Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-01-26
AFTER AN EMPTY HONOR
Democrats Fighting Over Caucus
Nominee For Senator.
BATTLE is A VERY WARM ONE
Leading Figures Are McGraw and
Chiffon. ard Issue is the State
Leadership.

| are only thirty-one democratic mem
bers, bur there is a contest on for the
empty honor of United States 5, nator-
ial nomination. which in its intensity
is fully suggestive Of something worth
while. John T. McGraw and William
E. Chiffon want the compliment their
party's caucus can bestow. and they
want il as earnestly as though 1t car
rted with il the seat that Senator
stephen -. Elkins will get fer the
third time by the grace of the over
whelming republican majority in the
legislature
McGTaw WHO has for wears been the
national committeeman and the state
chairman, lives in Taylor county, in
the northern part Of the state. while
Chiffon. who was state chairman when
the democrats were ON top in West
Virginia, lives in Charleston, in the
southern section. Between McGraw
and Chiffon there has been a difference
OF long standing, growing, it IS said,
out Of uncomplimentary treatment By
the local paper McGraw then controll-
ed of Chilton's conduct of the office of
secretary Of state in the MacCorkle
regime.
From 1896 up TO little over a year
ago the democratic following headed
by Chiuton and his brother, Maj. Joe
Chiffon. paid little heed to McGraw's
ascendaney, because they realized the
folly Of attempting to stem the tide
toward republican supremacy Last
year they began to prepare for possible
democratic victories and also started
to set up candidates for the legislature
in the hope that conditions migct arise
which would give the democrats con-
troll of that body and a seat in the
United States senate.
Lowest in States Histo y.
The democratic strength in the leg
islature is almost the lowest proper
tionately in the states history now,
but that does not deter the Chiffon
faction from wanting to dethrone Nc
Graw, who was honored three times
in succession with the caucus nomina.
ton for the United States senate, and
who desires it again. He desires it
again mostly because the other fellows
want to beat him out of it. He takes
the sentimental view Of it entirely. He
does not propose 10 be vanauished by
those who seem prompted by II desire
only for revenge.
The battle will be fought cut to-
night, but no matter how 1t ends
it will bob up again through various
proceedings and reach another climax
in q movement TO deposa lcGraw from
the national committeemanship at the
next democratic national convention.
Practically the opposition 10 McGraw |
is based on The TACT that under his
leadership the party has been in the
losing class successfully. Otherwise he
is in good standing and personally
popular
1t so happens that both McGraw and
Chiffon are personally admired by de
voted hosts, hence the rank and file re-
greet the friction between them. But
McGraw has captained the minority
army in the lean years, financing cam
paigns when the outlook was gloomy
and retaining an optimism to the close
that cheered up dispirited soldiers. He
has had enough honor so far as honors |
could be conferred in complimentary
votes, and might De satisfied TO stand
aside for another democrat at this
time, but he refuses to be kicked aside
discredited Chiffon is ambitious for
thedistnction of leadership. And SO
the war will go on.
Chiffon Claims Sixteen.
OF the thirty-one democrats IN the
Legislature the Chiltons are disposed to
claim sixteen. but they take Ioseate
view of the situation not shared by
others If the fight is put up to the
caucus it will be largely on geagraph-
ical lines, the southern members stand
ing for Chiffon and the others for Nc
Graw. McGraw is known over wild
er area, and his party services com
mand him a more liberal sentiment;
hence he looks good to be the winner
by a decisive showing. He will be sup
ported by many who might under other
circumstances be for another demo
crat, but who would not join move
ment seeking to discredit him in view
of his party's record, his charming per
sonality and his party sacrifices.
Republicans are amazed at the strug-
gle since it involves no tangible advan-
tage, and they are wont to compare it
to a canine scrap over worthless
bone.
The democrats have onlv five of the
thirty members of the senate, but they