The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-01-27
DARST WONTBE
CANDIDATEFOR
GOVERNORSH|P.
VIII Support Candidacy of
Judge Morgan in Com
ing Primary.
REVIEWS HIS RECORD
Statement Recalls Large
Part He Has Had in
States Development.

special Dispatch to West virginian).
CHARLESTON. W. Va, Jan. 81
State Auditor John s. Darst, conclud-
Ing his third term in the Auditors of
lice, will not be a candidate for the
Republican nomination for governor Oh
West Virginia, and in the coming pri-
mary election he will support the
candidacy OF Judge E. F. Morgan.
Fearful that strenuous campaign
Tor the goyernorshtp might prove In
furious 70 his health, Auditor Darst
10 public statement recited that he
had reached the decision not to enter
the race.
In his statement Auditor Darst,
who has been an active political fig
ure In West Virginia for more than
20 years, and who rose through his
tireless industry, answering honesty
and marked ability to one OF the
highest State Offices, to which he
was thrice elected, reviews some of
The most important acts. of his public
career.
He says:
i have decided not to be candi-
date for Governor. / feel under the
circumstances, 1t would be too great
n personal sacrifice, and am afraid
my health would not stand the strain
Of the kind OF campaign it would be
necessary for me to make in order to
succeed.
u know this decision will be keen
disappointment to hundreds of LOYAL
supporters in every county in the
state, who have stood by me all these,
years, without money or hope of poll.
tical reward, save as I could render
service to all the people of our state.
can only say to them that / share
deeply with them this disappointment,
but am thankful and grateful for
the opportunity they have already
given me to try to be of real service.
and can say to them that have done
my best.
We have done many things very
much wanted to accomplish. intro
duced while was in the Legislature
Constitution Amendments providing
a salary for the Auditor and Secre-
tary of State, instead of fees, and
since 1905 there has been more than
one million dollars paid into the
Treasury of the State that, would
have otherwise gone into the Auditors
pocket and more than three hundred
Thousand dollars has been paid into
the State Treasury from the Secre-
tary Of States office that would have
gone into his pocket.
Important Laws Enacted.
We have revised the Insurance
Laws and executed them, placing
West Virginia in the front rank among
Her Sister States. drew and helped
pass what is known as the blue
Sky law" and have executed same.
saving untold thousands of our PEG
PIES money from the sale Of fake"
stocks.
- drew up and helped execute the
Fire Marshal Law, which has been,
and Is doing splendid work in helping
keep down the fire waste.
u drew up and helped pass the law
doing away with the public execution
OF the death sentence in the State.
Before this law was passed these
hangings were carried on in the open
In the county where the deed was
committed, which had demoralizing
effect.
Il assisted Governors White. Daw-
ION, Glasscocx, Hatfield and CornwellI
In every stand taken by them to make
West Virginia better place for all
to live, as far as was able.
AS Auditor and Insurance Commits
sioner for eleven years it has been a
pleasure and privilege to try to con-
duct that great business office to the
satisfaction Of the people, trying at
all times to hew to the line and run
the business of the State as any great
private business is run. How we'll /
have succeeded is not for me to say.
but want you to know that l appre-
ciate the opportunity vou have made
possible and have show that