The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1916-01-21


history of the -tat.. of West Virginia the
p,st thrre or fonr y.-sr-. 80 far ~ tia
administration ot Governor Henry ID.
Hatfield aud its relation o. the people o
th -tst- as a wl"l- AID the Republican
party in particular is concerned, makes
interesting reading for those who 40 D.
the trouble of lnpki = up tie records or
|, whose memories AZ not too II ort To re
On the whole the re- ri of the Hat
fell administration and the flicial act-
of the governor show tf.at he has not
oeen guided 10y the idea of build'ng dl
a political machine i'm his own behalf
hut that he has tried at all times TO do
what was for the best interests of tns
people im general: that 80 far n the Re-
publican party i'm West Virginia IL con-
cerned. surh partisan politics a. he hs-
participated i'm has b. en- done i'm the hope
of bringing all farti ms of the party to-
yetiier on common ground: and that, IL
there il an "a q Hatfield faction with
in the Republican party today it is be-
canse he refused to give heed to tile siren
call Of those Republicans who put their
DE-. sonal Interests above tho-.. of their
state and party, and who, seeking special
Drivilegr, would is in have dictated u
the Executive his official and political
acts.
The entry Of Governor Hatfield, then
a member and president of the state
Senate, into the campaign for the guber-
material nomination i'm 1912 il we'll IT,
membered. lie made a gentlemsnly
contest for the nomination, having naught
% say in adverse criticism of his oppo-
nents in the race nor against the Re-
publican administration in power. On
the day of the primary election he cast
his ballot for one Of his opponents.
Following the primary came the di-
vision in the R.publican party nation
ally. The governor took the stump and
prosecuted most vigorous campaign.
psaking in practically -y~ry community
N the ~tase. Ia hi- contest for governor
he assured any and all factions OF the
RepublIcan PARTY that he would give to
Zach like consideration. II eiected, and
his appointments following hi- inangu-
'stiOn show that he made good ch
promises.
The Republican party in the state, a.
a result oi former fsctional fight-. was
in paor condition to enter upon har,'
campaign. IL l. not necessary To recall
the party troul,lrs which resulted In the
-lection of Dsmocratic legislature in
1910, which the following year electe.l
two Democrats To the United states sen
ate. To this dissatisfaction was added
the efiect 81 the split in the party nation
ally following the Chicago convention oi
1919. A. result many % the party
leaders took the position that it wss i'm
possible To elect Republican Legislature.
Nhich aside FROM it, other work would
-lect United states Senator They took
the view that the lest the party could a
would be to elect their state ticket
But Governor Haiti ~ refused to &C
cept this belief Throughout his cam.
paign he impressed upon the voter- the
importance to the welfare of the -tate
and ~ the franchise of the great ma--~s.
81 electing = kepubiiran Legislature. call
ing the attention of the voters o. the fasi
that in other state- south II the Ms-ou
and Dixon line Acknowledgement isv.
were PASSED Nv D,.nocratir legi-l ture-
and that West Virgins wa- saved from
a similar Isw IN 1911 Only f,ecan-e Tho
sat- ~~bate wa- politically a ti~. IIs
declared u InDre important - q elect q
Rep~i,l,ean leg : stur~ than {, slect him
governor. Tie rsru't VA legl-latnr,
Repui'licsn o' ,nt ba.lot. which ele~t
? ~enstor Nsthan Gof o. 'he Init
Ststes S'nste on the ls-t dsy oi the 49,.
sion.
Hon. Isaac T Mann and Hon. Davi,
Elkin- we're lesd'pg in tho = .nt~~t for tl.s
Unitei State- sroator-l,ip in the votins
q the levi-lature from day - day A.
the se~ion was drawing n q cio-e ther.
~a- little change rr~orded IN the voting
He-~r-. Flkins and Mann wrrr a-k~l q
xet tog~tb~r IN the interest q the ssst
and Tor the welfare of the party. an.
combine their fcrce-. one or the other .,
take the senatorial toxs. Tins they ~
fu-rd ~ do. Mr.. flkIn- took the pp
-it.on that Il he ~as not elected no IN.
should be- The Eikin- support ws
pledged that under no circumstance
would they vote for Mr.. Mann for th'
resson thss tie E1kins forces contends.
- had Mr. Mann - eos.-ruI - -