Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1920-08-31
PEOPLE MUST CHOOSE COVER
NOR CAREFULLY.

cbar,eston. w Va, Sept. 1.-There
are two outstanding ana signincan'
things about the campaign winch mas
inst opened in West Virginia LOT the
election of a new state administration
70 he in charge of xhe government Ior
the next four years.
The first Of these, it is generally al
mltted by the leaders OF an pai.ies'
is the recognition by the thinklhs peo-
ple of the state of the fact thal thls .
a time in the history OF west virginia
when they should be very careiui III
selecting the men who are 10 serve
them. - ~
Inst beginning to recover from the
offac,s of the World War, with every
hod.. more or less under tension 81
unrest and impatience, 1T is eviuent
tbat man is needed for each admins
trative office, and especially Tor tie
goyernorship, who is not under oDli-
CATION to one class of the states clti-
zens above another, and whose hght
for election does not bring him INTO
Sharn opposition to one class more
than any other.
TRIANGULAR Fight For Governor.
AS the campaign has developed thus
far. there is triangular fight for the
governorship. Two points of the angle
come out of the Republican primary
contest. One of these is represented
by Judge e. F. Morgan, the offlcially
declared nominee Of the Republicans
who was backed in the primary by a
group of wealthy coal operators. the
other is represented by Samuel b.
Montgomery. who was backed for the
Republican nomination in the primary
Inv a group of labor leaders dominated
by officials of the United Mine Work
ers' organization in the state.
The third point of the triangle is
represented by Arthur B. Koontz, the
Democratic nominee. The nomination
OF Mr.. Koontz was not fought in the
primary by any one class of citizens
above another. Mr.. KoontZ, therefore,
is in position, when elected governor,
10 treat and see that all classes are
treated with equal justice. He is not
fprejudiced for or against any one class
above another.
Situation Fully Recognized.
Recognition of this situation, with
the dangers Of class warfare apparent
ii either Mr. Morgan or Mr.. Montgom
cry should be elected, has led scores
of Republicans in the last ten days to
go to Mr.. KoontZ personally and assure
him of their votes and their quiet sup.
port.
Some of these were for Judge Nor
gan in the primary, others supported
Mr.. Montgomery, and still others voted
for Colonel Fred Paul Grosscup. Al
of them declared they were Repub
leans, but said the present situation
had convinced them that the best in
terests of the state demanded thai
Mr. Koontz be elected.
Meets With Fine Reception.
In his first trip out from headquar
ters since the state convention a
Wheeling, Mr.. Koontz visited Raleigh
and Summers counties. He addressed
the voters of Raleigh county at tn,
opening of Circuit Court in Beckley
on Monday, August %, and spoke tt
the people of Hinton, Summers county
that evening.
Mr. KoontZ was accompanied to boil
places by State Chairman r. F. Dun
lap, who also addressed the crowds a
both places. While greatly pleaset
with the reception the nominee re
ceived at both meetings, the mos
pleasing thing about the trip, accord
ing to both Mr. Koontz and Mr.. Dun
lap, was the united support of all Dem
ocrats which was found to eXis
through the personal conferences hell
before and after the meetings.
1.-THE situation is thoroughly salts
factory in both these counties" MI
Dunlap said, 'Koontz pluralities beini
assured The committees in the tw
counties are thoroughly organized an
the local leaders are already busy o.
a well-laid-out campaign"