The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-08-18
Editorial Comment
on Current Subjects
THE ISSUE.
From the Huntington Herald.D dispatch


From the Huntington Herald Dispatch.
There Is going to be n remarkable
state OF politics in West Virginia dur.
ing the campaign that is now opening.
The Democrats are preparing to dodge
all pertinent and legitimate issues in
both state and nation. They dare not
face the actual issues in the nation,
and because they dare not they are
appealing to a personality which they
felgn would deity and set worsHipful.
ly apart.
They dare not meet the pertinent,
the overwhelming issues in West Viz.
ginia. Here, too, they seek 20 make
an individual the issue, but the appeal
Is made not made with the o%bsequious
laudation which attends the national
idolatry. 1t is Of a far different nature.
The Democratic leaders, hedged in at
every point by arguments which they
dare not undertake to discuss. much
less to answer, are prepared to make
the campaign in West Virginia upon
a personal issue. They propose 10 GOV.
err up the scandalous history Of their
own party in the state rs written In
still recent years, and to hide their in
ability to criticise intelligently or hon.
estly the policies Of the Republican
party by making a concerted assault
upon Governor Hatfield. They hope
to win in the nation by an insane up.
peal to the heroic qualities OF the
worlds most renowned backslider and
mental acrobat. I1ey hope to win in
the state, IL at all, by an attempt to dis.
tort and magnify the political faults
OF Governor Hatfield, such Us they Tray
be.
But in neither case will they NC.
coed. The national record OF the
Democracy stands out in u]nconQuera.
bio defiance Of this plan. Whether
the Democrats like it or not. whether
they are prepared to meet 1t or not,
they will be forced to answe to the
long list Of grievances a misrepresent
ed people hold against them.
In West Virginia, whether they like
It or not. the Democrats will be forced
to admit the great constructive worh
done by the Republican party; the
magnificent development Of the states
natural wealth, the upbuilding OF Its
institutions, and its redemption from
a condition of an~te.bellum antiquity
as found when the first Republican ad.
ministration came into power.
The issue in West Virginia will not
be any mans personality. Governor
Hatfield will be subject to criticism
insofar as his administration has been
unworthy, and no farther. And let 1t
be said that the Democratic editors
will not spend much time discussing
his administration. They dare not,
because 1t has been clean, progressive
and efficient, with no more faults
than attend the average well meaning
administration Of any capable man in
any party. The Republicans of West
Virginia are not mental weaklIngs to
be imposed upon after this fashion.
They know what their party has done.
They know what 1t proposes to do and
Will do II continued in power. They
know the intentions Of the Democrats.
They remember the heaven.high
stencil which went up from Charleston
five years ago when for the first time
In years the Democrats secured a ma
1ority Of the legislature on joint bal
lot. They are aware of the fact that
the same partnership which perpetrat-
ed that outrage is again in absolute
control Of the party in West Virginia.
The issue is neither Woodrow VIII
son, the demigod, nor Henry D. Hat
field, the proclaimed political tyrant.
It is efficiency in national administra.
ton, public safety and the national
honor. 1t is efficiency and progress in
state affairs, a record which challenges
comparison and defies criticism.
office-hungry Democracy is in des.
perate straits.