West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-10-16
WEST VIRGINIA POLITICS.
The Fight In the Second Congressional
District Arousing National,lntercst
The Railroad Situation.

i
Virginia is watched here with considerable
interest 10y persons informed IN political
affairs. This is the district represented
only a few years ago by Hon.w. l.. Wilson,
and from which Aston G.. Dayton halls
The former had a national reputation due
to his great learning aud ability, and the
latter has obtained considerable notoriety by
reason of his position on the Naval com.
mittec, and his well known friendliaess To
the Armour Plate Trust and the Cramp aud
other ship building concerns, which have
recently contributed money 10 help re.eleet
him.
AZ Democratic headquarters interest has
been aroused during the past two days by in.
formation ,ha, has been left Ivy Democrats
from the Second district. who have dropped
In, regarding the attitude of the II. Il o. Rail.
road IN the contest between Dayton aud
Me6raw. The condition Is now being
watched closely, not solely because OF the
political effect, but because of the business
features as well. No one, unless II be Col.
McGraw, thought about the Railroad ve,.
ting into the contest, bu, this IL seems to
have done. A prominent West Virginia
Democrat from the Second district was in.
terviewed about the matter here, aud admit.
ted the activity OF the legal and political
end OF the railroad agains, Colonel McCraw,
and expressed the opinion that the Railroad
had made great mistake, one they would
repent OF, probably, before the next session
oil the Legislature had adjourned. Said he,
"The Republican machine In Wes, Virginia
is contemplating the passage Of bill
creating railroad commission. They want
a drastic law and a commission they can
eoniroi for business and political purposes. :"
| Governor White, Secretary of State Daw.
son and Fish Commissioner Bowers, have
recently made heavy investments in coal
lands. Senator Elkins owns thousands of
acres. II they have a railroad commission
of their own choosing, they could compel
the u. * o, To put in sidings and carry
their coal, thus aiding them In developing
their vast interests. This measure, coming
from the Repbliean political machine could
not have been passed because the independ.
ent and conservative Republicans, aided by
the Democratic members, could have de.
feated IL, but now that the Railroad has
gone after McGraw, aud is seeking TO re-
elect Dayton. and build up Republican
machine OF their own with Dayton as It's
head, to control the Republican politics of
The State, AS the Pennsy ylvania Road does in
Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware,
you can count on practically every Demo
cratic member OF the Legislature voting for
the Commission when this question come.
up. IL is not unnatural that they should
resen, the attack on McGraw, who has been
leading the Democrats in the State for the
past six years"
Now rs 10 the condition In the district
Not only has Colonel McGraw retired from
the position Of local counsel for the railroad
IN Taylor county, position he has held for
twenty years, but Congressman Dayions
brother'in'law, Ira T.. Robinson, a candi.
date for the State Senate, has been appointed
to succeed him.
Just the steps that led up to this condition
~ W. hh'WU btit, as tUC lndilcf " Dt re-
cent occurrence, but hardly Democrat in
West Virginia that comes to Washington
cannot recall The pressue that was applied
| by John X. Cowen, who was at the head Of
the Is. & o. in 1896, TO make McCrav
desert Bryan. II is told how Coweo sent
for McGmw, aud had him come TO Balh.
more, and when he entered the private
office OF the President Of the Road, he found
other West Virginia Democrats, some Of
them bis personal friends, who had bolted
Bryan how Cowen told McGraw what he
wanted him TO do 4; how McGraw, boiling
over with indignation, told President Cowen
he would no, desert his party and his peo
pie that the little position he held with the
road. "is yours, you can take 1t from me IL
you like, bat you cannot lake away my
manhood. F." CoweD, stung and bsfiled re-
piled that he regretted to know that MeGraw
had $50 degenerated as to make his polIii.
cal bed with the ashheaps Of Texas, and
Mary Ellen Leas; Of Kansas " Mr.. Bond,
the General Attorney Of the Road, who
holds the position under the new manage
ment, is a relic Of the old regime lie was
| Cowen's friend aud law partner, and he has
shared 10 the bitterness Of that episode
towards McGraw, and hss never failed TO
refer 10 McGfaw rs having "desefted the
road" 10 The campaign Of 1896 The polin.
cal inieres, are in the hands Of The General
Attorney under the new management, and
he has taken advantage II his power to at
temp, 10 punish McGraw for standing by
Bryan in 1896. The heads Of the other
departments Of the road, IL Is believed. will
take no interest in oliiics in West Virginia
elsewhere
The question IS naturally asked how will
this break affect Daytons chances for re.
election. Those Democrats in the Second
district, who have been IN town since the
matter leaked oui, expressed the opinion
iha, It Is worth one thousand votes to Nc.
Gfaw, aod assures his election beyond any
question. The road was hostile TO him four
years sgo, when he was a candidate. At
the same time, I've was attacked in the
county districts as a railroad attorney.
The railroad employees Who arc for Nc.
Graw are Of an exceedingly intelligen, and
manly class u people, who cannot be hull.
dozed The outrageous treatment accorded
him hy ibe gfea, corporation will he resented
by hundreds Of people who love fair play.
Then, Il means the sympathy, IL not the
support. Of the Wabash people Who arc
fighting TO get through the district, and with
whom Col MoGrsw and his interests and