Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14
CLAIMS BIG MAJORITY
PREDICTION BY REPUBLICAN
CHAIRMAN IN WEST VIRGINIA.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

w hEELlNG, w. Va. January 13, 1896
In the last legislature the republicans had
a majority Of ffty-six on joint ballot, the
greatest for any party in the history OF
! West Virginia. Secretary of State Charles
w. Swisher the vice chairman and acting
chairman of the republican state commit
tee, asserts that the republicans viii elect
still larger majority of the members OF
the legislature this fall.
Mr.. Swisher may not be alone in this be
lief. but at this time his company is not
large. Republicans generally believe they
VIII control the legislature safely, but they
do not look for another record majority.
! They credit the former big margin To
Roosevelt, and they realize that further
more this Is an off year. The extent that
the republican party disaffeCtion will fig
ure IS another factor to be reCkoned with,
although Il may be overcome by the eX-
lstent weakness of the democratic organiza-
ton and the general debility of that party
The republicans have thirteen of the IF
teen hold-over members of the state SEN
ate, so that they need to elect only three
new senators TO control that body. OF the
eighty-six members Of the house of dele
gates only vivid imagination could fore
cast a preponderance of democrats. The
democrats are not altogether bereft OF hope
however of cutting a better figure this
year than they did two years ago. but
they concede reliance on republican help,
either in the form of quiet support or in
difference.
insurgency Subsiding.
Republican insurgency seems to have sub
sided in the quarters where it was wont
to rear its head defantly. but occasionally
breaks out in new places. The latest dis
affection is at Charleston, the state capt.
tai, with the state printing contract the
bone Of contention. Moses w. Donnally.
who has been state printer for years ana
fu-n a,14ll lon,
pers published there, has opened the Was
of his wrath and is pouring their contents
with liberal hand upon the state admin
iStrdton. only by devious routes can the
state house men submit a rejoinder to him,
and the merry war is exciting a certain at
tentOn, more IN the way of amusement and
mild entertainment than otherwise. Mr..
Donnally's conversion to the republican
party is so comparatively recent that he
is not considered a power. He was a
democrat until West Virginia left the de-
mocracy, and he enjoys the distinction OF
having been state printer for both parties.
Donnally is bandying threats around in
rockies sort of way, but the controversy
so far has not developed much more than
a personal dispute. State Auditor Scherr,
State Treasurer Ogdin and State School Su-
perintendent Miller, with Secretary OF State
Swisher the eX-oficio superintendent or
pubic printing, constitute the state print
Ing commission. They have made exhaust
i've replies to Donnally's charges that there
was Him-fiamming or graft in the letting
VI IiLo CoiitldCl IdSI week. ana as the case
stands Donnally will have to go farther
II he wants to, hold his audience.
Probable Democratic Argument.
Lacking a definite issue, the democrats
may enumerate the various outcroppings
of friction IN the big republican family as
an argument for their elevation to power.
The white mans party slogan, which
they thought of using, does not loom up
favorably a creation of terror among
the white voters. and 1t was virtually laid
on the shelf after the news was received
know what to do about the taxation ques-
ton. on which they had the unpopular
side In the last campaign, and the dissat-
isfactiOn and discomfort they expected to
see in evidence from the laws have
not developed yet.
Chairman Swisher defends the state COM
mittee for taking hold Of the campaign in
an off year on the ground that neither tariff
nor gold, nor any national question, Will
be put up to the people, but that they will
be asked solely to register their votes on
a state issue, that which is commonly
termed tax reform. Probably Mr.. Swisher
meant this with some qualifications, as the
congressional candidates Will hardly care
to take the stump on the tax proposition.
To hear complaints the new system
of assessment the state board of public
works will start on a tour the latter part
of January which will last almost until
February's close. This board Is composed
of Gov. Dawson and his cabinet They
will start at Bluefeld and swing around
the circle, winding up a Charleston. Incl
dentally this board is required to assess
the railroads at their true and actual value,
a task whose outcome is awaited with large
popular interest.