Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-03-17
MERRY WAR ON IN STATE
Strenuous Fight VII Be Waged
For Members Of Legislature.
GOV DAWSON DENIES DEAL
Says He Has Entered Into No
Compact With Senator Elkins at
Expense Of Senator Scott


Expense Of Senator Scott.
The wheeling correspondent Of the
Pittsbura Despatch SAYS.
At er holding himself aloof for q
year Senator Scott has added to the
perplexity of West Virginia politics
Nv arraring himself ag ainst the Fed.
eral administration railroad rate
program, and he has thereby unwit.
tinaly served to indicate Republican
chances in this state to degree not
pleasing to the party workers. As the
situa ION stands today, an aggressive,
organized Democracy could SWEEP
@ost Virginia in the near future
What is to happen next November will
lepend upon the condition Of the pnb-
lie temuersmept at the time Just
low il is inclined TO an itching to
mite the powers that be.
west Virginia republicans are af1lict-
ed with a multiplicity of leaders for
the first t me since they came into
control of the state dozen years ago,
Two years ago they divided on a stare
issue, and one Of the results was a diff.
ference o. $4,000 votes between the
plurslities given Roosevelt and their
candidates for governor Continu-
ance of friction and feeling between
the same factions promised merry
fight for the legislature this year un-
| the president forced his railroad
rate bill to the front. THIS developed
Senator Elkin's attitude for the first
time in clear outline, the letter of
Governor Dawson to Senator Tillman,
and the prominence to West Virgil
MAS cases of railroad aud coal dis
elimination.
The Dawson letter was popularity
considered as a reflection on the two
West Virginia senators. Indeed, SEN
ator Tillman is now alluded TO by
cynical persons as the senior nator
from West Virginia, and ii he should
put his foot on West Virginia soil he
would be surprised at the size Cf his
welcome His being a democrat
would not cut any figure, for the
Dawson letter makes his credentials
good. And that letter turned from
Dawson to Elkins fist and Scott next
much of the burden of hostility OF
which the governor lad been having
Ii has aroused feeling OF
discomfort with and suspicion Of both
senators in the question of railroad
Always with his ear close to the
ground Governor Dawson will have
none of the story that he and Elkins
formed a combine when they took
dinner at the senator's Washington
home the other day. The gist to the
tale was that Dawson agreed to elect
a legi slature for Elkins this year and
that Elkins was to return the compii-
meut at Senator Scott's expense when
the Junior senator's term expired.
Dawson wants republican legisla
ture that will pass a state railroad
commission bill and perfect his tax re-
form scheme, but he does not want to
go before the people tied up with Elk
ms, or not until the Elkins prestige is
restored to its old strength and glory
On the final windup Elkins and
Dawson may agree on legislative can
didates but it can be put down here
that Dawson will not stand for any
who won't stand for his legislative
measures. Dawson wants to make a
record as governor. His term will ex-
pire about right to step into Senator
Scott's slices and he does rot need fo|
get busy tor that succession until the
Legislative contests three years hence.
With Elkins and Scott classed as rail
road senators and with Dawson this
wear being insistent on commission
to regulate railroad evils strictly
within the states province to control
he is enough of politician to see the
inconsistency of an outward oombina-
tion which the populace would be
disposed to thump hard.