Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-13
CONTEST GROWS WARM
MR.. DOVENER HAVING FIGHT
FOR DENOMINATION.

WHEELING. w Va, May 12-By tie
action OF the Ohio county republican eX-
ecutive committee this week the Hubbard
Dovener contest for a seat in Congress in
the House of Representatives from the first
West Virginia district will be decided by
the congressional convention. Both candl-
dates residing In this county created a GER
tain sentiment for having the local prefer
ence to be considered as final. But the
proposition to give the countyS seventy
seven delegates to the candidate who got
plurality OF the county's primary vote did
not appeal favorably to the committee,
which decided that the plan should apply
only by magisterial districts. of which there
are ten in the county. Consequently ONO
county's delegation will be split between
Dovener and Hubbard, and their fight will
be waged also In the other seven counties.
With majority in his home county, as
now appears to be probable, Hubbards
prestige In the other counties will be in
creased. If Dovener comes out of his hom3
county with a minority, the effect elsewhere
in the district must be to his disadvantage.
This was apparent to his managers, who
stood out for the aggregate county test or
popularity against the subdistrict plan.
They figured on DoVeners ability to get a
plurality of the total vote in this way. E.
The country districts Of the the county are
said to be sure for Hubbard and he Is due
to do much better than get an even vote,
at the worst. in the Wheeling districts,
where he will have to encounter the Dove
ner machine Hubbard will have TO hustle
to perfect an organization in the short
period allotted him by the early call for
the convention which his candidacy pre-
cipitated. He will have to combat more
or less formidable array of practical politi-
cal talent.
Appeal for Dovener.
Already it is being urged that the genial
"a chr he given lea of
two more years at Washington, after which
he should step down gracefully for Hub
bard but this argument is not considered
apropos with the earnest fight on Outside
of Ohio county there is nothing to indicate
how the wind will blow. 1t is believed that
Postmaster Sherman Denham of Clarks-
burg viii be able to carry Harrison county
for Dovener, which will mean a big bunch
of delegates. Harrison being the districts
second county in point of size. Marshall
has always exhibited a good deal of anti
Dovener feeling Just before the voting, but
DoVener has been able to turn up with a
majority. This time however. the signs
point to Marshall giving Hubbard pretty
nearly a full delegation. Wetzel may be
split. while Marion is counted on to give
Hubbard a large share, the best of 1t, and
Lewis is reckoned solid for him.
The Ohio county struggle comes off June
II, and the disposition of the other counties
to await local developments accounts for
their expressed intention to hold back until
then.
The opposition to Senator Elzins CON
tinues to be officially dissipated as the roll
of the counties is called. Roane was the
first to indorse him a a county convention,
and Jackson followed. Although the Cabeli
county republicans declined TO specify and
unwittingly included Uncle Tom Davis,
democrat. in their Endorsement of all our
representatives" they came out emphatical-
~ for Elkins a few days later when they
met to select delegates to the state sena-
a l. &c
been the only other one which has met so
far that has been silent on the senatorship.
Mcdowell was so anxious to declare for
certain revision of the new tax laws that
the senatorship cut no part.
Recovering Lost Ground.
Senator Elkins' amendment to the Hep
burn bill, designed to prevent railroads from
engaging In the coal business, is certain to
help him regain ground he lost at the out
set OF the rate bill controversy, for in West
Virginia politics this year there is an In
slstent disposition to swat the railroads on
the solar plexus, and their interest in coal
mines has been brought to the front with
force. successfully. Agitation for a two
cent passenger fare is rampant. Mcdowell
and Jefferson counties for 1t strong,
and Doddridge is expected to declare for 1t.
Gov. Dawson has half intimated that he
will look with disfavor on a two-cent fare
measure While he has not put himself on
record various carnations point to this con-
clusion. 1t is believed that he feels with
great many others that such measure
would impose hardships the smaller
roads. which have been built at great ex-
pense In the mountainous regions, and
which traverse sparsely settled territory.
Nevertheless the two-cent fight will go to
the legislature where it will command
more votes than 1t did two years ago. when
Dr. Lanham projected himself into the
limelight as the Bills father. AS one re-
suit. the doctor is to get a denomination for
the house of delegates In Taylor county
without opposition. while in the same
county there Is a three-cornered battle for
the state senatorial nomination among B. r.
Bailey, DIR. Warder and w E. Tomblyn.
Strangely enough the coveted state sena-
torial seats are not attracting many candi-
dates this year. The republicans will likely
name Thomas Gartlan to succeed Charley
Caldwell. in the Parkersburg district, with
out a contest. H. s. White, in the Mngo
district. and John Porter. in the Huntington
district also look good for lone hands. Only
in Wetzel and Ohio. besides Taylor, is there
an expressed eagerness for service, al
though lively doings may turn up later.
Charley Caldwelrs refusal to run again in
the Parkersburg district occasioned misty
tale that he would enter the lists against
Senator Eikins. His tendency to joke was
responsible for II.