Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-29
WH|R[ W|NBCAh|P AlGN
Closing HoRrs ola Memorable
Contest
N WEST VTRGIN1A
PROSPECTS FOR RETURN OF FIVE
REPUBLICANS TO CONGRESS.
Hard Fight in Second and Third Dis
tricts-Fifth District Also Shows
Great Activity.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
WHEELING. W.. Va. October 29-The
candidates for Congress in West Virginia
have been sidetracked in the whirlwind
campaign on state issues, and In only two
districts are they able to make any sort
Of fuss. At one time the candidate for
Congress was an object of curiosity, a
congressman something to marvel at and
draw crowds. but this year they get very
little consideration, owing to the greater
attractions.
The five republican representatives from
this state will be returned. Joseph H.
Gaines in the third district and A. G. Day
In the second have hard fights on hand,
and their contests are interIinked with state
issues. In Gaines" district the negro ques-
ton has bobbed up, and by a peculiar turn
Gaines and his democratic rival, Henry B.
Davenport of Clay county. are opposed by
negro voters. The colored men in Fayette
and Kanawha counties are mad at Gaines,
1t is said. because of his vote on the Dancey
election contest in the House of Repre-
sentatives. Davenport has unfurled the
white mans party. banner.
Davenport Is not" swinging the banner
around extensively in the black belts. but
makes this play in. other sections of the
district. Davenport will be aided by the
Edwards faction of republicans, which was
not satisfied with the national committees
decision IN the Gaines-Edwards contest, but
the Gaines managers limit their strength
to 500 votes. This, however is a low es-
innate for the ten counties. and there are
many reasons for believing Gaines will lose
l,UO votes in kanawha alone and several
hundred in Fayette. The counties COM
posing the district in 1900 gave a republican
plurality of $50 and Industrial develop
ment mas increased the general party
strength.
The Vote Two Years Ago.
Two years ago Gaines had plurality of
1853. That was an off year, and there
were no state contests to bring out a large
vote. Gaines was opposed by ]. H. Miller
OF the states representation in Congress
Joe Gaines is regarded as the most bril-
liant and lovable. and Incidence is said to
be his chief crime. Answering letters is
task he has not CULTIVATED, and constitu-
ents writing for garden seeds have never
forgiven him his lack of attention. His
failing is so bad that letters and messages
from his congressional chairman also fell
by the wayside. All of this was truer in
the past than recently; for the fight Ed
wards put up for the nomination inspired
Gaines to get a move on-and lately he mas
been moving pretty fast If he keeps up
the gait he should win.
The Fight in Second District.
Over in the second district Dayton is OPP
posed by Stewart l.. Walker of Martins
burg, an orator of note, a good campaigner,
who has the smallest. republican majority
in the state tos cope with and who has
also the founts of republican factionalism
to draw from. But in Dayton he has the
best fighter in the state.to deal with, Be-i
girtpig with his contest with the late Will
lam L. Wilson, Dayton, has never had an
easy victory. and bitterness has always
accompanied his nomination. At the be-
ginning of Campaign Dayton is heralded
as a beaten man, but the returns always
show up differently. State tax reform has
no more place in a. congressional contest
than the Shakespeare-Bacono controversy,
but 1t Is the issue on which the battle is
being fought out. Dayton was one of the
four republicans who drafted the compro-
mise tax bills passed by the legislature
at its midsummer session, and he was the
leader IN the onslaught on the original tax
commissions report He has to defend his
position, and 1t is his position on this ques-
ton that Walker attacks.
Two years ago Dayton had his closest
shave with John I. McGraw, who had tried
to take his measure previously in another
off-year; and while conditions are different
this year. the presidential campaign will
help Dayton to some extent, notwithstand-
ing Henry G.: Davis ffves in his district and
that John ]. CornwelI, the, candidate for
governor, IS also one of Daytons con-
StituentS. -..-
Mr.. Davis the candidate for Vice Presi-
dent, is looking after his own fight. Corn
well after his and Walker must go it alone
Between Walkers campaign manager. A.
j. Wilkinson. and John T. McGraw who is
managing the state campaign, no love has
been lost since Wilkinson failed to connect
with the nomination for secretary of state
at the Parkersburg convention. McGraw is
not wasting his oratory for candidates for
Congress and David Il. Hill is the only
imported talent of all the spellbinders who
has ever mentioned anything about Con-
gress.
The second district includes several dem
ocratic leaders who concede Walker has a
good fighting chance, without expressing
particular concern whether he makes it.
The democratic energy is about all direct
ed to carrying the legislature and the state
ticket, chiefly the governor. Walker will
make a good race, but reports do not indi-
cate he will win. and 500 majority for
Dayton may be looked for.
The Other Districts.
OF the other districts Dovener has the
easiest road, in the first. which will give
him 1000 majority His managers put it
higher. Two years ago he had 3O40 over
O. S. Mckinney. -Four years ago the coun-
ties composing the district, which had not
then been redistricted, gave congressional
majority of 1904. Dovener's opponent is
j. Walter Barnes, who. is active, but real
ICES the situation. Both he and Doyener
have to play second fiddle at the party
rallies, the tax debaters having fun sweep,
even though they be college fiedglings who
have just perused the laws, and frequently
Dovener and Barnes. can barely squeeze in
to "go back totthe dafK days" or equal
opportunities f6T all Snd special privileges
to none" -
Harry woodyatd rass5 5000 majority at
his back in the fourth district, and Allan c.
Murdoch, the .,mayprpf Parkersburg, in
front Murdoch Is making an Independent
campaign. letting the tax matter and other
public Observation-Disclosures more or less and
is depending Oh personal efforts in other
directions woodward does not pose as
profound statesafan,' but he is something of
that will cross g. field ito do you a favor.
He has the genjality of Gaines and a good
bit Of the Doveneg tactt. without the Dayton
pugnacity. Like Dovensr; he uses the Ohio
men in the river counties feel that the