Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-01
CAMPAIGN VIDE Open
West Virginia Fight More
Vigorous Than Ever.
THE STATE ISSUES
REPUBLICAN oPTIMIsTs CLAIM
STATE By 10000.
Believed That Managers Will Not Be
Disappointed if Majority
Falls to 10000.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

WHEELING, w. Va, October 1.-The re-
publican state campaign was opened in
| Wheeling this week, and thereby develops
an interesting feature, not to speak of the
countless campaign openings" this year.
The Wheeling meeting had Governor White
as the republican exponent of the tax con-
| troversy and the meeting was virtually
called over the heads of the state committee
| by those actively in charge of the local
campaign, who bucked on waiting until
the Taft speech, October 10. They wanted
to overcome any effects resulting from the
Davis-Towne- McGraw meeting here a week
or so ago. In response to their pleas the
| national committee provided Judge Frank
b. VrOoman of California and Governor
White was induced to come and explain
what the tax enactments mean.
The Wheeling leaders, as stated, were not
| content to abide by the regular program
| under which they were not to have a speak
er or an important meeting until Secretary
of War Taft came to town. With the demo-
| Gratis holding nightly meetings in each
magisterial district they felt it was ncum-
bent to be up and doing right away. Of
| course If Henry G. Davis had kept away
and there had been less activity at the dem
| ocratic state headquarters, in this city,
| the Withholding of the Wheeling opening
! until later in this month might have salts
fed local anXieties
While there are thunderous proclamation
| about the issues the absorbing topic is
state tax legislation In West Virginia which
has the effect of putting Roosevelt and
| Davis in the background. 1t is Davis the
| democrats speak of and not Parker, and in
certain communities the impression could
easily be gained that the veteran head of
the democracy in this state is running for
| first place. The issues in West Virginia
are being centered down to Dawson and
McGraW The democrats are attacking
| Dawson all along the line as a fake tax
reformer The republicans have begun to
fre on McGraw. They hold him up as the
| democratic dictator, who is bent on one
man power, and declare his grip of the or
ganlzatlon is merely and purely to satisfy
the ambition of his life to get legislature
| mat VIII send him to the United States
4 senate. There is much buncombe on both
sides >.
Senator Elkins Becomes More Active.
Senator Elkins, who has been keeping
out OF the muss to some extent, is getting
into the ring, and this weeK participated in
conferences at Charleston, Parkersburg
ana other points He met with members
| of the state committee and candidates on
the state ticket and gave assurances that
ms loyalty is lively and cordial 1t is
reaHzed that the candidacy of his father
in-iaw Is naturally embarrassing to him.
but none doubt that he will be the same
potential figure in behalf of republican
success as he has hitherto been, although
the peculiar family complications may
His father-in-law is authority for the
statement that his daughter, Mrs Elkins
is democrat this year 1t is also ayerred
that Senator Elkins three sons-Stephen
Blaine and Davis-will honor their grand
father by voting for the democratic elect
ors. For that no criticism is heard, and in
tact, 1t must be confessed there are repub-
Iicans who glory in their SUNK" and rec
ognize their right to family pride Tales
are told of a mountaineer here and there
VINO IS going to scratch Fairbanks and vote
Tor DAVIS ana there may be number of
votes lost this way, through the innocence
Of the voters regarding the manner of
voting for electors.
The campaign becomes more acute daily.
ana 1t can be said that the prospects of a
big Roosevelt plurality get to be more def
mite as the campaign progresses. The poll
taken by the republican state committee
insures belief that Roosevelt will carry
the state by 10000 Among first voters the
tendency is to the republicans This has
Deen indicated in families of which the
head has been gold democrat. On the
basis of the five congressional districts
such a plurality for Roosevelt does not
seem likely. The most optimistic republic
can will not claim an average of 5000 for
each congressman. Local reasons will
make the republican congressional candi-
dates in at least three districts run below
Roosevelt, consequently the republican DOLL
| is more theory than a condition.
Satisfied With 10000.
Republicans will be satisfied If Roosevelt
carries the state by 10000, which claim
seems, at this stage, to be both reasonable
| and sensible. Four years ago Mckinley
had q GOO and eight years ago II 600, but
on both occasions he was aided by the
gold democrats. Four years ago the demo-
cratic organization was merely a name
while this year it is about as aggressive
and lively as the most fastidious could de-
sire. The republicans think the increase
OF industrial development will swell their
totals, but, on the other hand, this increase
seems to be magnified and dissensions in
various localities deprive the party of the
enthusiasm and aid which were such SUBJ
stantial factors eight yeaeseago, and four
years later when thesenemy hardly offered
arguments.
Republicans who talk of big Roosevelt
plurality say 1t would be 10000 without the
tax issue. They eoncede Dawson will run
this score and the fact that the democrats
firmly believe West Virginia will not
give Roosevelt over 5000, If he carries it
| at all, makes the fight for the state ticket,
or rather for governor, stand out supreme.
This fight has got to surh a point that
tariff and other forms of literature have
been put on the shelf and both parties are
circulating tax literature by the carload
The democrats have been industriously cir
culating this matter for weeks and the re-
do likewise. sE
AS was to be expected. after the tax re-
form session of the Legislature smothered
the bill turning over toSthe state treasury
the statutory attorney fees received from
foreign corporations Chartered in West Vir-
gini3 Dawsons interest in this matter is
being vigorously ae5tated He is serving
his eighth year as Secretary of state. and
even If elected governor he will for years
to come receive these fees, being SO a.
year for each corporations The bill to turn
these fees into the treasury was. one OF the
tax revision measures. How 1t met it's
death will doubtless be explained some time
| to an anxious commonwealth. :
After Standard Oil Company.
! According to reports from New York
| Senator; Scott is going to make the Stand
! ard Oil Company show its hand relative to
| the rumor that It suspended its operations
| in West Virginia and would ship its en-
ployes to the Kansas fields so as to en-
barrass the republican situation in West
| Virginia. The senator may have bearded
| the octopus. but the results have not been