Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-07-29
BLIZZARD TO ENTER RACE
Is Being Groomed to Oppose
flkins For Reelection.
HOW HIS POPULARITY GREW
Is an Earnest Advocate of Strenuous
Political Life Echo of Recent
Republican Meeting. 4

Republican Meeting. 81
Anent the recent meeting of num-
Der of prominent West Virginia re-
politicians st, Sulphur Springs asfew
days ago. special dispatch from
Wheeling has. the following 20 say
That faction of the republican party
which so earnestly desires to defeat
Senator Elkius for reelection to the
upper house of congress has discovered
a new possible candidate for the posi-
tion. Reese Blizzard. who is at
present United States attorney for tue
northern district Of West Virginia, is
the man. And that anti Elkins aud
anti Dawson crowd is quietly, but
diligently, working to arouse enthu-
siasm for him.
Judge Blizzard, for he is still known
by the title held while circuit
judge. is the recognized leader of the
Teter faction of the party. He is its
chief cou selor and. when need be,
it's chief fighter in battle. He led
the Teter hosts In the famous Terra
pin Park mass convention for the DEL
egates to the state convention at Pirk-
ersburg one hot summer day last year,
and he was a veritable blizzard. 10
the roughhouse ceremonies that were
necessary. For hours the Dawson
and Teter delegates struggled for the
mastery Of the floor, and. although.
Blizzard was hurled from the stage
into the orchestra section and had his
ankle spraiped, he had the satisfaction
Of finally routinR'the Dawson crowd
from the hall and his delegates getting
the credentials that were finally ac-
cested.
BECAME POPULAR IDOL, r
< His first prominent feat Was when.
he was a circuit judge in Calhoun
county. A mob clamored for a muir
derer, and the judge made a ringing
speech TO the angry men, promising
swift justice. He was true to his
word. The prisoner was tried with
the greatest celebrity possible and duly
hanged according to law. Judge
Blizzard prevented barbaric lynch
ing on that occasion, and when he ad-
journed court on another occasion to
take in horse race. for he is lover
of good horse flesh, he became a more
popular idol.
10 70
Scott during Scott's first contest and
received one vote in the republican
caucus. He and Scott have been
warm personal and political friends
since that time, and his cordiality
toward Elkins since Elkins made his
ruling AS chsirman of the republican
state convention favorable to the abol-
ition of tie committee On credentials,
which decision blasted the hopes of
the Teter delegates. Blizzard made a
strenuous fight in the convention
against t at ruling. ~ ~
He controlled almost majority OF
the republican members Of the State
senate last winter in their policy
toward the White Dawson administers.
ton measures, and Dawson was com.
PEELED to personally consult him re-
garding a desired extension of the
session.
He is recognized leader of the anti
Dawson republicans, who practically
Compose all the opposition in the
party to another term for Senator
Elkins. The failnre to induce Judge
Golf to be candidate has weakened
but not eliminated this opposition.
Representative Gaines nsme is heard
no more in this connection.
MAY PREFER PRESENT JOB.
" There are two points that seem to
uuliifv the Blizzard rumor. One is
that Senator Elkins receptlv employed
him as legal counsel to defend him in
Q suit pertaining to one of his railroad
projects. The other is that Blizzard
would like to be reappointed to his
district attornevship, aud materially
would have to have Elkins' indorse-
nent.
If Blizzard deigs>~his reappoint.
ment, which is t. g-onade in De-
cember next. he can Hardly be figured
sny further il tie senatorial calcn.