Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-02
West
Virginia.

WHEELING. W. Va. July LA great
cry is going up In the republican ranks IN
West Virginia for a separation OF federal
and state Office holders from their member
ship in the state committee. Claiming that
a close corporation is being effected by
means of the combination of offices and
committee several old line republicans are
joining in the hue and cry. This point was
urged against Gov. Dawson While he was
chairman OF the state committee and until
he let go. which was almost on the eve OF
the state convention.
Now that Elliott Northcott Is slated by
the state machine to succeed Dawson his
connection with the committee is objected
to. Mr.. Northcott stepped down as chair
man d month ago, but the elevation OF Sec
rotary OF State Swisher to succeed him did
not aliay tie feeling evidenced. Swisher
has said lie Will be a candidate to succeed
United States Senator Scott SIX years
hence, but Ii is believed he really has de-
signs on the governors chair In 1912.
Gov. Dawson's appointment OF w. e.
White. brother of the former governor. to
be state pardon clerk, an office created at
the last legislature, continues to excite
Criticism because White is also chief inter-
mai revenue clerk at equal annual sal
e~AJ- SoiiSCtOT IiG5SCOck Iu0lu-
bership Gil the state committee, likewise
that % ldarsiaal Charles u. Elliott adds
Tue. 10 The flames. State and federal office
ho!usrs must -et go Of the committee. cry
tle he Wy active element, which is pleased
TO iaaueurase tight Tor coGt-0i On the
an IL ita- Giile slogan.
Now, tie next state fight Is three years
away. but The :igAting piooa of the anti
iniiei.iAe mex IS to he given chance next
year IN tie legislative contests and ON
that account 1t IS 1caaeJ Senator t;ikilis
Will suffer. Although NO republican has
come out 10 tTy conclusions with Eiu; Yet,
Tie situation threatens - ASSUME Il phase
that VIII make the possibility of 4 oe.uo-
cratic legislature Tot remote.
Naturally the anti-Dawson, ant.-1nachine
OF ai.ti-aaa.irisciation republicans are
Mace zip LACEY or tie boys WHO followed
the 1e.ei SuGe.li-.tu.idi Dsnner to uefeat,
anC sHu ace charged. Iadrec.y WIT. con-
tr!botlAS 10 COL Aom DAVIS congressional
Victofy last month. Inese feel that they
nave good reasons for tI.e.r anJusou.s.. to
the senior senator. Their ausagonIsln Is
deep-aeated and oates to the REPUBLICAN
stale convention hs.d just o.ie year ago III
wheeling. Senator EIkiIlS WAS cnairnan OF
tnat gathering ana ruled farorabIy on
tiie most radical ana revolutionary plopo-
sltlon ever submitted to Il convention lii the
history OF the state.
The Teter men had a majority slated on
the committee OF credentials and the Daw-
son delegates in convention offered a reso-
luton 10 abolish committee on credeu-
tials. There We're contesting delegations
from dozen counties In many OF these
counties blood had been shed. for over
half "a dozen men lost their lives in the
preiinliDarieS to that convention. On the
Dawson factions point that cred entails
were unnecessary and that every delegation
certified to by the state committee which
Dawson controlled, should prevail, the sem
ator, as chairman. ruled favorably.
1t was ticklish situation. The senator
had friends on both sides, but back of Daw-
son was the White state administration
and the power that meant Gov White
was talked OF as sena torial timber besides.
and the Dawson tax reform issue was the
dodge the issue and left the hall while the
fight on the credentials proposition was
waging. He turned over his gavel to Rep
reSentative Joe Gaines, but Gaines refused
to decide Personally Gaines did not be-
lieve in organizing without credentials, but
he was not the chairman, and he sent
messenger after the senator. Finally the
senator was induced to return to the con-
vention hall, and after some more or less
harmonizing remarks he declared the Daw-'
son contention was In order. So the mat
ter of credentials was stifled and put away
to perplex all West Virginia republican
conventions in the future.