Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-16
DEMOCRATS DIVIDED
The Tax Reform Issue in
West Virginia.
PARTY In A QUANDARY
AT SEA REGARDING NOMINATION
FOR GOVERNOR.
Their Candidate for Vice President
Hopes to Garry State-Repubu-
cans Aroused.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
GRAFTON. w. Va, July 16.-The demo-
Gratis Of West Virginia are not just now in
q harmonious condition. They believed the
quarrel among the republicans would work
to their good, and in their zeal to profit by
the dissensions in the camp Of the enemy,
neglected to note that they are in pretty
much the same divided condition on the tax
reform issue. Their candidate for vice presi-
dent has large investments in mines and
has his money scattered about in various
enterprises. He is capitalist and has stock
in railroads. He will dominate his party In
the present campaign. and the democrats
are accordingly up against a peculiar propo-
sftion. Many democrats affixed their sigma
lures to the paper which aroused so much
contention In the republican ranks and
there was much democratic dscord in con-
sequence.
Now they confronted with the same
complex state of affairs as that which both
cred their neghbors. Their state convention
is to be held at Parkersburg August g.
II that convention nOminates a man for
governor who is opposed to tax reform the
campaign lines will be closely drawn 1t
fs not likely with Senator Davis to boss
the job that candidate will be named who
is in favor Of the reform. but it is believed
an effort will be made to straddle the issue
With the harmonious ending of the Wheel
ing convention straddle by the demo-
Gratis at Parkersburg will benefit the re-
pubicanS
Possible Candidates
There are several gentlemen sin the
hands of their friends who may be in the
running at Parkersburg.. The availability
Of each Is being canvassed. Senator Davis
wanted C. Wood Daily, a prominent attor-
ney of the eastern part of the state. nomi
mated, but Mr.. Daily declined. Mr.. Owen
9. Mckinney Of Fairmont, who ran for
Congress against Representative Dovener
two years ago, has also been mentioned
but Mr.. Mckinney was one of the twenty
eight who signed the paper protesting
against the method of tax reform, which
the republicans afterward Is therefore not
regarded as safe and sane"
There are others in the background, but
1t may be said with confidence that the
democratic party is at sea far their
chief state candidate is concerned, and the
leaders are not so cocksure of carrying the
state. The man most likely to win the
nomination, according to present indica-
tions, is John w. Davis of Clarksburg.
young lawyer who has made a record
member of the Legislature He has not
been so closely identified with any of the
various isms as to be Objectionable on that
score but he has the disadvantage of be-
ing young in the management of politics
we'll as young in years. He Is not re-
lated to the vice presidential nominee al
though DearlnS tne Same ndIlo. Ills Ia
ther, John ]. Davis, once represented the
first West Virginia district in Congress.
Senator Davis is making every prepara-
ton for an ovation after the ballots are
counted in November. He believes he can
carry the state Since he could always
heretofore command some republican sup
port as candidate he believes the condi-
tions are favorable this year for landslide
in his direction. The republicans declare he
will be disappointed.
Mr.. Davis was never elected without the
aid of republicans, but in each instance.
when he was chosen senator, it is declared
here, it was a of the minority party
voting for the least Objectionable democrat
Now that the republicans are in control the
complimentary" feature of the situation
as we'll as the choosing of the st of two
evils has been eliminated.
A Vigorous Campaign.
Senator Davis will have the campaign car
ried with vigor into every section of the
state. He has the promised aid of Senator
German, William Jennings Bryan, Bourke
Cochran Adlai Stephenson. David B. Hill
and other equally distinguished speakers
and he will spend a mint of money. 1t is
said his first check will be for 100000
scrutiny Of the vote of the state at
the last election reveals the basis of Mr..
Davis hope. The republican ajority was
about ten per cent of the total vote cast
Then the issue was Bryan against McKin-
ley, WIN ali tnat II Implied. Mr.. Davis be-
lieves he can win back every gold dem
ocrat to his support, forgetting that in do
ing 20 he Is liable to lose a large percent
age Of the old silver element. Neverthe-
less, he reasons that a change OF little
more than five per cent Of the republican
ma ajority for Mckinley will carry the state
for the democrats.
On the other hand the republicans, who
have come to their sober senses, realize
that to lose the state now will mean to
be in the minority for at least twenty
years, If not longer. The carrying of the
state for Parker and Davis would in all
probability mean to the republicans the
loss Of the state ticket and the legislature.
Restriction of Suffrage.
With the democrats in control. an
other radical changes would be made A
law similar to that in Maryland and other
state where the democrats dominate
would be enacted. depriving the colored
people of suffrage. There are from 1900
to 1900 colored voters in the state, all of
whom will this year vote the republican
ticket. Without these votes the republican
majority of four years ago is dwarfed to
1900 or 5000, and that in an exciting cam
paign, with a possible loss in other direc-
tions. would put the republicans in a very
uncomfortable position. They know this
and therefore whatever can be done to
stem the tide of compliments to Mr.
Davis will be done. There seems to be no
doubt of the election of all the republican
candidates for Congress. A landslide would
defeat them, but there seems now to be no
fear of landslide.
The campaign will be hot one