Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-12-22
GETTING WARMER.

meeting of the West Virginia Leglsla-
ture, the political situation is getting
warmer. Unless Messrs. Getzendan-
ner and Pearson are kept in the SEN
ate the Republicans will be in the
minority, and these two gentlemen
will hold on at all hazards. A big
pow-wow was held in Washington
Tuesday, which was attended by Gov,
ernor Atkinson, Attorney-General
Edgar R. Rucker, Representatives
Dayton and Miller and Representa-
tive-elect Romeo H. Freer; T. Z.
Houston, ]. H. Huling, former repre-
sentative from West Virginia Capt
John X. Thompson, A. B. White
George c. Sturgiss, John W. Mason,
Internal Revenue Commissioner Scott
and about twenty more Of the promi-
nent Republicans from the State.
The conference was held at the home
of Senator Elkins. After much dis
cussion it was decided that Getzen-
danner and Pearson must retain their
seats in the Senate, no matter whsth-
er they have forfeited their rights by
entering the army or not. This tight
will be entered into, it was deter
mined, and no consideration will be
allowed to prevent the Senators from
casting their votes for U. S. Senator.
The plan agreed upon by the Re-
pubicans is to organize the Senate,
where they have a majority. The
Democrats will organize and control
the House. On joint ballot, as the
list now stands, with Senators Getzen-
danner and Pearson in their places,
the Republicans will have a majority
Of one. If the Democrats unseat Re-
publicans in the House to overcome
this majority, the Republicans will
unseat Democrats in the Senate. II
the Democrats beat the Republicans
in the game of unseating members,
thu latter will withdraw and organize
a Legislature oftheir own. Governor
Atkinson will recognize the RepubH-
cans as conducting the only genuine
l. stature, and, backed up by the
State government and the national
administration, they expect to come
out winners.
1t is quite evident that the Repub-
licans will resort to any means to pre-
vent the election of Democratic SEN
ator. Attorney-Gensral Rucker, open
ly says that rather than permit the
Democrats to gain control Of the Leg
islature would see the State Of West
Virginia plunged into civil war. The
other State officials haven't said as
much, but they mean about the same,
while the federal office-holders in West
Virginia are devoting their time al
most exclusively to political schemes
connected with this fight. The Dem
ocrats, however, are not asleep. Col.
John T. McGraw is taking the lead in
the fight, and has enlisted the sympa-
thy and help of the leading Democrats
of the country. Every step that the
Republicans take will be met, and any
unfairness will be vigorously opposed.
The Republican candidates for the
seat in the U. S. Senate are Judge
Golf, Governor Atkinson and Com
missioner Scott. Senator Elkins and
the administration are for Mr.. Scott,
and are now engaged in smoothing
down Governor Atkinson as they put
him on the side-track. He has been
promised a federal judgesbip, and
though he doesn't like to give up his
ambition for the Senate, he will proba-
bly, take his medicine. Apparently
Mr.. Scott has the Office pre-emPted,
but Judge Golf may slip in and upset
all calculations.