The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-08-21
MONDAY EVENING. AUGUST q, 1916
America First and america Efficient"
FIGHTING GOVERNOR.

INspiteo Of the fact that there is a large staff of them, the
Democrats press agents have been so busy vilifying
Governor Hatfield and lying about his administration
that they have been unable to do any boosting for their
candidate.
We do not mind saying that in our humble opinion
IBIS Is bad political strategy. Governor Hatfield is not
On issae IN this campaign and John J. Cornwell is. More
oyer Z 30 shame. West Virginia contains no finer citizen
than Mr.: Comwell and if the press agents attached to the
numerous headquarters Of the Democratic party, who
ore paid 20 promote the interests of the party and praise
the candidates. cannot pause in their mud singing and mis-
EspIssentad de9 long enough to say a few words in his be-
half. we will do it for them. Mr.. Comwell has a deep
understanding Of the needs of this state and the aspirations
81 its people. He is one of these people in the same sense
That Lincoln was one of the plain people of the nation. If
everything was sure to go smoothly. If, in short, the polit-
Ical millennium were at hand. John ]. Comwell would
make an3ideal governor.
Butitiis right at this point that we begin to have doubts
about The complete availability Of the Romney Sage. Facts
arc stern and stubborn things and no man can become
seyenogof West Virginia and get away with it except
i tighter. That explains why we prefer Judge Robinson.
Meknow he is a fighter. What the genial Mr.. Comwell
would do when put to that kind Of a test is a matter of
doubt. Therefore. why back an uncertainty when there
b q certainty equally good in all other respects in the 6elda
Just how necessary a willingness to fight is to complete
SUCCESS IN the govemship Of this state may be learned any
day by perusng the columns of abuse which the Demo-
cratic newspapers are printing about Governor Hatfield
dhisa acts as governor. Most of this abuse can be'traced
ID enemies Governor Hatfield made when he refused to
lst ths.big corporations and the other Interests dictate
ihs policy Of his administration. Very early Governor
Hatfield discovered that if he was to be gov
enor intact as well as in name, he would have to fght.
Andshe d decided he would fight. He comes of that kind
Of stock and began close to the bottom to fight his way
10 DE top: We know Of no better way of forming a cor
rct estimate Of how well he succeeded in this respect than
70 read what his avowed enemies have to say about him.
in their opinion at least he is the most important individual
IN the commonwealth.
The net result of Governor Hatheld's fighting is an adj
sInisIadon which is by long odds and in every way the
best IN! the history Of the state. A list Of the progressive
legislation that came into being under the aegis Of this
lighting spirit would be too long for publication here in
detail. but it would include the Workman's Compensation
law. the Public Service Commission. the hydro-electric law
and other measures of similar tendency to protect the in
terestss OF the people against the encroachments of property.
Lots OF vested interests" were bruised in the struggle
which, resulted in this legislation and in setting the foot
steps Of West Virginia firmly on the nungs Of the ladder
which leads to social justice. 1t is with much Aason
therefore that Henry D.. Hatfield is called a fighting gov
enor. And while he has many foes both open and covert
Thousands upon thousands of his fellow citizens without
regard tosparty ties love him for the enemies he has
made" and are grateful for the i'll natured efforts Of The
Democratic newspapers who are keeping his record before
the public, even though he is not personally an issue in
theEpending campaign.
For one thing these libclous attacks serve to keep in the
public mind the fact that the fight for the rights Of the
people 40 contrasted with the desires Of the corporations