Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-03
HOT FIGHT PROBABLE
CONTEST FOR HoNoRs IN WEST
VIRGINIA DISTRICTS.

kftSSioudl QlStTlCt WHICH cutEs TIC icpHo-
licans the least encouragement Is to be the
scene of their most intense activity for the
nomination. This is the second district,
which Col Thomas B. Davis captured at
special election to fill the Judge Dayton
vacancy just about year ago 1t is the
only one of the Ave districts where there
are two democratic counties which have
good organizations and the democracy
comes nearer to organization generally in
the second than the other districts COM
bined
The contest for the republican nomination
will be bitter. Therein may originate causes
for another democratic victory. The sec
ond district has always been debatable
ground and was carried by Dayton each
election after the hardest kind of battling.
! Now the republicans are far away from
the old-time harmony In that portion of
the state. The wounds engendered by the
Dawson-Teter scrap were the deepest there.
They were displayed last year when Lakin,
| the republican nominee. went down to de-
| feat because of the governors accredited
| interest in his nomination over the large
field of rivals. Added to that complication
| were the dissatisfaction and apprehension
due TO the new tax laws, now much less
| in evidence, yet possible of being a factor.
But Two Candidates.
The two prominent candidates are y. G.
Keim of Elkins and George c. Sturgiss OF
Morgantown. representing formerly if they
| do not now the Dawson and Teter divis-
| ions 1t is assured that the lines will be
drawn between them on that ISSUE or,
which is about the same as between the
Dayton and anti-Dayton elements. Keim
drawing from the Dayton-Teter crowd and
Sturgiss from the tax reformers and the
FORCES which were always arrayed against
Dayton in conventions. Sturgss endeav-
ored 10 defeat Dayton when he was last
nominated at the Grafton convention, with
State Senator Forman of Grant county,
just about the time the tax reform agita-
ton was raging and upon that unrelated
issue. Sturgiss was pressed TO come for
ward himself at the Keyser convention last
year, but swung his influence to Lakin.
who defeated Keim and half a dozen others
after a struggle that went TO the limit of
thirty-three ballots.
AS between Keim and Sturgiss on the
point of ability there will not be contro-
Versy. Sturgiss is a strong man intelec-
tually, and that he would be a credit to
the state a Washington is conceded by
those who oppose him. He announces in
his platform that he is a Roosevelt repub-
Ilcan and is standing for the square deal
II was a Similar announcement when he
stood for the nomination for the state SEN
ate few years ago that turned the cor
porations against him and blocked his am
bition. He is president of the state board
OF trade and was once the republican nom
inee for governor.
1t is unfortunate for the republicans
| that bad blood is likely to be stirred up by
| the Hubbard elm contest for Il indicates
| advantages that the democracy will receive
| whether they fasten the nomination on Col
| Davis again against his viii induce
| John j. Cornwell to make the race. OF all
| the republican conventions this year the
second districts congressional gathering
| will be the most picturesque and most bit
| terly contested. Senator Elkins did not
! look kindly Keim before, because Keim
| comes from his own county, and therefore
| Randolph county might be accused OF a de
/ sire to monopoliZe the offices. Sturgiss and
| Elkins have had intimate business and per-
| sonal relations, yet it is believed Senator
| Elkins will not help either this time. and
| it would not be surprising If he favors
! compromise candidate in the interest of
| harmony.
Hubbard Probably a Winner.
Unless all signs fail w P Hubbard will
| be the sepublican nominee to succeed Rep
resentative Dovener in the first district
| Hubbard is now accounted a cinch by the
| talent, and Capt Dovener has come out
| with a public statement that he will retire
| If given one more term, which has been
construed as confession of weakness.
Dovener's friends are striving to stem the
Hubbard tide with this appeal, and admit
that IL Ohio county, the home of both can
didates, gives Hubbard a majority of the
delegates Dovener will not make a contest
in the other counties This situation is
also based on the assumption that Lewis,
Marshall and Brooke counties, which pre-
viously take action, will go for Hubbard,
now appears to be likely
Senator SCOTS alleged activity in Dove
ner's interest in Ohio county has called
| forth a diplomatic explanation from the
senator in a letter to A. r.. Campbell.
deputy revenue collector at Wheeling The
senator says. in the first place, that he is
taking no hand. and that he is mindful of
Hubbard's work for him when Col Schmu-
| bach of Wheeling had designs on his shoes
! four years ago, but that if Hubbard in
| tends to use his election to the House of
Representatives as stepping stone to the
Senate he must expect all the opposition
the senator can summon. On this point
| Mr. Scott is candid.
Contented With Lower House.
As matter of fact, it is declared. Mr..
| Hubbard will rest content with his cleo
| ton to the lower house. the position he
| strove for several years ago unsuccessfully
| in democratic year. Opposition to Sena-
| tor Scott at the proper time VIII come from
| the southern section of West Virginia, and
! the will be Gov. Dawson, If he can
| turn the trick. Hubbard is regarded as
| being without a peer in his party for the
| highest gift at stake, but lacks some essen
tails for building up machine that years
would require, while Scott's hold upon the
| workers throughout the state is copper
| riveted, and nothing but geography Will
stand in his way next time.
That it costs more to be candidate for
| office with succeeding campaigns is Illus
| trated by the assessments imposed by the
| Ohio county republican executive commit
tee Candidates for Congress have been
taxed $500 each; candidates for the state
| senate, 5000 each The other counties in
/ their districts levying proportionately
| Added to the personal expenses a state
senatorial candidate must undergo, and the
| fact that his salary for his four-year term
| amounts to $500 and mileage, running for
| the legisla ture is accounted to be a costly
| game.