Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-04-15
Candidate for Republican Noni-
nation for United States
Senator
Answers Editorial Appearing in
Huntington Herald Dispatch,
and Challenges His Opponent,
w. F. Hite, to a Joint Debate
in Speech Delivered at
Ripley.
Ripley, w. Va, April 9Th

at the courthouse in this city, deliv-
ering a very sterling Republican
speech. He was warmly received by
large gathering of the voters of
Jackson County and during the course
of his remarks he answered an edi-
torial appearing in the Huntington
Herald-Dispatch Of April LIST, which
paper is controlled by his opponent
w. F. Hite. Ex-Governor White chal-
| lenged MIR. Hite to a joint debate and
said in part:
81 have in my hand an editorial
which appeared in the Huntington
Herald Dispatch of April LIST. | am
an old newspaper man myself, and
/ grant and accord to the press the
right to conduct the columns of their
paper in the manner which meets
their views and pleasure. l would
not now make reference to this edi-
] torial if it were not for the fact that
Mr.. Hite is president of the com
pany publishing same and that it is
under his control and therefore no
doubt is spokesman for him. 1t makes
the accusation that the success of my
candidacy is desired by the Demo
Gratis of our state when 1t says, IF
they could secure the nomination OF
Mr. Sutherland, who is the victim of
| circumstances, or of former Governor
| White, who launched his candidacy at
a time when he depended upon the
| supposed enemies of Governor Hat
field to carry him through, Democracy
would be, apparently, in better shape
than Democracy ever will be in West
| Virginia Why did Mr.. Hite himself
| pledge me his support if at heart he
| felt this sentiment to be really true?
Surely | am not going to accuse him
of being so selfish at heart, even
though l recall the bitter editorials
against Governor Hatfield and his ad-
ministration which appeared in the
Huntington Herald-Dispatch, up until
the time of that secret gathering of
six men from Charleston and Clarks-
burg, at Huntington, at which the can
didacy Of Mr.. Hite was born. | per
sonally have no objections to that
meeting or any other. I accord to all
the right to exercise their choice.
II am frank to say ! asked Cover
nor Hatfield shortly after my an
Eouncement on July % for his sup
port. did this in sincerity | did it
in fairness and | defy Mr. Hite or
his paper, The Huntington Herald
Dispatch, to point to one word or act
of mine wherein l. have, at any time,
criticised the administration OF Gov
ernor Hatfield or endeavored to en-
barrass him in his duties. | do not
say that | myself have been entirely
in accord with his views at all times
but recognized his right to recon-
mend and to endeayor to carry out
his ideas into laws or otherwise. ]
have been Governor myself and l ap.
preciate the duties that befall the
occupant of that office We all make
mistakes, but we are all Republicans.
"An editorial appeared in the
| Charleston Post which paper is said to
be controlled by Governor Hatfield,
on Sunday, July %, 1915, wherein it
said The Huntington Herald-Dis-
patch says that Governor Hatfield is
otSCiiPtAAS w SCI SupDOlI lIOul luG
Democrats in Cabell County. If the
Governor should attempt anything like
that he would find it necessary to in
wade the Herald-Dispatch sanctum,
which Is one of the bulwarks of Ca
bell Democracy. The only one con-
nected with the paper who is not
known as a Democrat is W. f. Hite,
1 nd ~, th~ -, - ~
| he solicited Republican senators to
vote for ; Clarence w. Watson
think, without being egotistical. in nv
thirty-five years of service to the Re-
publican party in West Virginia |
have never been accused by any ex-
preston of this sort. | never made
the accusation referred to by the
Post. neither does it fall to my lot to
confirm or deny it, I announced my
candidacy upon my own responsible
ity and am making my plea to the
people of the State of West Virginia
and feel that they are going to abide
by the spirit of the primary law and
make their choice according to the
ability and availability of the candi-
dates and not according to the size
OF mans bank roll. II takes more
TO fight the battles of the Republi-
can party than finances. | am willing
/ In joint debate or otherwise to com
pare my services and contributions TO
the Republican party with those of
Mr. Hite. ! am willing to let the peo-
pie judge &c 20 the relative merit of
ability between us. and which OF us is
more able to support on the stump the
Republican party. | am saying this.
knowing that Mr.. Hite himself is not
tar away and in order that he may
reply to same, and l would like to have
the indulgence of the same audience
TO reply to what he may have to say.
| repeat am not the candidate OF any
person, interest or faction. | am
speaking for myself and j ask no
other man to carry my burden nor to
aid my candidacy by reason OF his