West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-07-20
chairman Lewis Expresses Hope of u
Complete Victory

the following letter to former Chair.
man c. l.. Shaver:
by this letter | confirm and en-.
large upon my telegraphic acceptance
of the chairmanship of the Democratic
State Committee OF West Virginia.
"All the strength and influence
each of us possesses must be directed
towards returning President Wood
row Wilson TO the White House. Such
an honor Is his right TO quiet effective
service through period of moro ser
ious national testing than at any time
since 1865. Under the strain of a
threatened panic ut home in 1914, OF
involvement I'm the war i'm Europe. and
OF the dangers arising from misgov-
orned or ungoverned Mexico. he has
not only held his own impulses under
the control of n wonderful will, but he
has impaired something of his far
seeing vision TO our whole nation.
No man would have dared to sug-
gost in 1912 that by 1916 the world
| OF civilization would have been rent
| asunder and millions OF men driven
| back TO the primal impulses of slaugh-
| ter and conflict TO determination. In
all our history no President has been
confronted with more cxacting re-
| sponsihility towards the world or
| handled moro delicate ,ask within
the nation, or suffered greater person
nj strain. II. In the course of human
| destiny and evolution, the years of
| l9l7 to 1921 are to be ones of recon
| struction and peace. President Wilson
Is entitled TO their enjoyment i'm the
greatest place OF national honors. IT..
however, they are still TO be years of
strife. his quality of mind, with its
| capacity TO look at things I'm the large.
completely detached from personal
considerations will be safe-g guard to
all of us of every party.
IL therefore pledge myself as chair
man of your committee to work
among both Republicans and Demo
Gratis for the recollection OF Woodrow
| Wilson. | am confident that Repub-
licans will vote for him I'm large mum
bers; for his bravery at the helm I'm
storm that entities him to the helm
again, whatever the weather We are
all aware of the great qualities OF his
opponent. Mr.. Justice Hughes. who
has honored the United States by his
10 hnx
But Il is not n time to change control;
the more SO. since to change would be
| rebuke To a nan who has with honor
| so far saved us from the wreck OF the
world Let the nation profit again
from the unequ9lled responsibility he
| has experienced.
when. as your chairman, / look at
the political situation within the state
OF West Virginia, am encouraged TO
expect many Republicans to show
their independence OF thought by vot-
ing with us. The recent primaries
showed so bitter a factional fight with
i'm the Republican party as TO shake
the faith Of many staunch Republicans
In both the wisdom and unsclfishness
Of their leader.
"We have been accustomed I'm the
| past TO expect Singing, rancor.
| and all manner OF sinister suggestion,
as between opposing parties { condi-
tion which will not prevail in 1916, II /
can be of any service in preventing
| 10; but when such conditions show
| out in factions OF one party, we arc
forced TO believe that it is not a bat
tic for a victory Of principles, but
rather a strife for personal glory or
gain
"The men who have ruled so dur
ing the past four years and multi
piled the political machinery of gov
ernmcnt, as If the state had an inf
mite capacity to pay taxes, have too
often shown forgetfulness OF the fact
that the state is greater than any man
in Il; that II lived before he discover
cd his own greatness: that Il will go
on long after he is dead. either physi-
cally or politically ~ IS my convic-
ton that the men nominated i'm this
state on the Democratic ticket will, n
elected. prove to be servants Of the
people all the people all the time.
May J. in closing. add few fur
thcr words for the information Of
Yourself and Of those who chose me
as chairman I have never been In
politics; IN the sense OF seeking Office.
| I never expect 10 he I have been
privileged to share In the business up
building OF this state, AS u business
man, and accustomed 10 look at life
from the viewpoint Of all the count
less interchangeg Of products. OF pro
ducers. Of consumers, OF transporta-
ton. Of distribution. am bound TO
look out upon my state with a sort OF
expectancy not usual with a man who
Is purely politician. I look forward
to greater West Virginia This win
come by all phases Of agriculture, all
forms Of labor and all business get
| ting closer together i'm a mutual de-
termination 20 push the state forward .
1t will come by the fuel and other re-
sources Of the state attracting more
capital aud leading to more develop
ment; II will come by business us-
ing the word IN its narrow senso)
realizing that it has public duties 10
perform; it willy come by legislators
and our executive heads looking upon
the state as having a can upon their