The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-01-01
Hopes, However, Course
Adopted win be Con-
seryative.
NJ DERA0TT SPOKESMAN
New, United States Senator
is Still in the U. s.
Army.

WASHINGTON, u. C.y Jan. L.
There was a happy meeting today, the
two principal actors being (there were
no spectators) Major Davis Elkins,
U. S. Senator-elect from West yir-
ginia, and Col. Joseph H. McDermott,
OF Morgantown.
It must be imagined:
Likely enough there was smashing
herman blows on the shoulder, muss-
ing up the well.won gold insignia upon
the Elkins' uniform, iron-like hand
grasps, and o torrent Of wordy ejacu-
lations richly epitomized in, Dog gone
your old pictures, how are you, any
old how" such as men who have real
friendship and a common cause for
jubilation are known to express 1t.
But-well, there were no spectators,
and tn eimagination Of those CONVEX
SAINT with the relations Of the promi-
nent pair has full license to run
amuck.
The cause Of It ALTO revert for a
few months-is that Col, Josephus
Hannibal McDerlnott, Of the burg OF
Morgantown, is the man who conceiv.
ed the idea, wrote the scenario Of the
Eikins' candidacy, filmed It, exhibited
the histrionic-politi product and
made q success Of 1t. He organized
the Elkins' candidacy, put It across,
and having nominated his man re-
tired to the background and left 1t up
to State Chairman William 3. Baker.
Charles 3. Coffman, and all other Re.
publicans and no small outfit Of Dem
ocrats to elect the popular and gal.
liant Major. Everybody, including Col.
g. w. Watson, at present OF France,
knows what came OF that,
It was the first meeting between
the two Of them and, without further
ado and waste Of space about 1t, 1t was
some reunion with the accent on the
some.
Seen at the Willard after II. Col.
McDermott was in a happy mood.
Major Elkins,' he said, sis still in the
army and, although his resignation Is
pending and will probably be accept,
ed, he is not talking politics yet. How.
ever, may say for him, that he has no
intention Of taking any part wflatso-
ever In the organization Of the two
houses Of the legislature, II he visits
Charleston at all, It will be long after
the Organization Is effected. / do not
know that IT Is Of the same import.
iance, but you may add for me that
do not expect to be in Charleston until
the session Is well under way, IL at
all,
II know that Major Elkins, as well
ias all do, feels q grave interest in the
outcome OF the session, and sincerely
hope for success, All Republicans
must, and, indeed, do, realize the great
Iresponsibility that rests upon the rep.
resentatives Of the party who will com
pose the Legislature. The party will
be held toFa strict accountability for
what is done. The times are 80 I'M
usual and the conditions so unprece-
dented, that the responsibility is
greatly enhanced beyond what it mas
ever before been. The greatest care
and caution should be observed. The
prosperity Of our state wavers in the
balance. For time, we should be alb.
lsolutely conservative, scrupulous in
our effort to be Just to all; do what we
can, or do very little Il needs be, to
tighten the great burdens, unwind the
entanglements, and restore the nat
ural laws Of business and the econom.
ic machinery, all OF which have been
seriously interfered with by the war
!" Hope for sane, safe, solid, de.
lpendable leadership. We can afford
to wait a more favorable time than
now for legislative experiments, un.
tried legal entions, and novel limo,
vations OF a statutory character. We
are confronted right now with q condi.
ton and not theory, and when in
doubt 1t may be best for our state not
TO do 1t. 4 think that the people OF the
state will be entirely satisfied, indeed
exceedingly grateful, II the Legislature
does only that which all agree must
be done, and leaves the rest to another
time.
at is up TO the Republican party to
make good In West Virginia, and I be-
lieve that It viii. We are all together
The last campaign showed 1t and the
election proved It. We are done fight,
ing one another and electing Demo
Gratis to office. don't expect TO live
to see any moro fact onalism such as
we have had In the party ever again,
we are ali tired Of It see the futility
and Stiffness Of II, and We arc cape