The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-01-04

1t is rather remote until the state
campaign of 1920, but If man in
putLic life sets for himself as high Il
goal es being governor of his native
state, he generally proceeds as quiet
| ly about it as he possibly can four,
and sometimes more, years in advance
of the settling day. We have had six
governors in West Virginia since
1896 and five out Of the six began
laying their plans and working them
out at least four years before they
realized their fond desire. Governor
Glasscock was the eXception--and ex-
ceptional circumstances, so well re-
membered they need no be recalled
here, were responsible for his sudden
and unexpected landing in the guber-
material swivel.
Which brings us to the inter-
esting subject before the house
which is, that they say" it is the
cherished ambition OF young Ed"
Cooper. the congressman from the
old Fifth district, to be governor OF
his state some day. They" is an au-
thority that any sin-hardened polit-
ical writer will inform you, is more
often correct than otherwise. or
course. Mr.. Cooper, has not said any
thing about it to anybody, that's GER
tain, but there would be nothing
wrong about 1t IL he had. The only
thing is, that 1t isn't done, that's all.
Ones political ambition In the long
drawn-out formative period is in
variably ones heart secret. But Old
They" who never sleeps and is al
ways on the job can read minds at
times as easily she can read read
ing. and 1t seems that she has lifted
the lobes Of Mr.. Cooper's cerebellum
and made an interesting discovery.
Edward Cooper Is the most inter-
esting member Of the states dele
CATION in Congress for several rea-
sons. One Is that he is a new man,
and hardly known to the public out
side Of his district. And that is suf-
ticient reason why there is curious,
but well-intentioned interest in him.
The expectations Of those who do
know him that he is good material
out Of which live-wire congressman
are developed and state leaders as
evolved, have been accepted by other
West Virginians in good faith at their
face value. He has all the appear
ances OF making good, and the poll
ticians hereabouts and at home
have their eyes on him."
1t is said that Mr.. Cooper's an
nual income is $4,000, but trivial
thing like thai hasn't spoiled him.
Not a spoil. He Is just one Of the
plain folks. He dresses plainly, talks
plainly, lives plainly and nobody
who has ever met him would hold
that income against him. Mr.. Cooper
has worked in the mines. There Is
not a job connected with coal mining
that he has not filled. He knows that
business from to the second s.
And another anomaly-he entered
politics youthful IL not dangerous"
radical, and he has never been any
thing else except q radical" when
compared with those who are typed In
the public mind as conservatives. y
You will have to hand 1t to a young
fellow with $4,000 a year, who
elects to be radical" as having q
mind Of his own. The popular idea
OF a radical" is that II he was shown
that much money he would drop
dead in his tracks, and the popular
conception of conservative" is q
among gentlemen with an income
large enough to choke a, diploficus to
death, who may. or may moi, have
been a radical" before he made the