Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-01-23
WAS A COMPILE FAILURE
Harmony Conference in Washing
ton Results Unsatisfactory.
FACTIONS ARE WIDE APART
West Virginia Political Leaders Cannot
Agree Upon Any Course Which
Promises to Bring Peace

Washington, Jan. 90. -"Eyery can
didate for himself is the present stu.
alton in the republican senatorial and
gubernatorial campaign in the state of
West Virginia. The harmony meeting
onday and the further conferences
yesterday of the leaders in the con-
test came to naught, and to those in
terested it is regarded as complete
fiasco.
The session was anything but a
harmony meeting; the thermometers
failed to agree upon a plan, and at
the close of the conference each
of the candidates made the open an
nouncement that he is in the cam
paign to be elected or defeated.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
gap between the factions has been
widened, the candidates have no APP
prehension that the state of West Vir-
gina will go democratic. However,
the respective candidates are each
willing to stand the risk of demo-
cratic victory in the hope of gaining
his own election
From an official source it was learned
that the failure of the harmony meet
ing was due to the alleged declination
of sir. w. M. 0. Dawson, present sec
rotary of state of West Virginia, to
carry out his proposition to withdraw
from the gubernatorial contest, con
ditioned on the Withdrawal of Mr.. G.
+. Teter from that race, to give Mr..
j. l.. Caldwell free field for the cam
paign for the governorship. thereby
removing the latter from the senatorial
race and insuring the reelection of
Senator Scott.
The strength of Mr.. Caldwell is re-
cognized by the West Virginia leaders,
q number of whom remained in the
city over today, and it was stated
that Mr.. Scott will have q strong OPP
ponent in him for the senatorial prize.
The parties to the present republi-
can political tangle in West Virginia
came to Washington with the firm
belief that harmony would be restored
by the withdrawal of both Mr.. Teter
and Dawson from the gubernatorial
contest and that Senator Scott would
be reelected and Mr. Caldwell would
have easy sailing to the governors
chair. For the sake of harmony, Mr..
Teter, it is officially learned, came to
Washington to inform Senators Elkins
and Scott and the other members of
the congressional delegation from
West Virginia that he would with
draw from the gubernatorial contest
if Mr.. Dawson would do likewise.
The open session Monday of the
delegations from West Virginia was
productive of no results, and it was
mutually agreed between Mr.. Teter
and Mr. Dawson to place the matter
in the hands of joint committee
representing both of them. Judge
Reese Blizzard, Representative Day
ton and ex-senator Dayis were present
for Mr.. Teter, while Mr., Dawson was
represented by Mr.. w. p Hubbard,
s. 9. Smith and George @. sturgiss.
The committee reviewed the work
of Mondays session, and Mr.. Teter's
representatives announced his with
drawal from the gubernatorial race,
and that it was contingent upon Mr.
Dawson's withdrawal. Mr.. Dawson,
it is said, declined to withdraw. He
explained that after studying the
matter thoroughly and upon the in
sistence of his friends, he could not
consent to getting out of the race.
s He said his utterances on previous oc-
casions had been misunderstood.
1t was suggested that Mr.. Dawson