, and anxious to find a
reasonably plausible excuse for their
failure to draw enough support to
win majority OF the Republican
caucus, both Mr.. Mann and Mr.. Ell
kins have attempted to make Gov
ernor Hatfield the goat" and would
place all the blame upon him for
their defeat. Here was the beginning
OF the so-called "antl-Hatfeld" fac
ton.
There are many reliable witnesses
who are familiar with what took
place in the closing days Of the 1913
session OF the legislature and the
selection OF Senator Goff by the Re-
publican caucus. Governor Hatfield,
soon to be inaugurated as the states
chief executive, was In attendance
at the legislature in the interest OF
certain laws he desired enacted In
order that he could put them into
effect following his inauguration. AT
the final meeting Of the Republican
caucus. when 1t looked as though
the session would adjourn without
electing senator. he insisted that
the caucus remain In session until
It agreed upon some nominee. After
many hours OF dellberatlon Senator
Goff was chosen. The part. and the
only part. Governor Hatfield played
In that election was his inslstence
that the caucus agree upon some one.
without regard to who the nominee
might be.
After his Inauguration. Governor
Hatfield, In making his appointments,
did what he thought best to bring
his party together and prepare It
for victory in the campaign OF 1911 l.,
and to disprove the assertion. which
has been made, that he would sur
round himself with a few men from
the southern end OF the state who
would direct the Gcstinies Of the Re-
publican party during his term In
Office. He did not make his appoint
meuts with view to rewarding only
those who had stood closest to him
and were most loyal in their support
OF his nomsnation and election; but
he made good his campaign promise
TO recognize all factions OF the party,
and In some instances appointed men
to Office who had been strenuously
opposed to his nomination and who
were not very enthusiastic for his
election.
Further steps toward party har-
mony we're taken By Governor Hat
field when the Republican state
committee met in Charleston in Feb
ruary. 1914, and by so doing he Of
Tended some of his good friends who
were averse to counting the favor OF
the Progressive party The govern
or was DESTROYS OF having the COM
mittee take a position upon some OF
the progressive principles advocated
by the third party in the hope OF
bringing the Progressive committee
together with the Republican COM
mittee, so as to assure the election
OF legislature that would make good
the promises OF the Republican con-
vention held at Huntington in 1912
prior to the division of the party ma
tionally, and to which Governor Hat
field and the party we're committed.
When the Republican state conven-
ton assembled in the spring Of 1914
the governor advocated the same
principles and again had to wage a
contest against some OF his closest
personal and political friends in Or
der to have endorsed a platform
which would bring the progressive
element back to the fold of Republic
canism. This he was successful in
doing, and the result was that only
with $4,000 campaign fund for the
whole state legislature, Republican
in both branches. was elected by an
overwhelming majority, and every
pledge made by the Republican con-
ventions Of 1912 and 1914 have been
carried out.
Why Opposition Opposition.
In the light of this record the ques-
ton is asked as to why there is
so-called "anti-Hatfeld" faction in
the Republican party of West Vir-
ginia. It started when Mr.. Mann and
Mr.. Elkins failed to get seat in the
United States Senate; and 1t was re-
vived after the election of a legisla-
ture in 1914 when one OF them at
least'had made the assertion that the
party could not possible be reunited
until 1917. If then. Neither of them
assisted the state committee in the