Evening star., 1898-10-29
WEST VIRGINIA.
Probabilities Favor the Republicans
in the Coming Election.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star
WHEELING, w. Va, October 81, 1898.
The West Virginia legislature Of 1S96-'9T
had Il republicans, IS democrats and two
greenback democrats IN the house of dele
gates, and % republicans and four demo-
Gratis in the senate, plurality for the re-
publicans on joint ballot of 81.
OF the four democrats in the senate only
two, Messrs. Baker and Dotson, are hold
overs, and of the p republicans 10 are hold
overs. Messrs. Cole, Fast, Garrett, Getzen-
danner, Huges, Marshall. Mathews, Nc
Neil, Pierson and White. There are there
fore IA senators to elect It is not probable
that the democrats will elect more than five
of them, leaving the republicans in control
of the senate by a majority of 10 TO 4. The
democratic managers have been insisting
that Messrs. Getzendanner and Piersou
have forfeited their offices senators by
accepting commissions from Gov. Atkinson
as captains in the I'd West Virginia ReSi-
ment now at Camp Meade and that the
state constitution does not permit of a SEN
ator holding more than one Office at a time.
1t is said to be the intention of MeSSrS
Fierson and GetZendanner to resign their
captaincies before the legislature meets.
Should there still be contention the republi-
can ma jority will do the rest in the matter
of passing on qualification for membership.
AS to the house of delegates, there are
no hod-over members, and there are Il men
pose that there will be a material change
from 1896 in the number of republicans
elected. Should the conditions be reversed
from 1896 and the democrats rule by Al to
30, the legislature would still be republican
on joint ballot. We think it altogether
probable, therefore, that Charles j. Faulk-
ner will be succeeded by a republican
Who that republican will be is very prob
lematical. Some of the hold-over senators
are favorable to Gov. G. w. Atkinson, who
has been making an active canvass. Inter
nal Revenue Commissioner n. 3. Scott has
not been neglecting his chances, and it is
believed has the personal support of Sena
tor Elkins, who has been in the state for
| some weeks making speeches and visiting
places where the legislative ticket needs
help. Charles 7. Caldwell of Parkersburg
has also announced himself a candidate.
1t is thought that Atkinson and Scott will
throw their forces to the one that is strong
est of the two in case there is a ground swell
for Judge Nathan Goff of the United States
district court, which is not as remote pos
sibility many would like to believe.
Judge COTS position has been very an
noying to the republican leaders. He has
assured them that he does not want the
place and will not be a candidate unless
certain conditions arise. Those intangible
conditions cause the trouble. Should the
judge enter the field after Atkinson and
Scott have done the work they have, and
they havaboth been willing to withdraw in
his favor, there will be wailing and gnash-
ing of teeth.
Judge Con- is the idol of the rank and file
of the party. which he has led through
good and evil report in years gone by. They
think he was robbed of the governorship,
to which they elected him. and, without
any disparagement to Messrs. Atkinson and
Scott, that he would reflect more honor on
the state than any one named for the place.
If the unexpected happens and a demo-
cratic legislature is elected, John T. Nc
Graw, nominee for Congress, at present
making lively campaign against Repre-
sentative Dayton in the second district, will
probably be the choice OF his party. Ex-
Senator Henry G. Davis has taken the
stump, but is believed to be grooming him
self for the democratic gubernatorial NOM
nation IN i00c,