Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-10
LINES FORMING EARLY
CONTEST IN WEST VIRGINIA SEN
AroRIAL DISTRICTS BEGUN.
United States Senatcrship in Balance,
With Mr.. Elkins as Only Known
Candidate.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

cpeCldl Correspondence u Aue ctuEs
WHEELING, w. Va, September .. 1905.
Lines are being formed already for the
fifteen seats in the West Virginia state SEN
ate which will be filled next year. Not
since West Virginia became a state has ac-
tivIty been displayed SO early, and this de-
| velopment Is due largely to the fact that
a United States senator is to be chosen
and largely also to the pressing interest in
the composition of the body that shapes
state legislation, for state issues are at
tracing more attention than ever.
Three men are already in the field for the
republican nomination in the Wheeling dis
| trict, and there will be at least two more.
The trio includes c. H. Watkins, the dis
| tricts member of the state executive COM
mittee; S. G. Smith and Robert Hazlett,
| both of whom have served in the house OF
delegates. Capt. William Otto and DR.. q.
A Aschman are prospectives who are very
likely to become certainties. Capt Otto
has long been a leader in the republican
city organization, and DR.. Aschman, who is
a member Of one of the state institution
boards, was for three days a candidate for
the senatorial nomination three years ago,
being the especial pick of United States
Senator Scott
May Enter the Race.
Owing to a late ruling by Attorney Cen
eral May. DR.. Aschman will be unable to
serve state board and in the legis-
lature, but there is nothing to prevent his
being candidate in the meantime. His
brief candidacy three years ago was not Of
his making. His name was put on the
primary ticket and h assessment was paid
at the eleventh hour to insure an out-and-
out Scott man, but those who put him on
got him to withdraw two days before the
primary, to guard against the nomination
of Jacob Snyder, who was backed by Henry
Schmulbach the millionaire brewer, who
then had designs on Scotts seat in Wash
ington. But Snyder beat s. G. Smith, the
remaining candidate, and later gave
Schmulbach what Alice has given Addicks.
Senator Scott will not exert an active in
fiuence in picking the nominee this time.
and If he shows personal interest 1t will
probably be divided between Hazlett and
Aschman. If the Schmulbach following get
active in order to reward an affiliated MEM
Der. the support of their local machinery
will be thrown to Otto, who will conse-
quently be formidable factor, particularly
with the large field The Gov. Dawson in
fluences by right ought to be for Smith.
This element is not apparently tangible
quantity in Wheeling at this time, but may
develop later and Watkins may lay claim
to its support for like Smith, he has been
a stanch supporter of the tax reform
movement.
Local Interests Involved.
In the battledore and shuttlecock of
United States senatorships the Wheeling
district, which embraces the northern pam
handle counties of Ohio Brooke and Han
cock has not been properly represented on
local questions for some years in the up
per branch of the legislature. The new
city charter, desired and voted for by
majority of Wheeling citizens. has failed OF
passage because Of this reason, and the
people are manifesting restlessness
against the selection of a state senator
this time simply because he is supposed to
stand right on the United States senator
ship. The absence of any known opposi-
ton to Senator Elkins' reelection is con-
sequently pleasing even to those who are
not cordial to the senator's return. since
this feature will be removed and a state
senator may be picked for more lasting
reasons.
mated himself from consideration by an
other denial of aspirations for other prefer
ment He fatty declared he was not
candidate for President, for chief justice
Of the Supreme Court, for United States
senator. He also denied that he intended
to resign from his present position In the
near future. which had been frequently
and persistently rumored. He ampliied
his statement by saying he would not ac-
cept the presidency or place on the Su-
preme Court bench. and pointed out that
he had been consulted by President Nc
Kiney regarding the high jud cial place
referred to, and that he turned "a deaf
ear to II.
Friends Still Not Convinced.
But, unfortunately, Judge Golf f1s not
satisfied certain of his warrnest admirers,
who are incidentally anti-Elkins men. He
did not state that he would not accept the
senatorship if It We're handed to him by
that. but his omission has served as a
straw to which his boomers cling, and I'M
less he makes one more statement the
Goff men will not die until they reach the
last ditch. They will keep up Their chorus,
but in tones weakened by his latest decla-
ration, which is conclusive enough to many
others who would willingly have turned
to him had he expressed a willingness to
try for the Senate. He can be set down at
last as out of the liabilities.
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