Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-22
CAMPAIGN, is LIVELY
WEST VIRGINIANs BEATING THE
BUSHES FOR VOTES.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

| WHEELING, w. Va, October 20, 1905.
| A number Of speakers have been import
ed by the republicans to inject some needed
interest in the national phase OF the cleo
| ton, and 1t is significant that they are UNI
limbering them mostly in republican coun-
| ties Senator Scott, who has taken to the
stump, furnishes one of the reasons. He
declares that the magic OF Roosevelt's
bame and performances is Just as potent al
| TWO years ago, If the voters can be aroused.
1t is all In the amusement, he says
| Nevertheless while Senator Scott Is trail
ing along national issues ir hopes of focus
| ing attention on something else beside the
tax bilis and in hopes of aiding the republic
| can congressman who seek reelection, the
| tax question has been made not only the
1 paramount but the exclusive issue in the
second district The republican committee
! chairman IA that district, E. M. Grant of
| Morgantown, has issued circular appeal
to the people. in which he discusses the
| state and local taxation question from start
10 hnish. or course this document has the
| approval of the republican clnd date George
Z. Sturgiss. and as Judge Dent. the demo-
! cratic congressional candidate, has seen fit
| to campaign to some extent on the ques-
ton, the possible irrelevance of 1t is equal
| lied.
| Gov. Dawson started his itinerary in Clay
| county this week and he outdid Secretary
Shaw In the size of his address. 1t was
entirely along state lines. The governor
! reviewed the taxation issue from beginning
/ to END and he has added to the history Of
| the subject comparisons between the demo-
! cratic and republican state administrations
over period of twenty-five years. In ad-
dltlon ne has taken up the gauntlet thrown
down In the democratic state committees
| appeal to the people; which document was
| prepared by Chairman John r. McGraW and
! a subcommittee.
Both Avoid the Metropolis.
| The governor was booked to speak in
inc h,,t lot
on the explanation that there had been a
mix-up in the dates This development has
served to excite a certain democratic ridi-
Guile, inasmuch as the governor evaded
Wheeling in his speaking campaign for gov
ernor in 1904. But the equalizing or neu-
tralizing factor comes again into play since
the democrats of Wheeling and surrounding
territory have so far failed to arrange any
kind of speaking campaign, or even open
up headquarters. while not until this week
did they fili a vacancy on their legislative
ticket which had been in painful existence
since the date of the Ohio county conven-
ton almost three months ago.
Tax Commissioner Dillon and State Prison
Warden c. E. Haddox regarded as two Of
the brainiest lights of the Dawson admin
1stration and particularly clever champions
of tax reform, have begun to tour the state
In the interest Of a republican legislature.
Others have joined the procession and I'M
til election day the voter will not be shy
on the matter of tax bils-what the people
paid under the old system, what they pay
this year and what they will pay in the
future with incidental thrusts at various
brands of octopi.
David Armstrong of Cleveland, Ohio a
mine worker, has been brought into the
mining regions of the second district to Off
set any discomfort among the labor vote
which is ordinarily republican. Col c. E.
Carr Of Illinois and Representative David
been sent into the same district to indicate
the necessity of standing pat Nothing Is
to be left undone to carry the district,
which Representative Davis put back in the
democratic column in special election last
year. The activity centers in Preston and
other big republican counties where apathy
or restlessness is suspected. If the repub-
lican counties can be induced to stand pat
on their normal showings the hopes of the
managers will be realized.
Trouble in Berkeley.
Berkeley county, the most uncertain
county in the district and state. is now
agog over the latest disturbance in repub-
lican councils E. c.. Henshaw Of that
county has resigned a member of the
state and congressional committees and as
serts that he was politely forced out by a
gentle hint from Washington. inspired by
John j. Hetzel of Martnsburg, who quoted
"pernicious activity" on him.
Henshaw is deputy internal revenue
collector. Hetzel was candidate for the
congressional nomination last year when
it was in a large field by James S.
Lakin of Preston county, who later be-
came Col. Davis victim Hetzel was OPP
posed in his own county by the Henshaw
faction, which brought out Henshaw's
brother a candidate, but, although Het-
eel got the county's delegation after a bit
ter contest he has ascribed his failure in
the convention to alleged refusal Of Sen
ator Elkins to help him. He carried his
feeling against the senator into the conven-
ton that nominated Sturgiss, and he in
formed Senator Elkins by wire previously
that his refusal to nominate a Hetzel adj
herent for postmaster at Martinsburg would
cost him Berkeley's two votes in the legis-
lature.
Henshaw is frank in charging Hetzers
antagonism with the primary responsibility
Of the action of the department at Wash |
ington, but questions Hetzels ability to
prevent the election of republican legis- |
lative ticket. This eruption is somewhat
offset by redhot fight for the Legislature |
in democratic Hampshire county, which |
may result in cutting down that county's |
congressional vote, although not affecting |
the county ticket. Lower tax bills are due |
to effect big slump in the democratic
vote of Jefferson, another big democratic |
county. In short, republican concern over |
particular spots can always be consoled by !
a glance over the democratic fence.