Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-08
DAWSON MAY NOT WIN
Republicans Losing Hope for
Head of State Ticket.
WEST VIRGINIA GOSSIP
ELECTORAL VOTE SEEMS SURE
FOR ROOSEVELT.
The Tax Laws Are Not Generally I'm
derstood and Money is Lacking in
the Republican Camp.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

WHEELING, w. Va, October S.-There
will be no accurate means of finding out in
advance how many votes Henry q. DAVIS
is stronger than his ticket in his own
state. This will bring disappointment TO
every follower of politics in the country
and more especially in West Virginia. The
relative strength Davis would bring or
would not bring has been variously dehned
running from 500 to 5000 votes, with only
the most enthusiastic of democratic optl-
mists running to the high figure, but they
may have been taking the swinging BACK
of the gold democratic vote into account.
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 national ticket. This was
not considered when Davis was nominated
at st. Louis, as the special session of the
state legislature not held until late
in July and early August and that special
session made political history. The republic
can national ticket will run at least 5000
votes ahead of the republican state ticket
This is a most conservative estimate.
Dawson, the republican candidate for gov
ernor, and all the state campaign manas-
ers, realize the situation perfectly.
1t Is not case so much of loving Roose-
welt more as of loving Dawson less Local
matters are at the foundation of the trou-
BILE, growing out of new tax laws that no
body seems to understand, for which few
are enthusiastic and many are suspicious
or are supporting because of confidence in
the dominant party to revise the laws prop
erly If they are to be considered again at
a subsequent session.
Will Cut Republican Ticket.
Republicans In every county, but partic-
ularly in the cities, will scratch Dawson.
Some will cut the full state ticket. and some
will apply the knife to the legislative ticket,
but the main slashing will be on the head
of tho state ticket. The slashers will be
actuated by various reasons There will
be some of the old Teter factional feeling,
the opposition of virtually all the bankers
in the state, on the ground that Governor
White called them taXdodgers, and because
of the tax commissioners powers relating
to banks, oil men, coal and railroad inter
ests, anti-taX reformerS and the tax re-
form extremists. who suspect there have
been secret alliances with corporate inter-
ests, and feeling that Dawson has had
enough office. Some republicans profess to
believe that Dawson and White will get
such grip on the machinery that the OPP
portunltles for young republicans will be
decidedly limited for years to come This
element intimates that back of all the tax
propaganda is something mysterious.
II was TO strengthen the state and legis-
iatlve tickets that the conference was held
In Washington this week by Senators Scott
and Elkins Dawson. State Chairman
Northcott and Senator Charley Swisher
who expects to succeed Dawson as secre-
tary of state. The request for a substan-
tial addition to the campaign fund was
based entirely on alarms as to the state
ticket and the legislature, and National
Chairman Cortelyou's hesitancy about adj
vanclng any more than the original $40, 600
contribution to the state committee is said
to be due to the belief that the electoral
vote of West Virginia could be reasonably
regarded for Roosevelt and that the West
Virginia statesmen, with axes to grind
could be left to hustle for their own water
and turn their own wheels. Mr.. Cortelyou
knows that Senator Scott is much con-
cerned for the Legislature, since it is that
body to which he is looking for reelection.
Seeking Campaign Funds.
Mr.. Cortelyou, it is said. beat the West
Virginians into Pittsburg this year for con-
tributions from corporations interested in
republican success. Pittsburg has been
good harvest ground for West Virginia for
ten years or more. Pittsburg manufactur-
ers, it is declared. have handsomely aided
Representative Dayton in the second dis
trfct and been generous to West Virginia
republicans otherwise. Notwithstanding
Mr.: Cortelyou's early reaping, West vir-
ginia leaders believe there is yet some
money to be obtained there and it Is re-
ported Former Postmaster George Wise Of
Wheeling will begin the cleaning act next
week. Mr. Wise is the best campaign So
licitor the republicans have in Wheeling or
in West Virginia. Having been in the iron
and steel business himself, and having a
wide acquaintance and persuasive, force
full demeanor, he gathers where others
could not.
The money question is now the paramount
issue in West Virginia and the boys who
like to see a little of the needful at election
times want to get in contact with the real
thing, inasmuch as they have been reading
daily of immense contributions from Davis,
Scott, Elkins and unnamed sources The
managers belittle their confident claims of
republican majorites by their declaration
that all is lost unless the money is forth
coming. They show that the legitimate ex-
penses of conducting a campaign on mod
ern, systematic lines takes lot of capital.
The republican, realizing the great inroads
being made in the rural districts by the
democratic tax law circulars and speeches,
have army of stumpers to counterfeit the
effect by explaining what the new laws
mean to the befuddled people of the COM
rionwealth The cost of polling the state,
or getting tax literature and of bands of
music and red fire, of fitting out campaign
marching clubs and a host of other inciden-
tails, uses UP money.
Democrats Very Active.
The democrats have been stirring up
things at remarkable rate on state issues,
but the republicans believe the worst is
over and that they will be able to satisfy
all misgivings as to the tax laws before
election day, through vigorous speaking
and literary campaign The republicans
preferred to discuss the national issues, but
the people want to hear about taxes. The
tax question Is as dry as dust and fails to
provoke enthusiasm for either side, but 1t
fills the school houses, the court houses and
the opera houses.
The tax reform question does not signify
what it did last spring and summer. 1t was
hard enough to understand then, but after
the legislature enacted set of compromise
bills, drafted by republican board of
strategy, the real trouble developed. These
bills were hurried through the legislature
without being clearly understood by all the
members, or rather a large part thereof,
but the expense a prolonged session would
create, making dangerous campaign argu-
ment for the democrats was pointed out by
Senator Elkins, in command of the forces
at Charleston, and the bills were rushed
through, with the exception of one turning
the fees of the secretary of state into the
state treasury and a few minor bills.
The bills are being better understood, and
as their good points are brought out the
republican chances brighten, but SO far as
the effect on the governorship Is concerned