Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-12-22
FIGHT AGAINST DAWSON
II Is Said Will Develop a Con.
ing Session Of Legislatu e.
ALREADY SIGNS OF BATTLE
Contests for speakership of House and
Presidency of the Senate viii
Be Warm.


legislature win meet in biennial SEES
sion ON the second Wednesday in
January, which happens to be- the
ninth day of that month, and already
the struggle for supremacy in the or
ganization of the two houses has
reached most interesting stage. The
fight is between various members of
the administration faction in the
house, and promises to be entirely
friendly throughout, but in the senate
it is between administrationists and
Observation-Disclosures or insurgents,
as the latter are called.
For speaker of the house candi-
dates are numerous, but those who
seem to have something like fighting
chance are Duty, Of Richie; Seaman,
of Jackson; Naylor, of Ohio; Evans,
of Mingo, and Cooper, of Wood OF
these Naylor, Seaman an1 Evans have
already served a term, while the
other two are new members. Former
service, however, has not been consiu-
cred a sine qua non in the past, and
will probably cut no ice in the coming
contest. In fact, it has been several
years since the house has had a
speaker other than a frst-termer. This
time, however, Seaman seems to have
the call, though probably not because
of his experience, but IN spite OF it.
He undoubtedly has the good wishes
Of the administration, and will likely
him in quiet and unobtrusive way.
He was staunch supporter of the
administration measures in the last
session, although man of consider
able independence, and was it's espec-
ial champion whenever partisan de-
bate arose Naylor is young man
of excellent parts, popular and able,
but with hardly enough of self-assert-
iveness and aggression to be made the
party's leader. Evans, who comes
from the coal fields of the Norfolk &
Western, was too independent as a
member two years ago to win the APP
probation of the administration, with
out which no man can succeed in be-
coming speaker of the recently-elected
house. Duty is strong man in his
own section, but hardly enough known
to draw much strength in other por-
tons of the state, Cooper is largely
an unknown quantity. These latter
two are staunch administration men,
and would doubtless De entirely ac-
ceptable as far as that is concerned.
But none of the others has been as
conspicuous in his service to Gov
ernor Dawson and his ideas as has
Seaman, and for that reason his
chances appear better than those of
any other candidate.
The Fight in the Senate.
In the senate the battle will be
pitched upon different lines. There the
Republicans, who have Is members out
of a total of 80, are divided strictly
upon administration and anti-adminis.
tration lines. The ants claim to nave
IL members, in which case they will
control the caucus and name the pres,
ident The administration forces, on
the other hand, claim a majority ! n
caucus. and in case they have it, they
name the caucus. The leading anti
candidate is Senator o. S.Marshall, of
Hancock county, who was president of
the session of 1899, and was a strong
contender for the nomination two
years ago, but was beaten by the
strenuous efforts of the administers
ton, which cast its strength for
Northcott, of Cabell county. If the
ants have control OF. the caucus Mar
shall will undoubtedly lie the man,
though there are one or two others
mentioned on that side. The admins
tration candidates, that is. the candi-
dates who are administration men, are
Forman, of Grant, and McDermott, of
Monongalia OF the two, Foiman is
the older and better known man, and
occupied more commanding position
in the last senate, where he was chair
man of the judiciary committee. Nc
Dermott is popular young man and
his candidacy is being handled by Sec
rotary of State Swisher. who is one
of the most active OF the younger set
of Republican politicians in the state.
The fight between Forman and McDer-
mott will be over as socn as ballot
develops the stronger ran, If. indeed
either is seen to have any show. Gov
ernor Dawson is known to favor For
man, but McDermott will be accept
able to him in case he proves the
stronger candidate In caucus.
The chief work of the session will be
the amendment of the new tax laws
now in force in this state, which even