Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-09-13
Our Washington Letter.
WAsuINeroN Sentemb,

that West Virginia was as safely Repub
lican in 1900 as it was in 1896, and re-
cent developments have surprised even
the national committees. The Demo
Gratis throughout the country now real
ize that West Virginia is probably Dem
ocratic and only by remote possibility
Republican. The Republicans have
awakened to the fact that the State il
it held an election now would go Demo
cratic and they are preparing TO put
forth most strenuous efforts to save it.
1t seems to have just dawned upon the
Republicans that while the State gave
IL, 900 majority for Mckinley, it gave
less than 800 Republican majority in
1898, when an unusually full vote was
polled for year when there was not a
presidential campaign. They realize
that the Democrats have not majority
| of IL. 600 10 overcome but only a major
lty of 500. What makes the Republi-
cans even more anxious than they 9th
erwise would have been to carry West
Virginia is the certain loss of the State
of Maryland Senator Elkins and Chair
man White have been doing some figur-
| ing in order to bolster up the backbone
of the Republicans but it has not proved
serviceable to that end.
So far as the legislative ticket is con-
cerned, the Republicans have practical
ly given up the fight but will probably
talk more about it than if they were try
ing TO win the legislature.
An indiscreet friend Of Senator Ell
kins few days a go gave out some in
| formation, without expecting its publ
cation, which led to the report printed
in the newspapers that Senator ElkinS
was about to write letter Of withdraw
al from the race. While the letter it
self might have been so worded that it
would not have endangered the chances
of the electoral ticket, the publication
of the plan frustrated it and that letter
will never be written The facts stated
in the telegram as TO the Legislature be-
ing opposed to Senator Elkins, even
though the most sanguine hopes of the
Republicans are realized, are true.
There will, however, be no letter from
Senator Elkins withdrawing from his
candidacy, at least until after the No
vember election.
Senator Elkins in his telegram stated
truthfully that an announcement of his
withdrawal from the race was not true.
L
nouncement made He had not with
drawn from the race and the only pub
LEGATION which appeared in the newspa-
pers was that his friends were contem-
plating his future withdrawal. This
was strictly true. If Senator Elkins has
not contemplated such withdrawal,
he has simply refused to sanction the
plans of some of his friends. Whether
or not the Democrats succeed in car
rying the Legislature, the Republicans
cannot succeed in re-electing Senator
Elkins, and his only hope Of continued
political preferment lies in Disgusting
that fact until after the November cleo
ton, when, if President Mckinley is
reelected, the services of Senator Ell
kins in trust legislation will be reward
ed by his elevation TO cabinet position.
a statement Of this kind is not suscep-
tible of absolute proof but it is said be-
tween themselves by the Republican
friends Of the Senator and fully believed
by all men who are cognizant with pres
ent political conditions.
The open action of the Baltimore Il
Ohio Railroad Company in declining to
furnish transportation facilities for the
Morgan's Grove meeting has been
roundly denounced by even fair-minded
Republicans in Washington, and follow
ing so closely upon the conference be-
tween Senator ElkinS and President
Cowan of the Baltimore & Ohio Rail
road Company at Deer Park, when Sen
ator Elkins left with President Cowan
upon the latter's private car, it is diff
cult to believe that the action Of the
Baltimore e Ohio Railroad Company
was not insisted upon by Senator Elkins
himself The political tactics which
seek to prevent men from attending
county fair because Democratic speech
es are to be made there revive unpleas-
ant memories of the former political
tactics of Senator Elkins. His action
in this matter will undoubtedly prove
a very unwise one and will ALLEVIATE from
the Republican party large number
of votes from those who wanted to at
tend the Shepherdstown fair and were
prevented because the railroad compa
ny, at the instance of the Senator from
West Virginia, refused to take them
there.
Had it been Republican meeting
there would have been plenty of cars
and the lowest possible rates made.
With a father and brother who served
Loyalty in the Confederate army, both
of whom were consistent Democrats,
and having himself been honored by an
election as a Democrat to the Legisla
ture of New Mexico, it is strange that
the Senator from West Virginia should
now be so preiudiced
The Congressional committee has re-
ceived most encouraging reports from
West Virginia concerning the prospects
of the next delegation from this State
in the House of Representatives.
The second and third districts are
now regarded by the Democratic lead
ers as absolutely safe, while the fourth
district is deemed pretty certain. Col.
Tom Davis in the second district has
aroused an actual enthusiasm even in
Washington. He is regarded as so safe
and sound a business man that he will
add very greatly to the conservative
strength of Congress.
Judge Holt has surprised his friends
as campaigner They knew him as
staid, logical lawyer The Associated
Press is running accounts of his cam
paign throughout the United States and
he is the only candidate for Governor of
State who is thus honored. He has
already captured more than half Of the
voters of West Virginia and nearly all
Of the women and children, who in turn
will capture at least portion of the
voters who still remain obdurate.
The political prophets have once more
started upon their rounds and almost
without exception they predict the de-
feat of President Mckinley. Two or
three astrologers have added their pre-
dictions in the same direction. To the
superstitious these matters usually have
some weight and in the aggregate there
are number of superstitious voters.
There are two matters which are not
founded upon superstition which carry
good deal of weight in the consideration
of probabilities. For twenty-eight years
no President has ever succeed himself
L. =.