The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1912-1921, 1918-10-25

/ didate for state senator against
and candidate for the Office Of {
ct at the coming election, Mover
full and sincere endorsement al
States Senator from West Virt
a duty he cannot neglect to voti
/ history OF the country when
| above partisanism and that tin
Mr. Davis says:
There has come time in the history
of this country when patriotisni-loy
| atty to our flag and oar ideals
should be placed above partisanis.n
and that time is NOW.
Being a believer in the principles
Of the Republican party, to which l
still profess allegiance, l have not
voted for a Democrat for National
or State Office in eighteen years. bat
as the day for casting our ballots
grows closer, from due reflection,
have decided that it is my duty to
make an exception in that long rec
ord of party loyalty and will vote tar
! Colonel c. W. Watson, OF Fairmont,
;. for United States Senator.
This statement. no doubt will be
one that will create some degree OF
surprise, especially among those of
Marion County, and other parts of
] the state, who have known Tor the
past ten years that while engaged in
the newspaper business, as editor of
the local Republican paper, was I'M
sparing in my criticism Of what
termed wisconsin"
For years a bitter local fight was
conducted over the question of a
municipal charter and no duty, as |
saw it, was sighted by me through
these years, and while all the results
sought have not been secured there
has, without any question Of doubt,
been an awakening in local affairs that
has proved of great benefit to munich
pal conditions. and ! am not now say
J ing there is not yet some room for
improvement.
But these local differences are not
of interest to any people of the state.
materially, who are not affected di-
rectly and they certainly are OF no
interest in national election.
But whatever ground there was for
such public criticism, as | then made
of local conditions, in all fairness to
Colonel Watson. feel that in justice
to him | should say that | have never
= found that he was personally con
f cerned in any way with local politics
and that he paid very little attention
to the issues involved | do know
, however that at one time when thC
: fight was hardest, and the criticism
G most pronounced. that Colonel Watson
Z did pay visit to Fairmont and GALES
!, to his office there some of the leading
/ Republican business men of the city
and inquired il the charges made were
true, and he then asserted TO these
u Republicans that if there was an,
ground for the charges of extraya
D gance in the local government h
would do all III his power to see that i
was corrected. l was not in the con
ference, but this statement wa
brought to me by those men two o
t whom are yet living. An investigation
J. was put into operation and the result
y is well Known to most people VIII
had any interest in local political al
u fairs.
: never had but one conversation
with Colonel Watson in my life, AM
f that was in his Office at Fairmon
8 while he was a member of the Unite
States Senate, concerning the cor
struction OF the Fairmont Postofic
z building. But while have not know
e him further than that personally,
e have had an occasion to observe VIVA
. he has done in building up the il
dustries of the Upper Monongahel
valIey,-the richest valley on the ma
= of the world. Colonel Watson, it mus
L be admitted, and it is SO admitted b
l. friend and foe, is d powerful develol
4 err and mas made wonderful strides
developing not only the Fairmont q
gion, but has been an Empire builde
in Kentucky.
II have seen him literally bring trai
il loads OF foreign and eastern capitalist
n Into the Fairmont region not once BIT
many times, and he never failed {
interest them in the great resource
Of orr state and he has By such met
X DDS brought capital by millions int
II the state to make our commonwealt
h one Of the best industrial commun
ties on the map.
Senator Watsons fame as an Q
ganizer and builder is not only a ma