Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-14
THE LEADERS ARE GUESSING
WARM POLITICAL CONTEST IN STATE
OF WEST VIRGINIA.
Battle Ground Conceded to BE in the
Third District - Fight
for Legislature.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.


sages of West Virginia this week that The
third congressional district. and especially
kanawha county. is the real battle ground.
The third is the only district which elected
n democrat to Congress two years ago.
So that If the republicans lose the dis
trct again they seemingly will have lost
nothing over 1885. But Kanawha county.
the seat of the state government, Is cor
sidered the key to the Legislative situation.
1t has developed within the past few days
that the democrats have been making rapid
gains in Kanawha county. The republic
can national ticket received a majority OF
= l.O in 1895 in kanawha. but there was a
great slump in 1895. Local issues are
largely responsible for the still greater
slump which appears possible this year.
The republican managers admit that the
four delegates to be elected will determine
the complexion of the legislature
The Kanawha county democratic ticket is
headed by eX-GoV. MaCCorkle and three
other unusually strong men as Legislative
candidates There is said to be more or
less dissatisfaction among the great masses
of Colored voters in that county and
throughout the third district. So that the
statement of Chairman W. NJ. O. Dawson
of the republican committee that all their
energies must be conferred upon the third
district Is not without cause 1t Is said
that notares public. employed by the dem
OCratic state committee. have secured the
sworn statements of 1So0 voters in Kama
wha county, former republicans, to the
effect that they will support the democratic
ticket. But these statements, however
well founded. have not caused a panic in
the republican ranks. Neither have the
leaders lost faith. Chairman Dawson told
The Star correspondent within the week
that there has been an increase in the num-
Der of republican voters in the third dis
trict sufficient to offset the democratic
gains. to say nothing OF the number of
converts to republicanism, of which they
are not boasting
A Hot Contest.
1t is a great battle in West Virginia.
Every prediction made by The Star cor
respondent to the effect that this would be
the greatest campaign in the history of
the state is being verified. The democrats
have had Bryan. and the republicans have
had Grosvenor within ten days, besides
many speakers of more or less note, who
have traversed the interior counties. TIE
republicans are 70 have Roosevelt and
doubtless Mckinley within the coming six
weeks. and soon Senator Elkins will be
gin tour Of the state. II is idle Boosting
for any political prophet TO claim the state
for either party. Many issues TO be
considered in West Virginia The prohi-
bitiOnists claim they will have the largest
vote they ever polled. and no man can fig
ure just where the most of these will come
from. Mr.. Bryan failed TO arouse quite
the enthusiasm and interest during his Trip
through the state that he did in 1896. but
there other features which threaten he
republicans in some localities and which
will keep the leaders guessing.
II is remarkable fact That the CAM
paign in this state is free from unplca SAINT
personalities. There is little mad-sinsinS
The heads of the two tickets haze not been
assailed. Judge John II. Holt, the demo-
cratic gubernatorlal nominee and Albert
Il. White. named for the same position ty
the republicans. are TWO very clean men,
Their records have beer spotIess. Neither
party has been able. had hey SO desired. 10
trump up unpleasant stories regarding the
career of either of these men. There are
other issues being more strongly advanced
and urged upon the people than the per-
SDnality of the candidates. Money is play
Ing conspicuous part in The tight. and
the colonization of negroes is charged
against both republicans and democrats
The negroes are being coaxed TO ally them
selves first with one party and then the
other State affairs are being talked tbOrf,
and national issues have their weight. Eut
the candidates for the leading Offices
not being abused.
In the Second District.
The second district congressional fight has
brought about a little unpleasantness in the
Davis lkins families. Il is stated upon
ve~y good authority that members of the
E.kins family have not felt kindly toward
Colonel Thomas b. Davis of Keyser, the
uncle Of Mrs. s. i. Eikins, because he
tered the congressional fight against Mr.
Ddytpns Those near Ia the Elkins have
gone 80 far as to state that Colonel Davis
voluntarily gave his promise TO his niece
that he would not accept the nomination
and aft"rward that he would decline it, But
the pressure from the democratic side was
too strong. and Colonel Davis is in the fight
II stay Mrs Elkins has gone away from
.HaIil"hursl. their magnificent summer
home In Randolph county. and will not
turn until after the election. The candidacy
OF Colonel Davis, il il said. will have more
u do toward reducing Senator Elkins
chances of recollection than any other in
fuence. Colonel Davis will divide the
strength IF the republicans along the line
of the West Virginia Central railroad
where Mr.. Dayton and the republicans have
always had great strength.
Colonel Davis carried a republican county
In 1s'S. and was elected to the legislature
H. Is not speeChmaker, but is conduct
Ing what he calls Misunderstanding campaign
lie Is known personally To hundreds of his
employees, being a very rich manufacturer
His interests along the railroad mentioned
are sure 10 bring him republican votes on
account II mis- position. 1t is because of
this strength. aided. of course. by his
brother, ex-senator Henry G. Davis that
the Elkius adherents desired to see Colonel
Davis remain out of politics. The nominal
ton Is said to be The result of a personal
request Of John T. Mctiraw. the democratic
candidate for the senatOrship.
These some Of the contingencies which
are arising in the pathway of the republi-
can managers, who have little to fear from
the national issues and Ques tons West
Nirginians are unusually prosperous and
happy. They nave paid little attention to
the issues OF Imperialism and Mr.. Bryan's
predictions Of the waHe al prosperity. They
are enjoying good times and have no fear of
immediate" disaster from any foreign policy
Some Of the very close counties lie along
the line Of the West Virginia Central rail
road. In The second district, and If Col Tom
Davis - enabled 10 come down the line
with share of former republican maiori-
ties then the legislature is lost 10 the repub-
HCanS
Where Democrats Have Small Pros
pect.
II ia hardly likely that the democrats can
win In the first and fourth districts In the
first Capt DOvener. for the republicans has
been nominated for many months, having
served several terms. and he has canvassed
the district with good results The demo-
Gratis named +. Moore Jackson of Clarks-
burg. who fatty refused 10 accept the
nomination. because he is too busy making
money They recently nominated w +.
Raymond of Braxton county who does moi
have the advantage Of general acouain-
lance in The counties of the dis ,"ict In
the fourth the democrats do not CAIN :,
have much of chance OF elect'nS Creeti
Collins over James A. Hughes The hitter
has Judge Freers majority % 4 thousand