Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-10
CAMPAIGN OUTLINED
Plans of West Virginia Dem
ocrats Divulged.
THE LEADERS CONFER
SENATOR DAVIS TO OPPOSE THE
STATE TAX BILLS.
i -
Venerable Candidate for Vice President
Internationally Discloses His
Purpose-Republican Activity.
THE LEADERS CONFER
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
WHEELING. W. Va. September o, 1904
Henry G. Davis and the captains of the
far-fiung line of the democracy have de-
cided on plans for wrestling West Virginia
from republican control incidentally, the
venerable vice presidential nominee will
stump the state, and the campaign to be
waged will be comparatively brief but will
be warm and quiet, according to the spots,
but vigorous to the finish.
This much was decided on at conferences
held In Wheeling this week. participated
In by Senator Davis, John ]. Cornwell, the
candidate for governor: John T. McGraw
chairman of the state executive committee
owen s. Mckinney, chairman of the state
central committee; Candidate for Congress
j. Wesley Barnes of Fairmont and Stewart
walker of Martinsburg candidate for Con-
gress, besides candidates for state offices
and prominent democrats generally who
came to Wheeling for the state fair and its
DAVIS feature, and were given the open
sesame to the committee room
The leaders pooh pOohed the idea that
they have been slow in organizing. I'VE
don't bag cartridges with brass bands, -
explained Chairman Mckinney. You
must t1rst get the elements together ex-
planned Chairman McGraw.
There was much comforting, but nothing
accomplished more tangible than a deci-
sion 10 locate state headquarters in Wheel
ing and open the ball in this city Septem-
Der 20. with an advanco thenceforth all
along the line. There are details to be ar
ranged In the matter of dates and speak
ers not to speak of county organiza tions
TO be formed 1t is understood the eager
ness of West Virginia democrats TO begin
Is handicapped by the desire on the part
OF the national managers in New York.
Messrs. Taggart. Sneehan ct al to with
hold the spellbndfng feature until Oc-
tober 1.
Prominent Spellbinders Desired.
For the opening of the campaign in West
Virginia in Wheeling, two weeks from
tuesday, speakers of national renown are
desired. Col. McGraw, who is also ma
uonal committeeman. has some ENCOURAGE
meht through message to the effect that
either Bourke Cochran or Charles A
Iowne VIII be forthcoming. but he has not
a definite promise. This Is In line with the
policy said to have been adopted which
calls for no speechmaking until late in the
campaign. There was exception made in
.ne case or Vermont where Mr.. Cockran's
talents were employed. Mr. Cockran's Of
Tort VIII doubtless be appreciated in
y" heel1ng because CT the fact that he last
spoke here In the interest of Palmer and
Buckner. ~
Senator Davis will make his first cam
paign speech at the Wheeling .balI-onen
er- The day following September 81 he
and Cornwell. and Towne or Cochran and
lne local supporting talent will address the
multitude at Petersburg and Santemher
y Huntington Is to be visited suisse
quent engagements have not vet been nro
vided for Marching clubs are promised
out tney Will have to hustle the work of
organization. for outside of that old stan6-
by. the Young Mens Democratic Club of
w heeling the marching aggregations are
DEBATED this year. This condition is true
also or the republicans.
National Issues Ignored.
The lines which the democratic stumpers
Will follow in West Virginia will consist of
little or no discussion OF national issues.
Appeal Will be made to state pride to SUM-
port Henry G. Davis. There will be pen
pictures of Roosevelt and Parker. and
Parker will be held up as the safe and
sane man the country should choose.
ms and nothing more.
The hammering will be made on tba +ax.
tlon policy which the republicans in West
virginia. or the dominant faction thereof
stand Tor. or are supposed to stand for
e1r; lawson Will be given much attention
ana the part he has played in the tax con-
uoversy will be calculated, undoubtedly
TO the delight of the galleries The ora tors
OF the democracy will aver that Dawson
mas played many parts and they seem
hopeful of getting recruits for their stand
ard-bearer, John Cornwen the young
Knight of Hampshire" from both the ex-
trenlsts in the tax controversy. This an
uclpatlon Is born of the developments at
the special session of the legislature.
Promises Sensation.
Senator Davis, If he speaks at all on po-
litical issues, will devote most of his at
tention to state affairs, and already the
cat has been let out of the bag that he
intends to denounce the taxation bills
enacted at the midsummer session of the
legislature This fact is the biggest
development in the state campaign.
IL has all along been a favorite
argument with the republicans that Davis
could not consistently support CornwelI. in
asmuch as Cornwell's attitude in the state
senate was construed unfavorable to the
bills drafted by the state tax commission
non-partfsan body of which Davis was a
distinguished member. AT the regular ses-
sion OF the legislature the senate voted
against considering the commissions rec
concentrations, but at the special session
Cornweu voted for consideration of the
commissions bills against the compro-
mise measures drafted by committee of
republican leaders
Wednesday afternoon of this week Sena-
tor Davis made a sort of informal talk at
the Wheeling fair on the delights Of agricul-
ture and the blessings of being born on q
farm. He spoke without notes, but he
brought some notes along with him. Some
VI memoranda uedlC with the taxes
heaped on the farmers back by the red
hand of war; the fact that Washington en-
ulated Cincinnatus and returned from the
army to the pillow; the additional fact that
the speaker had been sent to Washington
city to represent his state. and that he
didn't mind telling his hearers he wouldn't
mind being sent there in November; that
he had always been interested in farming,
and hoped to be for many years to come.
The veteran leader will be eighty-one years
old fifteen DAYS after the NOyembar cleo
ton.
A "Dead Give-Away."
But where the cat got out of the bag was
in the unfortunate bunch Of memoranda
Senator Davis private secretary kindly
turned over the notes of his fair speech to
a reporter for local evening paper and In
advertently handed a slip containing a
paragraph which stated that the tax COM
mission bills had been designed to relieve
the farmer, but that the bills passed by the
summer institute" at Charleston increased
the farmers taxes. This paragraph which
was intended for future delivery, was
printed and 1t cause unkind comment from
republicans who did not hear the real
speech to the farmers, because this talk
was to be purely non-political, and 1t was
strictly such.
The senator gives a characteristic smile
when twitted about 1t and repeats that he
absolutely declines to discuss politics until
Judge Parkers speech of acceptance Is pub
lie property. The miXup in his notes. how
ever, reveals the interesting conclusion that
Henry G.. Davis has brushed away the man