Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-04-03
HOWARD M. GORE
FOR GOVERNOR

candidate for the Republican nomin-
alton for governor, who has been so
aptly described as the lone wolf of
West Virginia politics, is still play
ing his game of political solitaire.
Steadily refusing to hunt with the
boys, the popular assistant secretary
of agriculture is continuing to play
a, lone hand, and, in the opinion of
old timers at the game politics, is
making big success in his novel
campaign for the governorship.
Mr.. Cores method of campaigning
is a decided innovation in politics
in this state, and it is being watched
with the greatest interest by every
one who has ever had the slightest
interest in the political game.
The old time politicians, who at
first laughed at the Clarksburg farm
er's idea of campaign without an
organization of paid leaders reach
ing into every precinct of the state,
are beginning to wonder if they were
not a little too hasty in their merry
making. They said it couldn't be done
and while they were still saying it.
Gore was quietly going ahead and
doing the very thing they said was
impossible.
The, first thing that shocked the
old time politicians and caused them
to smile knowingly was Mr.. Cores
announcement that he would not
have any campaign manager. This
was so irregular and such a decided
departure from the accepted rules of
the game that the old timers couldn't
conceive of any sane man starting
out for the governorshir with such
an idea in his head. But Gore start
ed with the help of personal friends,
of whom he has thousands in the
state, he soon had headquarters open
ed in his home city, and literature
began to go forward to the voters.
The next irregular thing announc-
ed by Mr.. Gore was that he did not
expect to have any county managers.
the politicians laughed outright at
this announcement, but it wasn't long
until they discovered that the Clarks-
burg man had a strong organiza-
ton in practically every county of the
state. They were personal organi-
cations built up by close friends of
the candidate in the various coun-
ties, with no one man in charge of
the campaign, but with all pulling
together in the interest of the dirt
farmer candidate.
Another irregular thing that
is, irregular in the eyes of the poll
ticians that is being carried out
by Mr.. Gore in his steadfast refusal
to make any combination with any
other candidate, not even with cam
didates for county offices. 1t has
been the practice of good many
state candidates to 60 into each
county and form an alliance with one
of the factions, and thus be slated
with that factions candidates for
county office. Offers of such "slates"
have been made to Mr.. Gore but he
has refused all of them with thanks.
That the Clarksburg mans novel
scheme is working out satisfactorily
to himself and his friends is indicat-
ed by the enormous strength he has
already shown, and which is grow
ing each day. Only a few days ago
H. C. Ogden, widely known Wheel
in publisher and keen judge of poll
teal situations, gave an interview in
which he declare that Mr.. Gore was
gaining ground rapidly and that the
Clarksburg man had the best chance
of any to win the Republican nomin- /
alton.
Mr.. Cores official duties as Assis-
tant Secretary Of Agriculture pre-
vent him from spending as much
time in his campaing as he would
like. However, he erpects to be able
to visit most Of the counties Of the
state and meet the voters. It is his
plan to make few speeches towards
the end Of the campaign, setting
forth his views on the problems that
challenge the attention Of the peo-
pie of the state. m
Mr.. Gore recently returned TO his
home here from a short trip into the
southern end Of the state, and said
he was very much gratifed by the
reception he received. II think the
farmers Of the entire state are pretty
generally behind my candidacy" he
said, "heacuse l am one of them,