Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-17
CONTEST IN WEST VIRGINIA
Both Parties Watching Each Other in sena-
torial Fight.
Senate Republicans 5Threwten to Tin
seat n Member for Every Seat
Lost In the House.

CHARLESTON, W. Va, January 1.-THE
senatorial contest that is now pending be-
fore the West Virginia legislature surpass-
es in political Importance anything of the
kind in the history of this state Delega-
uons are here from all the counties in the
interest of different candidates
With a republican majority in the senate
and democrtic majority in the house,
there is a tendency for each body to re-
taliate in partisan matters. especially in
settling contests for seats. The indications
now are that when the contests are all
settled the republicans will have a majority
of one on joint ballot for senator. The re-
publican senators say they will unseat one
for every member unseated in the house
Ihe majority of the lower house retaliates
with the statement that it has more mem
bers that the upper house to unseat, and
can play out longer on the retaliation pro-
gram. The house has not yet notified the
senate that it was ready for business al
though it was duly organized last Wednes-
day and is now in it's sixth days session
No business is likely to be transacted till
the contested seats are disposed Of and
probably not till after the election of a
senator
McGraw Has No Opposition.
The democrats hold their senatorial cau-
Gus on Wednesday night, and Mr.. John T.
McGraw seems to have no opposition for the
democratic nomination to become Senator
Faulkner's successor, but McGraw is con-
ducting vigorous canvass from his head
quarters to have enough contests decided
to make his election possible, and in the
event that the contested seats should be
so decided as TO give the democrats a ma
jority on joint ballot it is then probable
that McGraw might have oposition
While the names of Scott, Atkinson Cald-
well, Poffenberger, Floyd Gains. Hughes
and others will be presented to the repub-
lican caucus on Thursday night, yet the
contest is believed to be principally be-
tween Commissioner of Internal Revenue
n. B. Scott and Governor Geo w Atkin-
son, in whose close racing there are some
who refer o Scott as the candidate of the
national administration, in which they in
clude Senator Elkins, and to Atkinson as
the candidate of the state administration
Senator Elkins has not been here and is
keeping out of the bitter fight but his sec
retary is here keeping him advised as to
the So-called war on the Kanawha"
While there are many republican dark
horses that are being watched, none are
more formidable than Judge Nathan Goff
OF the United States circuit court.
Strength of the Two Parties
AS the certificates of election We're re-
turned, the house stood: Democrats 81;
republicans, 81 Two additional democrats
nave been seatedy SO that the house now
stands: Democrats, 80; republicans, 81.
The senate stands: Democrats, .; repub-
licans, II. This gives the republicans one
majority on joint ballot for senator and if
the house goes further irY contest cases
then the senate threatens to retaliate and
tnefe would be such a crisis as to bring
about most serious complications.