Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-09-01
POLITICAL PROSPECTS.
A Forecast of the Situation in
West Virginia


ion of The Result-ft is Generally
Understood That West Virginia will
Take Her Place in the Democratic
Column.
WASHINGTON. ID. G., Aug. 3l-The
State OF West Virginia is right at the
fore with one of the liveliest cam
paigns ia all the country, The hat
was dropped and the race was started
months ago and 1t has continued dur
ing every day with increasing swift
ness in spite of wind or rain or
weather.
The Republicans with Senator
S. B. Elkins at their head anDoune-
ed the intention Of carrying the State
at all hazards. The Democrats are
splendidly organized all along the line
and are conducting the most thorough
campaign that their party in the State
has ever known.
Hon. Henry d. Clayton, of Alaba-
ma, one Of the Democratic leaders Of
the House, has just returned from
| West Virginia where he has been en-
gagged in the canvass for about ten
days. Mr.. Clayton is the Democratic
National Committeeman from his
State, is close and accurate student
of politics, and never makes state
ments that he is not willing TO stand
by under all circumstances. He is
serious, though not yoluble talker.
During an incidensal discussion to-
day of the situation in West Virginia
Mr.. Clayton said:
81 found the Democratic party well
organized and ia good fighting trim
Their organization and enthusiasm
convinced me that they will elect
Democratic legislature, Judge Holt
as Governor and the entire Democratic
state ticket and that the state will
undoubtedly give its electoral vote to
Bryan and Stevenson.
81 am quite sure that the Demo.
Gratis will elect three out Of four mem.
| bers of Congress and probably all Of
them. The chairman of the State
Committee, Hon. j. H. Miller is pos
sessed Of fine executive ability. He
is good political General. Judge
| Holt the Democratic nominee for
Governor, is one Of the best cam
paigners in the country. He makes
strong, entertaining and convincing
| speech. The State ticket is strong
one. Every man on it is a native of
! West Virginia and understands the
situation there and is in accord with
| the sentiments of the great majority
| of the people of that commonwealth.
! The Republican State ticket, ! am
told, is composed Of men not natives
| of West Virginia but who have gone
there for political or other reasons OF
special self interest. The Democrats
are making considerable capital out
Of the superior personnel of their
| tickets"
Going more specifically into the
| Congressional situation, Mr.. Clayton
continued II regard the second and
third districts as certainly democratic
| in November. Judge Johnson is now
| the Democratic member Of Congress
from the third district. He has been
renominated and is now making
thorough canvass OF his districts |
spoke with him few days ago at
:! Hinton TO several thousand very en-
| thusiastic Democrats. Congressman
Johnson's popularity in the third dis
| trict is greater than ever ! was told
that he had used up his opponent Mr..
| Gaines, in one joint discussion and
| that he challenged Mr.. Gaines for an
other joint debate at Hinton but the
challenge was not accepted. Mr..
Gaines is now United States Dis
~ A n n 70.
for Congress. / observed that some
days ago the Department OF Justice
required Mr.. Tillman, the United
States District Attorney at Nashville,
Tenn, to resign as Chairman OF the
! Republican committee there. Of
course do not know what will be
done in the case of Mr.. Gaines.
II was told that quite number of
Republicans had announced that they
would support Bryan and the other
Democrats. The discussion of i'm
perialism, militarism and tracts is
making many converts to Democracy.
The Republicans are endeavoring to
run away from the discussion OF these
questions and try to contine their ut
terances TO the coinage question but
the people have livelier interest now
in the other questions and insist up
on hearing about them.
In the second district, the demo-
Gratis were very fortunate in the NOM
| ination Of Col. Thomas b. Davis,
| brother OF ex- Senator Henry G. Davis,
and, therefore, uncle-in-law Of Sena-
tor Elkins. This stroke on the part
OF the Democrats had a very jarring
effect on the Republicans and partic-
ulary the Elkinsitcs. 1t means that
Elkins must go up against the entire
united and aroused Davis influence
in West Virginia. He has never
heretofore had to fight this influence
united and aroused as it IS this year.
| Col. Davis is one of the old time West
! Virginians; is very successful busl-
ness man; has worked himself up
from the position Of a day laborer TO