Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-24
LEADERS TO CONFER
WEST VIRGINIA REPUBLICANS
CALLED TOGETHER.
speelal cOrrespondenee Of 1,he Star.


WHEELING, w. va, December g. 1905.
The republican state committee has been
called to meet at F'airmont. December Is.
The purposes OF the gathering are not
stated. nor Is there any light shed on the
reason for having it break in on holiday
enjoyments. 1t is taken for granted that
the principal order of business will be the
consideration of promised designations Of
the members who hold down fat federal
and state offices. II there Is the expected
reorganization along this line it will be in
answer to a more or less spasmodic agita-
ton which originated for the first time
during Che present year, although it dates
back to the fight made nearly two years
ago to force Gov. Dawson off the commit
tee. then It's chairman and candidate for
his present office.
No reason for the resignation procedure
is advanced, except that an officeholder' s
membership gives him certain opportunities
to perpetuate himself In his present Office or
connect with switch whereby he will land
better office or something equally as good.
The prospective victims are United States
Marshal Charles d. Elliott, Internal Rev
enue Collector w. E. Glasscock. District
Attorney Elliott Northcott and Secretary of
State Charles Wesley Swisher The pros
poets of their stepping down and out are
not bright enough to induce odds on that
side.
Once Willing to Resign.
Elliott several months ago signhed his
willingness to resign under certain condi-
lions which were not likely to materiaiize.
None of the others cared to discuss the
proposition, with or without strings tisd to
It, Northeott. who was the state chair
man during the last campaign. following
Dawson's stepping down a short while be-
fore his nomination, withdrew as active
chairman last spring. The committee is
composed of fifteen members, one from each
of the state senatorial districts, and has
supplement in the person of a colored
brother, a delegate-srt-large.
BESIDES these sixteen men, the committee
can be augmented with subcommittee,
usually composed of five members and
called the executive committee and made up
of republicans not elected direct by the
state convention, the body which names the
regular committee of sixteen. When Mr..
Ncrthcott expressed a desire to give up
the active duties of the craftsmanship Sec
rotary of State Swisher was chosen to the
fill the gap. Swsher was one of those
added on in the executive committee. Sec
rotary Glasscock withdrew at the same
time as secretary and Virgil Highland of
Clarksburg was chosen in his stead. Since
the changes and the approximations the
con mittee has not met more than once.
Serious Business Ahead.
the republican state organization, has more
serious business ahead than the mere
changes in its personnel It has internal
disorders to treat and the difficulty will
ensue In selecting a remedy from the null
titude of proprietary medicines to be of
tered The Bifzzard-Elliott appointments
have stilled the troubling waters in one
quarter only to start a disturbance in an
other. The continual discussion of Senator
ElklnS' chances for reelection has not
served to strengthen him, Notwithstanding
he Is alone in the field and gives promise of
being unopposed within his party.
A feeling of unrest that springs from
faction and subtraction insists on its own
complaint as the real thing, permeates the
state. 1t has to do with the friction in the
republican party over the tax question and
the resultant examinations and recrimina-
tons, which have been bitter. 1t includes
The regular and insurgent divisions of the
party. and is complicated as much as 1t is
harmonized in this respect by the suspicion
OF some insurgents that Blizzard laid down
to pe reappointed. and by the antagonism
to the senator OF the Dawson- white regu-
lars. formerly HIS ardent supporters, and,
in degree, opposition to Senator Scott for
indorsing Blizzard after his strenuous at
lacks on the state administration
Fortunately the common enemy Is in a
state OF coma and less to be feared than
disgruntled republicans. and at the Fair
mont conclave the doctors may write out
prescription that will be a certain cure
Senator Elkins Is expected to lend his coun-
sci. and It Is believed that he was instru-
monious. leaf turned over with the new
wear