Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-09-24
BURST OF ENTHUSIASM GENCR.
ATED BY MAINE ELECTION RE-
Suits PETERS OUT QUICKLY.
DEMOCRATS HOLD The LEAD
koonts Will be Governor; Republicans
Split Over Morgan and
Montgomery.


made known to the country, the brief
burst of enthusiasm Is created in the
G. o. p. camp has petered out and
their hopeless situation in the nation
and in West Virginia is again preying
upon them like the imps Of gloom, in
the opinion of Democratic leaders.
The Maine election, one for state
officers only, was highly purchased
victory. Maine is and always has been
Republican state. The size Of the
majority always depends largely upon
the amount of pressure brought to
bear by the national organization, and
this year the Republicans were SO
much in need Of something to encour-
money, publicity and oratOry to make
the majority as large as possible.
At that, the majority was double
one, representing the votes of both
men and women, but as George White,
national Democratic chairman said Of
It, they planned, labored and paid for
It and would not make any utterance
that would rob them Of any mead of
their joy"
But let us suppose that one Of the
rOck-ribbed Democratic states Of the
South had held an election on the same
day Maine held hers, would big
Democratic majority there have meant
that Pennsylvania was necessarily go
ing the same way?
The continuation Of the three-cor-
nered fight for the governOrship, with
Judge Morgan the regular and Samuel
B. Montgomery the Independent Re-
publican caDdidate, and Arthur b.
Koontz the Democratic nominee, holds
the situation largely in Mr.. KoontZ's
favor.
The beginning of the active speaking
campaign, with both West Virginia and
outside speakers participating, is
arousing the interest and enthusiasm
of Democrats throughout the state and
everything is ready for "a forward
march campaign during the final
month of the contest.
Democratic leaders all over the state
now fully realize that'victory is with
in their grasp if they continue an ag-
gressive fight up to election day. The
winning spirit has taken possession Of
them and reports to state headquarters
from every county show that the full
driving power of a harmonious organi-
cation Is being thrown into the con-
hict
The new registration law, which the
Republicans were forced by the Demo-
cratic position in favor Of clean and
honest elections to enact, will guaran-
tee complete new registration Of all
for N no 70 to hot
women. With such registration, and
with the additional facilities provided
by the law for voting in the big pre-
cincts Democratic leaders believe their
prospects Of victory in West Virginia
are brighter than ever before.
Democratic laboring MEN are not TAX
ing kindly to the idea Of supporting
Samuel B. Montgomery for Governor,
knowing that he Is as much q Repub-
lican as he ever was and Is doing
everything he can to promote the can
didacy Of Senator Warren G. Harding
for President, whom the American
Federation Of Labor, headed by
Samuel GoInpers, has officially con-
demned.
They are further convinced that Mr..
Montgomery's candidacy is simply that
Of an independent Republican, making
use Of the Non-Partisan League In the
state campaign In the hope Of getting
control Of the Republican organization
in the state, and Of aiding the Hard
ing electors.
Democratic laboring men cannot be
fooled. They know that even if Mont
gomery should be elected, with Is am
bition to get into control Of the
Republican party, all the patron
age Of the office Of Governor would
be bound to 60 to Republicans, and
they would be left out in the cold the
same as II Judge Morgan were to be
elected
The pledge made by Arthur 3.
Koonts, the Democratic nominee for
| Governor that he will give every indl-
| vldua!, group Of individuals and class
q square deal, backed as 1t is by the
fact that he Is under obligation to no
| individual group Of individuals or
| class, Is the only pledge candidate
| for Governor can make and carry out
with Justice to all the citizens Of the
| state.
Any one WHO pleuSeS iuOTe IMAM tndt
| Is simply promising to barter away
| part of the executive Office In return
for the votes he hopes to gain by such
pledge
The stand that has been taken by
| the Democrats for clean elections and
| for full participation In the election
| by the women Of West Virginia, now
| that they have been given the right
to vote, together with the high charac.
| ter of every candidate on the Demo.
| nratin ctntn nnd national ticket makes