Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-04-04
MAN Who BEATS DORR IT
Senator Stark Baker Sizes Up
Political Situation.
W. M. O. DAWSON A CANDIDATE
Stand on Tax Bills Has Lifted Him high
in Estimation of the
People.

Wheeling. W. Va, April IL Because
of business activity there is politica.
apathy these DAYS IN West Virginia.
Nearly every politician of promi
nence in the State is interested in {
coal deal of some kind or other. He
has land he wants to sell, option OF
buy. In the. meantime politics is 8
side Issue and the BUSY To-day 81 81
hangs outside his office door.
There is this exception: About two
dozen Republicans have their eye on
Governor Whites shoes. Two dozen
more expect to be ready when the
trumpet sounds, or rather, if the
lightning strikes. but Just now thew
are in the busy class. Along about
next spring somebody will take a broom
and dust pan and after the things are
swept away the remaining eligibles for
the finals promise Il inclnde only
: Messrs. Dawson, Mason and Dorr.
OF course. there is the omnipresent
Senatorial fight. which has been a
morsel for gossip for nearly two years
and which decides two years hence
whether Senator Scott shall succeed
is being smote ON the hip in the ex-
treme northern part of the State and
in his very home by Colonel Henry
Schmulbach and on the thigh in the
southern section bv Colonel James l..
Caldwell.
While the fight is limited to these
three. it is so complex and non-enthus-
ing despite its bitterness and because
of its bitterness that manv sage oracles
declare the next United State Senator
has not yet been named. from which
it NAV be inferred hat a grand mis-
up is due at Charleston which will re,
quire a man on whom all can agree,
or a majority thereof.
A question Of interest is the Cover
nor's probable action on a call for a
special session the coming fall to force
consideration of revenue-producina
measures embodied in the State Tax
Commissions report. which influences
of the corporation succeeded in smoth.
ering.
Governor White first wants to learn
the sentiment of the members of the
State Senate, the body which did the
smothering act. He believes the peo-
pie favor the bills. He knows corpor-
ate interests do not. The Republican
majority is being blamed with the re-
sponsibility. bu5 manv of the State
Senators are telling him it will kill the
party in the State campaign next yeaI
if another session is called because the
tax bills will get it in the neck again
and no good excuse will be available.
inasmueh as Republican Legislators
cloaked under the excuse Mt the winter
session that there was not time foI
their consideration then.
Secretary of State Dawson was the
only member of the State administra-
ton who stood with the Governor on
the tax bills and thereby he put il
several good plugs for his Gubernato
rial aspiration and regalned popular.
itv which nearly every man loses by
holding good offices for a length o.
time. For the people want the Legis
lature to tax the coal, oil and gas cor
porations, the professions, etc. Els
pecially, do the farmers want them
from the standpoint that they Unequal
ly bear the burden of taxation.
Dawson NAV be sized uD truly al
the candidate of the machine. He go
his first fall IN the ~Speakership con.
test last January, but it has not hurt
him as much as predicted. To date
Dawson is the candidate against the
field. He and ex-Congressman Char.
ley Dorr are the only avowed candi
date for Governor, and according to
Senator Stark Bakek. 1.-THE man VIII,
beats Dorr will be Governor. Dor
knows politics as well as Dawson al
though without his prestige is a mix
Si VI Ohe HIsb NdteI anu lHdhS QtSbu
who stick.
Judge John w. Mason, of Fairmon
is being mentioned favorabiv. ant
Dawson and Dorr will have had trou
bles if he enters the LIST. The old lin
Republicans will be for him. and h
possesses the points that fit him, for
splendid harmony candidate. Senate
Charley Swisher of Judge Mason