Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-22
sTURGIss FOR HOUSE
TO LEAD FIGHT IN SECOND WEST
VIRGINIA DISTRICT.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence OF The Star.
WHEELING, W. Va, July 81. 1906.
Only the formalities of the convention
remain to make George C. Sturg.ss of
Morgantown the republican nominee for
Congress in the second district. The result
of the primaries IN Preston and Mineral
counties gives him fully fifty votes more
than the 1928 required to nominate and
when the convention meets at Keyser he
will be named as the republican standard
bearer for the district.
In the congressional contests In both the
first and second districts the names of the
candidates were placed on the ballots,
which were cast directly for them, the WIN
ner being permitted to name his own dele
gates This plan proved simple and de-
cisive, for as soon as candidate carried
sufficient counties to give him majority
of the delegates the race was practically
ended 1t is plan which predetermines the
work Of the convention and robs 1t of any
real interest, but it has proved so popular
that it has probably come to stay.
Popularity Of Tax Reform.
The success of the Sturgiss canvass is
taken by the supporters of Gov. Dawson
administration and the state tax reform
movement as proving the popularity of tax
reform among the people in the country
districts. 1t was noticeable that Sturgiss
and W. p. Hubbard who was nominated
in the Wheeling district, had their strength
In the farming communities, while their
respective opponents reversed the honors
In the cities and towns There is reason
for believing that in the election this fall
the scratcher will be abroad in the city
and the town. These individuals will have
to be numerous to defeat Hubbard. but
present indications, are said to be unfa-
vorable to Sturgiss election, for the second
district has always been debatable ground,
and Col. Tom DAVIS was given big ma
jority, considering the total vote last year,
ut Joay nnr,f Tha Sit
ton this fall will depend largely, IL is said
upon the personality of the democratic
nominee.
The Preston county affair was watched
throughout with interest by West Virgin
ians. Preston has long been accounted the
banner republican county and is Gov Oaw-
sons own stamping ground He managed
to spend his vacation there before the bat
tie and figured prominently in the closing
hours of the contest. The outcome was
considered signal triumph for the Daw-
son men. Things have apparently been
coming the governors way of late
Former Democrats Get Offices.
The selection of former Representative
G. e. Hogg of Point Pleasant this week to
be dean OF the West Virginia University
law school drew renewed attention to the
rewards which former democrats have re-
ceived on account of their present repubii-
can affiliation- Mr. Hogg was a democratic
representative In Congress from the old
fourth district, and he left his party in
1896 with many others IN the state He
was candidate this year for the state
senate from the Mason-Jackson district,
and was engaged in a contest over the
legality of the delegate primary when
called to the law school deanship.
AS he will accept the plum offered by the
state regents he viii withdraw from his
senatorship conflict. leaving the field to his
only competitor, who is also a former demo-
GRAFT
Particularly In the southern part of West
Virginia the influence of former democrats
in republican councils Is strong. A large
proportion IL established In Office, and
many began to obtain the rewards OF their
activity soon after crossing the line. But
largely because of their prominence in the
republican fractional disputes, old-line re-
pubiicans have been stirred to criticism
OF the practice of giving the good things
to the newcomers. This argument has
been used against State Game Warden Mar
cum State Pardon Clerk Frank Lively
and a host of others In federal. stats and
focal positions. The same high order OF
political skill displayed by the gentlemen
while at the head of the democratic pro-
cesision IL repeated by them as republican
lessders. They seem to go after things
the better for their dual experiences.
$fnce the defeat OF Representative Dove
ner for denomination the rlnor mill has
besn busy trying to ind him comfortable