Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-20
Opposition to Senator Elkins
in West Virginia.
FEDERAL PLUM TREE
SENATOR CONTROLS APPOINT
MENTS IN SECOND DISTRICT.
State Positions Held by Insurgents Go
to Dawson Supporters-Echo
of Last Campaign.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence of The Star.
WHEELING, w. Va. August 10. 1905.
Federal pie is the attraction for tho re-
publican so-called insurgent organization IN
West Virginia. This seems reasonably GER
tain in view of the apparent let-down In
the opposition to Senator Elkins and the
decreasing clamor against the new state
tax laws Credit is being claimed by some
Of the insurgents now for two or three Of
the new revenue-producing measures.
This does not signify that opposition to
Elkins has been abandoned. 1t Is rather
In allegiance. But the post offices in the
second congressional district and the fed
eral appointments to be made late this year
are the things which the insurgents have
in mind. With these places IN their possess
sion they hope to have a goodly nucleus
for an organization with which they will
wage a campaign for control of the state
three years hence.
Col. Tom Davis being a democrat, will
not have any say in the post office feature.
Tho offices are to be filled. therefore. at the
recommendation of Senator Elkins, who is
of that district All are appointees of Judge
Dayton, several having been named by him
when he first went to Congress and later
reappointed AS Dayton was Charley
letters mainstay in his fight for the guber-
material nomination, the Dayton postmas-
tiers lined up that way. 1t has been mat
ter of some speculation as to how much
they strained themselves to elect j. s.
Lakin. since he was of the Dawson clan,
and since 1t was freely asserted that Gov.
Dawson would see that the Teterites would
have to go for prO-DaWSOn men.
Incident Of Congressional Election.
Color to their suspicious was given by
Gov. Dawson's entrance into the district
during the campaign, and the known op-
position of Lakln to Dayton during the pre-
ceding congressional convention Now their
case is up to Senator Elkins. The Teter
faction. which is another name for the In
Surgents intends to retain men OF It's faltn
in the post offices if possible. They would
like to cause the defeat of the senator, be-
cause they have not forgiven him for MS
ruling as state convention chairman where
by q committee on credentials was d1spenS-
ed with, but they prefer share in the dis
tribution of federal plums to that indefinite
accomplishment.
With the second district brigade of post
masters satisfactory to them they may
withdraw and be good. Senator Elkfns does
no: seem to fear the candidate they might
trot out against him so much as the danger
of a democratic legislature due to the gen
eral dissersions in republican ranks. The
loss of a representative in Congress in the
second district presents possibilities of this
kind next year.
gents want the appointments of United
States marshals and their deputies district
attorneys and their assistants and so on.
These appointments are due for Decem-
Der next, that the senator has to show
his hand before his own case comes up for
trial. If the insurgents can line up for
Hidable following the senator Is wise
enough to deal with them in a practical
way. He has given them some encourage
ment by the statement that there should
not be any Dawson republicans or Teter
republicans, and that allegiance to either
OF the candidates for governor should not
constitute a bar to political preferment He
said that Gov. Dawson should have mercy
on those who opposed his nomination. But
Gov. Dawson goes ahead appointing those
who supported him and puts the situation
up to the senator.
Blizzard-Elkins Conference.
Judge Blizzard the recognized insurgent
leader. has had a heart-to-heart talk with
Senator Elkins, of which nothing is known
definitely. That Blizzard wants to be re-
appointed district attorney and that he
will be unwelcome to the Dawson faction
form grounds for cogitations. He refuses
to say he is not a candidate for the shoes
of Senator Elkins, and the others men
toned preserve a like silence. They may
open up later. In the meantime the con-
ferenceS go on.
From his palatial summer home at the
town in Randolph county that bears his
name Senator Elkins has been busy for
days writing letters. He cultivated that
art when he first came to West Virginia
and jumped into politics. Invitations to
visit "Halliehurst'' have been literally dis
tributed since the insurgent fever broke
out Many recipients have tourneyed to
the throne room. others have not There
once a saying In West Virginia that
all republicans in conversation roast Elklns
but that when he writes them to come and
confer they take the next train, even If they
have to borrow the money The saying ap
parently Is not so appropriate it used to
be.
Alleged Change Of Heart.
Marshal Charles D. Elliott Is working
hard for his job and should earn the Ell
kins support for his recent hard work in
the senator's behalf. He was far from be-
ing an Elkins enthusiast a year ago. when
he was one of the Teter lieutenants, but
now he Is thorough going administration
man. Ben F. Sayre of Taylor county is
candidates for his shoes and there are 9TH
ers. but they have to proclaim themselves
for Elkins before they get consideration.
This marshalship is for the northern dis
tr.ct. In the second district 1t seems to be
a settled conclusion that Frank Tyree of
Huntington will succeed John K. Thompson,
the incumbent. Tyree is a member of Pres
ident RooseVelt's secret service body guard.
and his appointment will be a personal one
with the President.
This leaves the deputy marshals and the
various officers of the federal courts and
the SeCoHu ulStiiCl poSI u De ulS-
posed Of If Elkins fails to deliver the
goods the insurgents will lack entirely the
prestige and influence that goes with Office
holders. They will be frozen out entirely
from a part in the organization. They
have been swept out clean from the state
service. and they are making a last stand
for the federal plum tree. Senator Elkins
can give all the plums to the Dawson fol-
lowers and take chances on fnsurgent re-
venge on the legislature. But he loves q
compromise better than a fight,
Everybody's Going to Chase's.
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