Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1918-06-11
Governor CoTnweIl Will Support Col.
Watson For Senate.

Washington, May 30-Basing his
action upon the belief that a business
man rather than politician is needed
In the Senate for the remainder of the
war and the reconstruction period to
follow it, Governor John J. CornwelI
has announced that he Will suport
Colonel c. w. Watson, of Fairmont.
for the Democratic nomination. and
subsequent election to the Senate from
west Virginia to succeed Senator Golf.
his announcement was made in a let
ter to Harry L. Snyder, of Shepherds
town, w. Va, editor of the ShepheT ds-
town Register, which was published
In today's issue of that paper. The
f.! governors letter is as follows:
Charleston, w. Va, May rs, 1918.
Mr.. H. L. Snyder,
Shepherdstown, w. Va.
Dear Snyder:-I have your letter in
which you ask whether | have any OBJ
lection to stating what my position
will be relative to the two candidates
for the Democratic nomination for the
United States Senate There are two
things which | feel you know already:
First, that have been trying to do
my work here honestly and faithfully,
eliminating partisanship and eschew-
ing politics, especially IN war works;
endeavoring particularly to refrain
from prostituting the office and pub
lie service to political ends. | intend
to continue that course with the hope
that in the future the public institu-
tons of the state will be less infiu-
enced by political activities and chang
es than in the past.
Second, Notwithstanding that, as a
Democratic voter, | am entitled to my
opinions as to availability and quail
ifications of candidates for the nomi-
nation for high office, and in the flu
ture, as in the past, will | hope to
have the courage to state those opin-
ions to any one sufficiently interested
to seek them. Therefore, | do not
hesitate to say | shall support Colonel
Watson for the senatorial nomination
fora number of reasons, only one of
which | need state. The federal gov
eminent is spending nearly two bill
lions of dollars per month in the pros
ecution of the war. The war is not
only great military undertaking, but
the biggest business enterprise of al
time, one in which the best business
talent is badly needed. After several
changes and considerable delay, Presi-
dent Wilson has placed Charles NJ
Schwab, of the Bethlehem Steel Com
pany, in charge of the building of
ships, and we are getting ships. He
has put John D. Ryan, of the Anacon-
da Copper Company, in charge of the
building of airplanes, and it is now
believed we will get airplanes. Con-
gress must finance the war, provide
the money, and must or should know
how it is being expended. There, as
at the heads of the various boards and
departments, we need business men,
men wsh a vision. The politicians
have been tried. They have had their
day.
When the war is over there will
come a period of readjustment and of
reconstruction which will constitute as
grave crisis as the war itself. We
will need builders and business men
at the helm if we are to weather that
period, readjust. our industries to the
new conditions, keep labor employed,
and not have disastrous slump. |
believe there is no man in the state,
and few in the country better fitted
by training, character and experience
TO grapple with those problems than
Colonel Watson. He is rendering val
liable service in Washington now.
Then, surely the state, with its vast
industries and great opportunities,
needs such a man in the Senate if
interests are to be properly cared for.
We have an abundance of oratory and
fireworks there now. A few men like
Watson will be very useful.
For that reason, | want to see him
nominated and elected
Very truly yours,
(Signed) JOHN j. CONWELL.