Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-22

table among these are Henry G. Davis who
is father-in-laW to Senator Elkins. Davis
was once senator from West Virginia He
up into the millions
He has had singular notion that he may
be reelected to, the Senate If the democrats
are successful -Four years ago he did not
sever his relations with the democratic
party, but Stood by Bryan. Davis has a
brother who Is known as Col. Tom Davis,
very wealthy old bachelor, who has been
nominated for Congress by the democrats
In the district In which Elkins lives This
was the district which was formerly repre-
sented by William l.. Wilson. The two Da-
vises and Senator Elkns own the West
Virginia Central railroad. The same men
also own the great coal mines and the coke
manufactures along the line of this road,
and are also largely interested in the saw
milling industry and lumber manufactures.
Now, naturally, the men connected with
these industries would like to support Ell
kins for the Senate. They would also like
they will support both, but If that is the
case there is danger that Elkins will be
charged with trading for his rather-in-law,
and then the candidate for Congress, Rep
friends to trade in his behalf the ma
tional and legislative tickets. In fact, such
rumors of trades have already been sug-
gested, and they may have so effect. But
SO far 1t is apparent that Elkins is making
straight-Out fight and Dayton is doing
the same. The relationship between Elkins
and Davis. 1t is said by the friends Of both,
will not be allowed to cut any figure in
their political relations
Apathy Among the Republicans.
There is some apathy in West Virginia
among the republicans. There is the dis
satified Office seeker and there are the
men who are generally dissatisfied and al
ways seeking a change. There are also
some Germans that do not like the policy
OF the administration, and have been in
fuenced somewhat by the position which
prominent Germans of the United States
nave taken in the campaign.
The gold democrats will. with few excep-
lions, go back to the democratic party.
They do not fear any disruption Of the
finances from Bryan's election. Ex-senator
Davis is a tyne of these. disrupture of
finances would be very serious loss to him,
but he declares that the United States is too
conservative to ever go to a free silver
basis after 1t had had an example of the
benefits of continuing in its present finan-
cial condition upon the gold standard He
does not believe that silver law will ever
be enacted, and takes the position that a
great many other gold democrats do, that
Bryan can do no harm If he is elected.
While the gold democrats of West Virginia
are prominent in the public and financial
world, they are not as numerous as they
are in some other states. But at the same
time nearly all of them will go back to the
democratic party. There were not so very
many silver republicans who left the party
III ISSo 10 vote IOf Bryan.
But 1t is generally understood that most
of these republicans are going to return to
their former party lines. and while they
viii not be an entire offset to the gold
democrats, at the same time they will
lessen the effect of the return of the gold
democrats to Bryan.
Probably the shrewdest move that the
democrats have made is in all of the nom-
nations they have made. Besides Col. Tom
Davis, who has been nominated IN one dis
trict nearly all of the other nominees are
very wealthy men, who will contribute lib
orally to the campaign fund for carrying
the whole state. In the nominations for the
legislature the democrats have pursued the
same course, and their nominees are almost
without exception good men. Democratic
politicians who have incurred the i'll will Of
people, and who have made themselves OBJ
Eoxious In the prominence they have here
tofore attained. have practically effaced
themselves, and have not sought to become
candidates for either congressional or leg
islative honors. Consequently no personal
campaign can be made against the demo-
Gratis. -,
The Republican Candidates.
The republicans have not been idle in this
direction, either and their legislative cam
didates are men without reproach and the
strongest men that could be selected in
the party. Having evened up on this par
tfcular line, the belief is general that the
republicans will carry the legislature OF
course. the genfymander the democrats
NJ AIDE ten years ago makes 1t necessary for
the republicans to carry the state by a
large majority in order to control the leg
islature. 1t Is said that the majority must
be from 5000 to 10000 In view of this
fact 1t is possible that the legislature may
be very close. -yG
Another reason why there is such a fierce
fight in West Virginia at the present time
is the effort that Is being made by the
democrats to retain this legislative gerry
mander for another ten wears and the de-