Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-17
GOV,DAWSON' APPEAL
Wants West Virginia Repub-
licans to Get Together.
TIRED OF CRITICISM
INSURGENTS INCLINED TO HOLD
OUT AGAINST HIM.
Significant Omission Of Gubernatorial
Vote From the Tabulation Of
Election Returns.


WHEELING, w. Va, September, 49, 1905.
No less authority In republican circles
than Governor Dawson has invoked the
dove of peace to descend on the warning
factions in the republican party In West
Virginia. This week he took cognizance
of the mutterings of discomfort and emit
ted an elaborate appeal to the brethren 10
lay down their arms and have done with
their dsaffections. So far the effect has
been what might have been expected
Among the ultra-state administration sup
porters the governors utterances have been
applauded. Among those whose conversion
was desired the intended effect is not yet
apparent. The insurgents refuse TO walk
up to the mourners' bench
Just few weeks ago Senator Elkins de-
livered himself of similar appeal, but not
of such comprehensive moment, for the
senator had his own reelection In mind,
while Governor Dawson AYERS that he is
not candidate now for any other office,
but Is merely DESTROYS of republican sup
port in the administering of the contested
tax laws which were enacted by republican
legislatures and pledged by the republican
state platform. Senator Elkins beSought
the republicans to get together, and laid
down the law that loyalty to the federal
and state administrations is the true test
of republcanism.
Gov. Dawson Tired of Criticism.
Governor Dawson has tired of the at
tacks of the insurgents on himself. He is
especially indignant at the assertion that
he has deposed from office certain republic
cans who supported Charles f. Teter for
the gubernatorial nomination. He denies
that he has caused their divorce from the
state offices they formerly held, which sep
aration began when he took hold. He ie-
MES that he Is building up state machine
and denies that he proposes to secure the
nomination of District Attorney Elliott +.
Northcott to be his successor. In proof of
his innocence of the latter asseveration he
cites the statement of Mr.. Northcott that
he has no intention Of becoming candi-
date for governor. Furthermore, Mr.. Daw-
son says, 1t IS to early to talk about an
event to be decided three years hence, just
as Mr.. Bryan AYERS regarding his case.
Makes Concession.
To finally put quietus to the machine
charge. Governor Dawson proposes to let
the republican rank and file hereafter de-
eide nominations. He comes out for a gen.
eral state primary which will name the
state ticket, likewise the candidates for
Congress and the state senators. He ad-
mits the difficulty in carrying out this
scheme with relation to the picking Of pri-
mary election officials, but suggests that the
regulations for the scheme be left to Sen
ators Elkins and Scott and Ex-Governor
Atkinson, the latter now being judge OF
the Court of Claims al Washington.
Regardless Of the spirit with which Gov.
Dawson's carefully prepared statement may
be received by those who supported him
and those who opposed him in last year s
bitter fight, 1t is significant that the tax
laws which he championed are occasioning
less opposition every day His party OPP
ponents are now claiming credit for certain
of the revenue-producing measures and 1t
Is notable that they are withdrawing their
guns from the tax issue. They are con-
centrating their fire on the state machine
issue.
That they are cutting some figure in this
respect is admitted by the governor, who
says 'it is a Shrewd move on the part of
my opponents. for the people do not like
bossism and dctation.'
His answer to that theory is the state
primary instead of the state convention,
for it was the state convention last year
wherein a committee on credentials was
considered unnecessary by the Dawson
forces, which was in control, that still
arises to perpleX and keep alive old sores
The salutary effect of Gov. Dawson's APP
peal is conceded relative to the new tax
system, but the insurgents refuse to let up
on their machine charges. Some of them
want to force the designations of Chairman
Elliott and other state and federal office
holders from the republican state commit
tee, claiming that their connection with the
organization insures their perpetuation in
office.