Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-06-21
POLITICAL SITUATION
Present Contest is Very Warm
but Only Preliminary.
REAL FIGHT IN YEAR 1904
Senator Scott Has All the Best Of the Contest
in the Several Senatorial Districts
Nine Out Of Fifteen Districts.

Nine Out Of Fifteen Districts.
Tho hottest political contest ever
waged In West Virginia in an off
wear is now on IN the Republican
PARTY. The contest. which Is onlv
preliminary to the real fight in 1904, q
ever the selection of a successor to
| United States Senator N. B Scott,
whose term expires March a, 1905. AT
present the fight is the field against
Scott. with the odds in Scott's favor.
The West Virginia Legislature is
composed of ll6 MEMBERSHIP senators
and Sc delegates. Halt of the senators
and all the delegates are selected
every two wears. There is strong
probability that the legislature for
years to come will, ON Joint ballot. be
strongly Republican, SO that Senator
Scott S successor will be a Republi-
can. The sen ltorial districts were
r~e-arranged at the last session of the
legislature. and under this re-disttict-
ing fourteen senators will be elected
this year. who will serve for four
wears. The other 102 members who
will vote for Senator Scott, S success.
or will be elected in 1904 This
year the Ninth Senatorial 4 district
has two hoId-over Senators, hence
meme will be elected until 1904,
when two will be chosen from that
district. Of the remaining fourteen
districts, two-the Tenth and the Fiji
teenth-are normally Democratic, and
the other twelve, as well as the Ninth
normally Republican.
In the First district. SNYDER. of
Ohio countv. will unquestionably be
nominated and instructed for Scott.
Ohio county, which controls the con
yentlon, held a primary June Z, and
of the g.. 500 votes cast Senator Scott
received nin%e-elevenths of the whole
to two-elevenths for the senatorial
aspIrants
In the Second the convention was
held on June =. The candidates were
Meighen. of Marshall, unpledged
Gregory, of TYLER, for Scott. ani
C%arrigan. of Marshall, unpledged.
On the twenty first ballet Corrigan
was nominated and instructed for
Scott
RUPTURE IN THE THIRD.
In the Third the convention was
held on June o. A contrasting delega-
ton from Richie county brought on
q rupture The executive senatorial
committee seated the Scott delegation.
and Rltchle, Peasants and Writ nom.
mated Murphy and Brown. IL OF
whom will serve for two wears ans
the other for four wears. if elected.
ia. Wood county and the Caldwell del
egaticn from Richie held in the
same hail another convention and
nominated q. 7. Caldwell, of Wood,
for the long term, and Smith. of Kit.
chic. for the short. Caldwell is q
brother of j. l.. Caldwell, the candi-
date for United States senator. This
district is IN dispute with the exeGu,
tive committee aid the party organi.
zation recognizing the Scott nomi-
nees.
The Fourth district convention has
not been held. The indications point
forcibly to the nomination of Darst,
of Jackson. who is unpledged. and
his instructions are for Scott, whose
friends seem to control the district.
The Fifth. which is Mr.. Caldwell's
home. district, Will hold her conven'
tion on June 10. Northcott, of Cabell.
will be nominated and instructed fol
Cald we'll.