Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-10-23
Republican Nominee for Secretary
of State

The strong favor which attends the
candidacy for Mr.. Sharp for one of the
most important of the state offices is
only natural development of the cam
paign, in the opinion of those friends
who are closest to him. Investigation
of his public and private life, they
say, was bound to add to his popularity
and to be source of strength to the
entire ticket.
1t is something novel for one who
aspires to high office to have the good
will of nearly everybody, but that con-
dition holds with Mr.. Sharp. There
is hardly a person who does not have
a good word to say for him personally.
The only opposition is political and
there are daily indications that many
members of the other party will put
their liking ahead of partisanship.
Honest, able and fearless, loyal
party man who has kept himself clear
of factions and dissensions, Mr.. Sharp
is generally conceded to be a candi-
date of unusual merit
Many of our citizens have the erron-
eous impression that the office of Sec
rotary of State requires no particular
ability-that the duties are wholly
clerical and ministerial and could be
performed satisfactorily by most any
one. The truth is the office demands
service of the highest order and the
manner of its funetioning has a large
part in the scheme of state govern
ment.
For one thing, the SECRETARY of
State is a member and ex-officio sec
rotary of the Board of Public Works,
which makes up the budget and per-
forms other acts of transcendent inn
portance in the financial management
of the state. He is also secretary of
the State Sinking Fund Commission,
which administers interest and sinking
funds for the bond issues of the seve-
raj counties, districts, school districts
and municipalities Moreover, the Sec
rotary is called upon to make any i'm,
portant rulings of judicial nature,
and to transact much other business
where training and ability counts.
Mr. Sharp, who has made an excel
emf record with the Game and Fish
Commission, was born in Pocahontas
county, June 20, 1880, one of family
of eight children the son of Charles
w and Mary A. Sharp, and a twin
brother of Judge S. H. Sharp, who
presides over the circuit court Of
Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties.
His father was a Union Soldier, re-
ceying wounds during the war from
which lie died in 1892, when George
was twelve years old His earlier life
was spent ON mountain farm in as
sisting to sustain the family and at
tending common schools three or four
months during~the winter season.
From the farm Mr., Sharp went into
the lumber woods and worked as a
woodsman where lie earned the first
money he ever received BY strict
economy he saved most Of his earnings
and attended Concord Normal School
for one year in 1899 and 1900 He
took the tearliers' examination, Sc.
cured certificate and for the next few
sCdiS IiNlQtu MS time DClWCtH LcdCH-
ing school, working on the farm and
in the lumber woods. BY this means
he was enabled to secure enough
money 10 put him through Marshall
College, from which institution he
graduated In 1907. In 1908 he was
elected and served as clerk of the cir
cult court Of Pocahontas county. Later
he took law course In West Virginia
University and the University OF
Michigan.
Mr.. Sharp is member of the Pres
byterian church, all the Masonic bod
les of the state and the Theta Chi fra.
ternity. In 1909 he married Miss
Bertha Groves, daughter of DR.. L. C.
and Mary Groves of Nicholas county.
political ADVERTISEMENT