Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05
PARTIES ARE LISTLESS
BUT FEW CONTESTS IN WEST
VIRGINIA CONVENTIONS.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The STAR
WHEELING. w. Va, August 4.-This
has been congressional week in West vir-
ginia and conventions were held in four
OF the FIVE districts. In none was there any
rivalry and this year will be marked by an
absence of contests in the ten conventions
Prior to the republican nominations in the
first and second districts there cam
paign for the choice of delegates. but ow-
ing to the primary election plan decisive
results were reached In advance OF the
conventions and only the nominees name
was presented in each instance.
The unprecedented feature was given IN
the fifth district democratic convention OF
two roil-calls of the list OF counties with
out a candidate being presented. Begin
ming with Boone and ending with Wyom-
ing, the secretary heard no response for the
first call. A second was taken with no bet
ter result. Before third was taken, John
H. Holt. the subernatorial nominee in 1900,
came to the rescue in an inspiring speech
in which he nominated Joseph Fl. Miller.
/. former commissioner of internal revenue,
and the convention rushed to the Miller
standard. Miller did the graceful by ac-
cepting the nomination in brief but en-
couraging address.
Holt deprecated the fact that no other
democratic convention ever held in West
Virginia was ever before Inundated by
passing even one roll-csL without candi-
vention ever in such predcame1t that
at Huntington. from which relief vas final
~ brought by Holt and Miller. In 1896
Miller bottled Bryan and followed the gold
flag of Palmer and Buckner, but remains
one of the few prominent democrats who
eventually returned to the fold instead of
going over to the republicans He was
state auditor under Gov. Jacks on's admins
tration and twice commj SSioner of in
ternal revenue under President Cleveland.
He will oppose Representative Hughes. He
is able and popular, but Is up against
proposition of 1900 or o,000 republican ma
jority.
Third and Fourth Districts.
The democrats named George Byrne in
the third district to cope with Representa-
tive Gaines. and George w. Hardman In
the fourth to try conclusions with Repre-
sentative woodward. Both choices were by
reclamation. Hardmans willingness was
fortunate. as there was no other applicant.
Byrne was standing candidate for some
time; in fact. the only democratic seeker
after congressional nomination In the
state.
Hardman is a well-to-do farmer, who has
won local offices in Calhoun county, which
is democratic. but is little known in the
remainder of the district He is said to be
a good mixer. as is woodward, and the
campaign will develop into a hands baking
contest, with woodward having the advan-
tage of his partys normal majority
The republicans completed their congress
sional ticket by naming George c. Sturgiss
in the second. The convention was relieved
of its routine by an attack on an indorse-
ment of Senator Elkins by John j. Het-
eel of Berkeley county, who was a candi
date for the congressional nomination last
year Hetzel. who was one Of Gov. Daw-
sons stoutest allies in the preliminary
governorship contest two years ago, is said
to be hostile to Senator Elkins for alleged
double crossing in his congressional aspi-
rations. He was unable to muster more
than a corporars guard in his opposition
to the Elkins Endorsement, however.
Alleged Anti-Elkins Sentiment.
The second district has been supposed to
entertain much of what anti-Elkins senti-
rnent there is in the senator's party, not
withstanding it is his residential district,
but his overwhelming Endorsement seems to
show how the opposition has been magni-
fed.
Harry Woodyards convention was the !
only other one which specifically recon-
mended the senator's reelection, and the |
resolutions were all that could be desired. |
They gave double the space to Elkns they |
did to woodward and We're approved unan- |
imously. No resolutions of AMY kind were
adopted at Mr.. Hughes convention to
avoid clash principally on state admin
istration Endorsement Mr.. Gaines conven-
ton was discreetly silent az to Senator FL
kins' reelection. Delegates from Marshall
and Wetzel counties threatened fuss in the
first district convention, which named w.
2. Hubbard. If EllSns' reelection plank
was inserted. and to avoid trouble, on the
suggestion of Sherman G. Denham, the
Harrison county boss. nothing more than
a jolly for both Senators ElkinS and Scott |
was included.
First district democrats will name their
man at Clarksburg August p, but they
haven't a man really In sight yet, although
suggestions have been numerous. The de-
mocracy in this district as elsewhere, is a
listless institution, remarkably free Of Of |
fce-seekers. The nomination, If not the Of
fec, is giving a record exhibition in this |
state, of seeking the man. However, on the
republican side of the fence only two NOM |
nation contests were developed and these
brought forth Hubbard and Sturgiss
Persistent Defamation.
Representative Thomas B. Davis persist
date again, supplemental by his edict that
he will not serve IL elected, seems to he sat-
isfying the democrats of the folly of fore |
ing him to run against his wishes. Owing
to sore spots in the republican party, they
claim. he could be reelected this year or
come mighty close to It, There was more
than courtesy in the cheers OF the republican
this week at Keyser, his home town, when |
Col. Davis was spotted spectator and |
honored subsequently by a seat on the |
stage Whether the democrats put up |
John ]. Cornwall, William G. Brown or |
some other man. the second district battle !
will he beautifully uncertain to the close.