Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-10-15
DAWSON FACES A DEFEAT
Republicans Losing Hope Of Carry
ing West Virginia.
ROOSEVELT MAY WIN STATE
Speculation as To How Mr.. Davis Win
Run is INDUCED il BY
Piasburg Newspaper.

The muddled political situation IN
West Virginia and the fierce fight be-
ing waged by the democrats and re-
publicans for supremacy in the native
state Of the democratic vice-presi-
Dental nominee have attracted the at
teption of the whole country, and
many and varied are the views OF the
great newspapers concerning the out
come of the battle. A special writer
for the PittsburR Dispatch sums up
the situation as follows
There will be no accurate means Of
discovering how many votes Henry q.
Davis will draw to his ticket in his
own state. This fact will bring dis
appointment to every follower OF
politics in the country, and more es-
pecially in West Virginia. The rela-
tive strength Davis would bring or
would not bring has been variously
defined, running from 500 to 5000
votes, with only the most enthusiastic
of democratic optimisrs running to the
high figure.
The reason that there will be no real
way of getting at the Davis vote is
that the democratic state ticket will
run far ahead Of the democratic ma
tional ticket. This was hardly con-
sidered when Davis was nominated
at St. Louis, but the special session
of the state legislature in July and
August made political history. The
republican national ticket will run ut
least 5000 votes ahead of the republic
can state ticket. This is a oonserva-
tive estimate. Dawson, the republic
can candidate for governor, and all OF
the state campaign managers realize
the situation perfectly.
Local matters are at thu foundation
of the trouble, the feeling growing
out CT the new tax laws that nobody
seems to understand. for which few
are enthusiastic and of which many
are suspicious.
FIGHT FOR STATE ISSUES.
Republicans in every county, but
particularly in the cities, will scratch
Dawson. Some will cut the full state
ticket and some will stick the knife in
the legislative ticket. bnt the main
slashing will be on the head of the
state ticket. The slashers will be ac-
tuated by various reasons. There will
be some of the old Teter fractional
feeling there will be the opopsjtion of
virtually all the bankers in the state,
duo because Governor White called
them tax dodgers, and because of the
tax commissioner powers relating
to banks; oilmen, coal and railroad
interests: anti-reformers and the tax
reform extremists who suspect there
have been secret alliances with COR
porate interests.
1t was to strengthen the state and
Legislative tickets that the conference
was held in Washington last week by
Senators Scott. EIkins. Dawson, State
Chairman Northcott and Senator
Charley Swisher, who expects to sue
coed Dawson as secretary of state.
The plea for about 500. 600 more for the
campaign fund was based entirely on
alarm for the state ticket and the
Legislature. and National Chairman
Cortelvou's hesitancy about advanc-
ing any more than the original $780,
600 contribution is said to be due to
the belief that tho electoral vote of
West Virginia could be reasonably
regarded for Roosevelt, and that
the West Virginia statesman with
axes to grind, could be left TO hustle
for their own water and turn their
own wheels.
TO ASK PITTSBURG FOR FUNDS.
Mr.. Cortelvou was rather prema.
ture. however. in beating West Vir-
ginia into Pittsburg, for contri-
buttons from corporations interested
in republican success because of the
tariff. Pittsburg has been good
harvest ground for West Virginia for
ten years or more. Pittsburg manu-
factures have handsomely alden Con-
gresham Dayton in the Secon dis,
trict, and been generous to West Vir-
gina republicans otherwise. Not
withstapdine Cortelyou's early reap
ing West Virginia leaders believe
there is vet some picking to be done.
aud former Postmaster George Wise
of Wheeling will begin the cleaning
act this week.
Mr.. Wise is the best campaign So
licicitor the republicans have In
Wheeling or in West Virginia. Hav-
lug been in the iron and steel business
himself, and, haying wide acquaint-
ance and a persuasive, forceful de-
meanor. he gathers where others could
not.
Tho r,nuap uuackion ia NOW tha mar