The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1916-06-23
Governor.
Hatfield
(BN ". "a. HARRIS, III

lne one ngure IN emerge frOm the re-
cent super hested state wide primary
with increased strength and prestige is
that of our own beloved fellow countian. .
Governor Henry ID. Hatfield. and what
ever credit is to h~ given for this victory.
especially i'm Mcdowell county, must
certainly lie attributed 10 his matchle~s
political leadership
From the beginning Of his aiministra-
ton he Was confronted with almost in
surmountable difficulties. Ii will be ~
called that the split in the Republican
party in Chicago in 1912 had resulted in
a division Of the party in this state and
that the campaign for the gubernstorial
nomination was a three fight
between DR.. Hatfield and the Hons
Charlie Dillon and Charlie Swisi.er, i'm
which DIR. Hatfield reseived the nom
ination and in the hard fought cam
psign which followed, he beat both the
Democrats and the Progressives. The
problem confronting tine newly elected
governor Was to unite divided party
and to carry out the many promises of
the Republican platform To complicat.
| the ALREADY exceedingly deli ate situa-
| ton he had To isce = party that Was still
further torn and rent by the hitter Elkin-
Mann fight for the United States senate
and the legacy bequeathed him by th.
Glasscock administrstion of the great.-'
strike in the history of the state and
-tate exchsqusr that Was entirely empty.
This was sufficient To tax the ability oi
-ven the greatest American statesman.
With that minuteners f.r detail ant
With that unusal capacity for hard work
that characterized him ~ prarticine
physician With large clientele. a. >
uiember Of the Mcdowell county cour,
and i'm the state senate. lie immediafel,
addressed himse'f TO the task Of becom-
ing thoroughly familiar with every phsse
II the work before him. He did not
spare himself but plo.ided on IN his office
twelve, fifteen and frequently eighteen
hours . day. The result-the greatest
administration in the history OF West
Virginia is too we'll known 10 the read
ing public TO need repetition here.
A REMARKABLE MAN.
Truly Governor Hatfield is a remark
able mar There IL o whole-soulne--
about whaieyer he attempts that il in
-piring. When he decided To become =
physician he made up his mind to he
come a good one and 80 we'll did he sue
ceed that he was the leader in the med
zeal frsternaty when lac entered politic-
Though he made money-in the practice
II his profession, money was a secondary
consideration, his great desire wa- To ~
lieve suffering humanity
No night was too dark or too cold, no
one-white or black---was too humble o.
command bis cheerful services lie prsc-
ticed medicine from sheer love of ths
profession and 30 deeply has he ingrat
know him best that a remark a colored
man made recently Is fairly typical Of
the prevailing sentiment. Said he: "InI
tell You that 10 ONE white man I'd fight
for" And the man making the remark
il preacher. too,
THE MINERS " JSPITAL AT WEIGH
To Governor Hatfield more than any
one else isdue the credit for the modern
and spIendidly equipped hospital at
Welch. His practice being largely among
miners and their families he had long
'iePlored the lack of hospital facilities for
the large numbers who were constantly
i,eing manned and CRIPPLED in the mines
lie began the agitation for a miners hos
pital and today this great institution
stands a. a living monument u his love
for his fellowman. Not only miners and
their families but people in all vocation-
of life can here secure the most skilled
treatment and attention.
Dr. Hstfeld's entrance into politics
was not in the usual wsy-the man SEEK
ing the oflice---but the office sought the
man. Conditions were such in this coun-
~ that msn Of his sterling qualities
was needed on the county court and mon
the constant importSnities Of hi- fellow
cltlIrU- nr rutftl tIt Fht aub a.
elected. In this postum he demon-trat-
ed honesty Of purpo-e. rare tat and
keene-- of judgement-quslitie- which
mark the natural horn leader and which
paved the way for his election 70 the
state senate.
His RECORD IN THE STATE
SENATE
lie soon attracted attention in the mp
per hose Of the Legislature. Hi- col
leagues recognized the ms~ter-miDd of
the natural born leader. His record in
this body 10 a. clean a. q hounds tooth.
IL - characterized by fsithfulness and
work well done.
The Democrats found b their cost that
hey had ioemsn worthy Of their st~el
and they were forced 10 concur with his
Republican colleagues in eiecting him
president Of that august tody. when
the time came TO select q candidate Cor
governor, the party leaders ieIt that the
skilled physician and the able and fear