Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-15
LEADERS TO CONFER
REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE IN
WEST VIRGINIA SUMMONED.
Special Correspondence ., IN. Star.

special Correspondence OF The Star.
WHEELING. W. Va. April Il. 1905.
The republican state executive commit
tee has been summoned 10 meet In Char
| lesion April "a Important business.
Nothing fuller is specified in the call This
Is the FIRST off-year campaign IN which the
party managers have deemed It necessary
to put the state committee In charge.
Something like a roar went up when the
committee was called ostensibly for this
purpose at Fairmont four months ago,
but II gradually subsidized The committee
did little except adopt a resolution which
commissioned the acting chairman and the
acting secretary to open up and run state
headquarters In Charleston.
The subcommittee maneuvers was origi-
mated and planned several days In advance
OF the Fairmont meeting. II had the APP
prevail OF Senator EIkins and Gov. Daw-
son. The Charleston headquarters was Sc
lected that the campaign managers
might be In close touch with the state adj
mlnistration and be more accessible 10
anti-tax reform strongholds In the third
and fifth congressional districts.
But the railroad rate question came up
and away went the carefully drawn plans
for a campaign on state issues. Senator
Elkins says national questions should
have the call. II is safe to predict that a
Railway Commission Possible.
AS Gov. Dawson a few days ago threw
out a feeler for state railroad commits
sion slogan the committee viii logically be
asked to put its seal OF approval on that
proposition. The governor regretted that
there could not be state convention this
year and he suggested the alternative OF
the state committee assuming the respon-
sibility. Senator Elkins and the governor
h. IL, AA~1r Thar aNava ko frs nod
having come to a harmonious understand
ing.
A majority of the committee 10 composed
of federal office holders who are under
obligations to Senator EIkins and like ties
bind him to the state office-holdng MEM
bers. What Is done at the Charleston
meeting will probably be final. for the
campaign Is getting too close to risk
subsequent session and Encouragement OF
issues and plans
That Senator Elkins has his forces In
good hand was illustrated by the action
in Roane county a few days ago, the first
county to make move. The republican
county committee passed resolutions IN
dorsing the reelection OF Representative
Harry c. woodward and Senator Elktns
and called for the election of a member OF
that state senatorial district who would
be pledged to vote for the senator. Else
where throughout the district the Wood
yard-Elkins combination Will put similar
wheels in motion where possible. Roane Is
Woodyard's own county and while the re-
pubicans there are for him some of them
have objected to the action taken relative
to Elkins.
woodward to Be Renominated-
woodward will be renomInated at Park
ersburg May q. the date fixed for the
fourth district convention. He has no
avowed opposition The Parkersburg post
office complication Is a thorn in his side.
1t is unjustIy so, according to some OF his
friends, who give the credit for the delay
to Senator Elkins woodward has put hts
preference in allegiance to help the sena-
tor, who wants the appointment of a sue
cessor to Postmaster Gibbons deferred I'M
til after he is reelected, or until the pri-
maries in that senatorial district turn out
to his liking. The senator does not believe
In paying for the goods until they are de-
livered. and he is also keeping the boys
on the anxious seat at Morgantown and
other points.
The Morgantown contest is enlivened by
the hard fight being put up by Silas W.
Hare, old soldier. who is backed by the
local G. A. r. post in set of strongly
worded resolutions. These resolutions are
Illuminating as indicative of a spirit OF re-
sentiment because the old soldiers of Mo
Mongolia county have not been honored
more by the party in power. They claim
voting strength of 800 in that county,
and they have forwarded their Endorsement
of Hare to Senators Elkins and Scott.
Forerunner of Fall Campaign.
The recent Morgantown city election
was under the surface a contest with an
eye to the fall campaign. Senator Elkins
has large financial interest In Morgan
towns public utilities and In coal mines
and railroads in that vicinity. His forces
were active in the municipal election and
were led In part by Postmaster Fitch who
wants to succeed himself after his term
expires In June. AS a result anti-Ei-
kins movement is being agitated.
The democrats are IN a sad minority in
that county and two years ago made only
one nomination for the two places on the
legislative ticket. but the success of the
citizens party in the city election is In
spring a plan TO put up a citizens or anti
Elkins' legislative ticket. The citizens
party now controls the Morgantown city
machinery, and properly directed. fusion
might easily cost Elkins the loss of two
votes in that otherwise orthodox republic
can stronghold.
The people of the second congressional
district in which Morgantown is located
in looking over the territory for eiigibles
TO I'LL the seat in Congress recently va
Gated by Aston G.. Dayton and now occu-
pied by Thomas y. Davis, grooming
William q. COnley OF Kingwood. Mr.. Con-
ley is said to be a natural-born organizer
and leader and a companion OF the pro-
gressive liberties of the people. He has