Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-03-25
W. G. PETERKIN
FAVORS FRENCH
FOR GOVERNOR
KNOWS HIM TO BE EMlNENTLY
QUALIFIED FOR POSITION TO
WHICH HE ASPiRES.
DEMOCRACY WOULD DO WELL
UNDER HIS FEARLESS
LEADERSHIP.
o the Editor of the Sentinel:

TO the Editor of the Sentinel
( Hon. d. e. French. OF Mercer county,
ihas formally announced his candidacy
for the Democratic nomination for
Governor.
! happen to know personally, all
three of the Democratic candidates for
this nomination, and it has been my
privilege to know two of them quite
well for number of years | believe
that any one of the three would make
a good Governor, and no matter which
one should be named Democrats can
vote for their candidate with the
knowledge that if elected, we will have
a Governor who will be q. credit to the
State and to the party.
Senator French is not very well
known personally III this section, and
| want to say a few words about him
to our people, through the columns Of
the Sentinel, because | probably know
him as well, if not better than does
anyone else in this part of the state.
served with Mr.. French for four
years in the State Senate. Our rela-
lions were particularly close and in.
innate, and the better | knew him, the
higher was my personal regard fo,
him and the higher my opinion of his
character and ability.
He is an able, honest and upright
man.
He is not only an honest and sin
eere Democrat, but has been for years
hard worker for the party; for years
ne mas been one of mainstays of the
Democratic party in the southern sec
tion of the state, and it was largely
through the inspiration of his fearless
aggressive and militant leadership
that his party of the state did so well
at the general election in 1912. al
though it was the baliwick of the Re
publican candidate for Governor: in
deed if the whole state had done as
well, or even half so we'll in proper
ton, as Senator Frenchs county OF
Mercer did, a Democratic Governor
would have been elected in 1912.
lie is a personal admirer of Presi
dent Wilson, favored his nomination
and is, and has been, an enthusiastic
supporter of his administration.
During his entire term in the State
Senate, that body was tied, fifteen tc
fifteen, condition which initiated
much against affirmative accomplish
ment, but Senator French was always
found fighting hard and conscientious
iy against anything he conceived tc
be unjust or wrong. and for whatever
he thought to be right
lie is in every sense a clean man.
one who as Governor would give the
state ciaan and busineSs-like admin
Is: -t,yn
| can assure the people here that
the encomiums passed upon him By
the Democratic Executive Committee
OF Mercer, Mcdowell and Mingo Coun
ties, who formally insisted upon his
becoming candidate, were in no whit
exaggerated or undeserved.
Finally. he cones from one of the
most rapidly growing sections of TIC
state, and from a county which has
not, so far as | recall, ever been hon
ored by the Democratic party with a
nominee for any state Office: ana
moreover, bis strength before the PEG
pie, and his ability as a vote.gette,
has been proven in an EXCEPTIONAL,
hard test. As to this nothing more
need be said than reminder that he
a Democrat, was triumphanly elected
to the Senate inf a district 50 over
whelmingly Republican as his is.
believe that he would poll more votes
and be more certain OF election thar
any, other candidate We could nov
name.
have no quarrel-nor has MIR
French With his opponents for this
nomination. If he should not be nomi
mated, he will, | know, work as hare
for the nominee as he would for him
self, and shall be yegy, glad in ms
feeble way to help him in sthat work
But L believe that at this fimes he Isl
THE MAN to head our state ticket
and ! expect to vote for him in the
primary, and | sincerely hope that he
will receive most handsome vote il
.nis county aud section
Yours very truly
w. g. PETERKIN.