Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-24
CAMPAIGN IN WEST VIRGINIA
GOV. ATKINSON TO MAKE SPEECHES
IN MAINE.
He Will Then Canvass His Own State
Confident Mckinley VIII
Carry 1t.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

MOHdANIOWN, w. va, august "a, I.Nu
Governor Atkinson will spend very little
time at the capitol from now until the cleo
ton. Friday he will review the 1st West
Virginia Regiment, National Guard, in
camp at Keyser. From there he will go to
Maine, where he will make republican
speeches until September 8. He then ex-
poets to make a tour OF the towns along
the main line Of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad. From then until the election,
Governor Atkinson will place his time at
the disposal of the state republican execu-
tive committee. He is popular speaker
with the masses, and when he Is out cam
paignfng attires himself In cheap tweed
suit, and smokes 'tobies' with the boys
as freely as IL he were the most ordinary
citizen in the commonwealth. Governor
Atkinson is confident of republican success.
He is very enthusiastic in speaking of the
outlook for Mckinley in West Virginia
He holds more sanguine view OF the sit
uation than Chairman Dawson Of the re-
publican state committee.
The summer home of Col. John 7. NC
Graw at Deer Park, Md, continues to be
the Mecca of the democratic politicians In
West Virginia this month. The headquar-
tiers are located at Charleston, but "all
roads lead to Deer Park" Colonel McGraw
is q bachelor, and his pretty cottage at
Deer Park is presided over by his sisters,
who keep open house to all visitors. The
u
is located at Colonel McGraw's summer
home, and force of clerks are busy from
early until late, packing up and mailing the
democratic campaign literature, and an
swering letters which come from the voters
and minor leaders. Colonel McGraw, who
expects to succeed Senator Elkins. is a
firm believer in the benefit of the educa-
tional features of campaign work. He
never fails to answer a letter, however
humble and obscure the writer. 1t is an
imperative rule, which his secretaries un-
derstand, that no letter shall be pigeon
holed before being fully replied to.
Republicans Short Of Funds.
The statement has been made to the eff
feet that the republican committee had am
pie funds at its disposal for this campaign.
The fact is that SO far there is a dearth of
funds. The chairman and all the members
of the executive committee have been
greatly disappointed. it is said upon good
authority, because the national committee
has not sent large sum for the republican
campaign In West Virginia. The national
committee did not hold out any very gilt
tering prospect to the delegation of West
Virginia republicans who recently visited
the New York headquarters regarding the
furnishing of abundance of money, 1t
Is said. The national committee is said to
feel confident that President Mckinley will
carry West Virginia, and the members are
quoted as saying to Chairman Dawson that
they could not contribute toward the eX-
pense of the Legislative fight in this state.
That they must look to Senator Elkins for
funds for that purpose.
The democratic executive committee in
West Virginia las had the advantage of
being at work longer than the republicans.
The headquarters AT Charleston have been
in working order for more than a month.
The republicans are beginning to mail their
first consignments of campaign matter this
Thew
work from September 1. The. republicans
have inaugurated a storekeeper's campaign
which is novel. They have the names of
every country storekeeper in the state, and
will mail them, from week to week, all the
varieties of reading matter, Autographs and
other matter which is furnished by the
national committee.
Chairman Dawson believes in the effec-
tiveness Of individual work and expects
to have men make tours of the state into
the hamlets and country sections. to talk
personally with the farmers and voters gen.
orally. The week closing has brought about
no material change in the condition of
apathy. The bombshells of both parties
have so far failed to awaken the people.
Col. Davis Will Make the Race.
A desperate effort was made by few Of
the great republican leaders to have Col.
Thomas B. Davis get off the track In the
congressional race in the second district,
but he declined to withdraw, and has &C
cepted the democratic nomination with the
determination to win II he can. He has
greater strength than any candidate whom
Mr.. Dayton has opposed since William L.
Wilson was defeated. The republicans rec
ogniZe Colonel Davis strength, but firmly
believe that Mr.. Dayton has grown strong
than he has ever been with his constitu-
ents, and expect to overcome the gains Col
onel Davis may make along the West Vir-
ginia Central railroad where he has great
coal interests. 1t is becoming more and
more apparent that each congressional dis
trict in West Virginia this year will be a
fighting ground with the two parties.