Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-21
ATTRACTED MUCH ATTEN-
TION IN WASHINGTON.
MAY ASPIRE TO BE SENATOR.
THE GOOD PROSPECTS OF DEMO-
CRATIC SUCCESS IN WEST VA.
Senator EIkins Has the Idea that
"Good Times" VIII be the Main
Issue in the Coming Campaign.
Mr.. Scott lis Actively Looking After
Pension Bills - Other interesting
Gossip from the Capital.
Special to the Register.

Gov. MacCorkle's well-conceived adj
dress before the Montgomery confer
ence has attracted much attention here,
giving rise to the story that he has
ambitions looking in the direction OF
the United States ~Senatorship. 1t Is
understood among those who are best
acquainted with Mr.. MacCorkle's plans
that he has no intention of entering
the Senatorial race in opposition to
McGraw or any others who may enter
it, but that he may, if conditions should
prove favorable, seek the ~Senatorship
at some later day. In the meantime he
is likely to take such active part in the
promotion of party interests in West
Virginia and elsewhere as will com-
mend him to party leadership and re-
ward. His Montgomery address is re-
garded by many as the most sensible
contribution to the ace problem, es-
p~ecially on its political side, recently
made by anybody. 1t has brought his
name to the front in a very pleasantly
conspicuous way.
Flattering reports come from West
Virginia as to the prospects Of Demo-
cratic success in West Virginia this
fall. Take warning from the Elkins'
machine, the Democrats who are now
engaged in u%pbuilding the Democratic
organization are avoiding the construc-
ton of a Democratic machine, and
there is no such thing as a Democratic
boss in sight. Mr.. McGraw's friends
disclaim for him any aspiration to be-
come a party dictator, and it Is said
that in his Senatorial campaign he is
carefully avoiding dictation of nomi-
nations or interference with local po-
litical matters. This programme is
having an excellent effect in promot-
ing Democratic harmony and rousing
local interest in party affairs.
Senator Elkins has an idea that
good times" will be the principal issue
in the coming campaign. He is quoted
as saying that "if we can make the
people understand that the reelection
of President Mckinley means a c~ontin-
uance Of good times while the election
of Bryan will mean panic and lack Of
work and general distress the result
of the campaign will not be in doubt"
This, it is said, will be the text of the
Senator's opening campaign speech in
West Virginia.
What Elkins mean by good times
may be gathered from his attitude on
the armor-plate steal, which he de-
Tended in the Senate the other day.
There is a ST, 900. 900 job for the ar
mor-plate men in the armor steal, and
good times will be in store for some
body if it goes through. Elkins took
the ground. in discussing this matter.
that the President and Secretary of the
Navy, both great and good men, could
be trusted, and ought to be trusted,
with fixing the price to be paid for
armor-plate. He considered it impos-
sible that Long would pay too much
for armor. Senator Scott defended the
armor-plate combine by asserting that
the price Of machine and tool steel is
sS51.20 a ton, the interference being
that by comparison s545 for armor is
not too high.
It is quite likely that both Senators
will have to answer some pointed
questions as to their part in supporting
the armor-plate combines assault on
the treasury when they face their con-
stituents on the stump.
Senator Scott has a scheme for rush
ing through a lot of pensions just be-
fore election. He has introduced a res
olution calling on the Secretary Of the
Interior for information as to what
number of additional clerks will be
required in the pension bureau to adj
Indicate the applications now on file
for the original pensions at a date not
later than the first day Of October
next. AS there were at the end of the
last fiscal year 135, 900 claimants whose
applications for pensions were unad-
Indicated, it will be seen that Senator
SCOTS proposition would revive the
palmy days Of Raum and Tanner in the
matter OF hurrying pensions through.
It would besides provide a large num-
Der of Washington places for good
West Virginia Republicans.
s. W. Walker, OF Martinsburg, ex-
Senator Faulkners' law partner. is here
assisting the latter in the Clark case.
He feels very hopeful regarding Dem
ocratic prospects at home and predicts
that two Of the present Republican
Congressman from West Virginia will
be replaced by Democrats and that the
Democratic State ticket will be success
ful.
Senator Scott, for one, Ii not In Ia
vor Of setting up = colonial civil SER