Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-20
A PLETHOR|C PURSE
West Virginia Democrats
Count on Ample Funds.
HOPING FOR SUCCESS
VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
HOLDING BACK.
Cornwell, Head Of Democratic State
Ticket, to Open Campaign in
Mingo County.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star
WHEELING, w. Va, August 20, 1904.
The democrats of West Virginia, 1t Is
claimed, will have this year campaign
fund of proportions to work on for the
first time in twelve years, and thereby
hangs a reason for much of the ginger
they are displaying at this stage. During
two barren uphill campaigns they had
nothing to draw on except traditions, and
from 1894 the republican vote piled up
steadily. The republican campaign fund
in West Virginia has always been ample,
due to it's having been classed by the DEM
ocrats doubtful state and through the
activity of Senators Scott and Elkins.
Eight years ago the democratic state
headquarters three weeks before the cam
paign closed was without a single cent
Not enough money was available, 1t Is
stated, to move the committees mail from
the Charleston post office, and it was
forced to lay there for exactly eight days,
until the financial situation was relieved.
Col. James NJ. Guffey. the leader for the
keystone state democracy, two weeks be-
fore the election came forward with his
personal check for $4,000, and Mafeking
was relieved This is but one of the sew
eral close calls the democrats have expe-
rienced since Bryan put them to the bad
with his silver song for the defectlon or
the influential gold democrats and the GER
tainty of republican success caused former
contributable sources to dry up
Now there is Henry G. Davis just what
he did in the way of financing energy
in 1895 and 1900 is not public property He
must have shelled out, for his interest,
while not so pronounced. publicly as TINS
year, was none the less in evidence. His
brother, Colonel Tom, was the state chair
man and incidentally candidate for Con-
gress against Representative Dayton in the
second district in 1900, so the Davis family
had to be up and doing Without an inner
knowledge, 1t is reasonable to presume that
Henry G. Davis helped to keep the wolf
from the door, but whatever he has fur
nished is not expected to be drop In the
bucket to what is looked for this year.
Democratic Hopes
The democrats generally believe they have
better chance of electing governor than
of carrying the state for the national ticket,
and this is matter of interest upon which
Senator Davis may want to be assured be-
fore he lets go his purse strings. His pride
has been touched and he wants West Vir-
ginias electoral vote. The average run OF
his party is very proud of his nomination.
but the prospect of fat state offices is closer
and more enthusing and consequently the
Henry G. Davis nomination, so far in the
campaign, at least, is looked upon by the
average democrat as a means to the end IN
showing through the state ticket. The
average voter is more concerned in the
state ticket this year because state issues
are paramount.
If Senator Davis is impressed with the
fact that the state ticket is to get the bet
ter of it he may withhold his cash. He
prefers to see his own name attracting the
greater number of votes, rather than have
John ]. Cornwell, the partys candidate
for governor, in the lead. 1t is conceded
to be perfectly natural he should feel that
f<v- fbn,- han
that the country came to West Virginia
for Parkers running mate, not to speak OF
what he is expected to do in the way or
golden help. The situation in West VII,
ginia is imperSonal, however. 1t would
have been just right to the democrats had
not the ST. Louis convention in advance
named for Vice President the man they
had determined to run for governor In
that event Mr. Davis personality would
have come much closer home, and would
not have been handicapped
Speculation as to Figures.
There is much speculation as to the size
of the check Mr.. Davis will write, like
wise whether he will specify whether it is
to be used for the whole ticket or for par
ticular pressure for the heads of the ma
tional or state tickets. Nothing seems TO
be assured yet. At the Parkersburg con-
yention Mr.. Davis was quoted by those
who visited his room as expressing Will
ingness to turn over $4,000 or $oO,0oO Tor
the state ticket alone. From washington,
New York and other more or less remote
points come tales every few days OF wnat
Davis has agreed to contribute, the amount
running from $200O0O to $2,OOO,0Oo Tor the
national fund Men who have worked Tor
Mr. Davis his West Virginia Centfa!
railroad and his other enterprises VIII zen
you Russell Sage never sat on strong
box with more patience than has Mr. Da-
Wis, and that no cash will get away from
him before he knows the whenceness ana
the whyness.
From the White Sulphur Springs notifica-
ton there came the information that noth-
ing was done tangibly relative to natlonai
campaign PLANS there. From the same anne
place came the news that CornWeH VIII
open his governorship campaign August 81
at the modest little town of Williamson
In Mingo county. simultaneously there
came some thing about the Indebtedness
towering over White Sulphur. When Henry
G. Davis finally dsposes of the fund ques-
ton, states the amount and puts Gown
his signature, the ball will open In west
Virginia with a great flourish of trumpets
Notwithstanding the claims of republican
politicians about safe majorities the demo-
Gratis will wade In with vim and optimism.
providing the way is decked a nttle Win
roses They have had hard time OF II
for so long period that they are just
dead crazy to show Uncle Henry what
they can do-with encouragement Ihey 1ul-
ly believe they are going to carry the ssa.e
for Parker and Davis: at least they afect
to believe ii. They are almost Wiling 10
bet they are going to beat Dawson for
governor On the latter proposition they
rely on the support of hundreds and hum
dreds" of republicans who they say. Intend
to put the knife to Dawson The most
prominent republican who will vote for
Cornwell Is ex-senator Nelson E. Whitaker
of Wheeling, a millionaire iron manufactur-
er, former president of the state senate
and one of the best-known republicans In
West Virginia. He Is open and above
board for Cornwell.
The Two Leading Candidates.
Cornwell. who is a young man of
frank and engaging personality, will stump
the state from stem to stern. Dawson,
who has always depended on committee
room conferences and organiza tons for get
ting out the vote, has generally avoided
meeting the people direct. His success po-
utcally has given him the name of the
Matt Quay Of West Virginia, but he has a
hard proposition ahead. His previous state
offices were by appointment of Cows. Atkin-
son and White. Dawson has been ably
aided in securing his nomination by Gov.
White, and Whites activity has since