Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-04-08
AROUND GOFf
Different Factions Turn to the
Judge In Hope Of Beating Elkins.
GAINES NOW BEING GRooMEO
May Enter the List
Against the Senior Senator
From West Virginia.

From West Virginia.
Mole than a week has elapsed since
the rumor started that Judge Nathan
Goff was TO re-enter politics, and il
has attracted waves OF interest sue
ceeding each other in size. The sur
prising thing about the situation is
the extent OF anti-Elkins sentiment
which the Golf report has furnished
the occasion to display. Particularly
is this true of the second congressional
district, which is the place of resi-
dence of the senior senator when he is
at home.
From the Third district comes the
information that Representative
Joseph III. Gaines is being groomed for
the senatorial stakes in competition
with Elkins. From geographical
standpoint Gaines has better arRu-
ment. for Judge Golf is from the First
district. whence comes Senator Scott.
When James Il. Caldwell was trotted
out against Scott he based his claims
on recognition for the Southern Sec
tion," and when be agreed to elimi-
nate himself at one of the many
Washington compromise conferences
was then announced although on
what authority no light was thrown,
that at the conclusion of another
term for Elkins, which would be
eight years hence, the southern Sec
tion" would get onel of the senator
ships.
GAINES AS A HEALING POWER.
That arrangement might find Col
onel Caldwell in the land of the living
at that period and it might not, but
at any rate it was not taken seriously,
regardless of whether the conferees
had the power to elect men and dates.
Consequently Gaines would have the
announcement of the sectional agita-
tion to go ahead. His elevation to
the upper chamber would inspire sup
port among several ambitious repub.
licans in his district who want to
succeed him, and it would heal up the
sores engendered in Gaines last fight
for denomination and election.
Some of the anti -Elkins sentiment
was created by his decisions as CHAIR
man of the republican state conven.
tion In Wheeling last year when he
had to rule between the Dawson and
Teter contrasting delegations. princip-
ally from Kanawha county. When
things looked serious Senator Elkins
had business elsewhere and called
Congressman Gaines to the chair.
Gaines was willing tn rap for order
and rule on some other things. but on
the vital point ne was not. and he
did not until Senator Elkins returned
to the scene of action. If Gaines is
now to get ont after Elkins' shoes
some convention history will be re-
called.
ELKINS WELL ENTRENCHED.
Elklns is so we'll entrenched that it
will take the stiffest kind of a fight to
Dry him away from his third term,
which would give him Is years in the
senate. He has practically all the
state organization and the new state
machine. Governor Dawson has re.
Gently declared his convictions that
Elkins will be returned. Secretary
of State Swisher is one of the chief
Elkips lieutenants and Elliott North
colt, the state chairman, is another.
While the clamor for Golf is mostly
sincere. since he has the undyiDg
affections of great mass of repub.
licau voters. who love him for the
fights he has made when his party was
not in the ascendancy in West Vir-
GINA. there is no doubt that camp
followers who are in the "pincher"
category want to see battle royal
between two millionaires for the
fruits TO follow. Elkins is tie
wealthiest citizen OF West Virginia
and Golf has amassed treasure troye
from his oil holdings. The anti
Elkins following has no leader to
rally around and where the antago-
nism toward Elkins is deep. particu-
Larry where promises have not been
satisfactorily and political wounds
have been caused. it is any man to
beat Elkins SO long as the man meas
ures up.
Joe Games measures up well, with
the exception of the sinews of war.
A brilliant. brainy fellow. congenial
of a fault. money making is not in his
line. Behind him, however, are sub
stantial people and interests with