Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-13
OUT IN THE LIMELIGHT
CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR IN
WEST VIRGINIA NUMEROUS.

Special Dispatch to The Star
CHARLESTON. w. Va, January Fit
was freely predicted that the session OF the
legislature would develop a large and i,vely
crop of candidates for governor on the re-
publican ticket, and the prediction has been
verified In the first few days of the gather
ing at the state capital. Half a dozen are
now in the limelight, half o. whose booms
materialiZ this week.
The list includes Charles w. Swisher, sec
rotary of state: Arnold c. Scherr. state
auditor: Clark w. May, attorney general;
James A. Seaman, speaker of the house;
Judge Hunter, II. Moss and Lamar c. Pow
ell. former member of the house. AS the
open season is young yet the entry list
cannot be called closed for a few weeks to
come.
AS the matter stands, Swsher, the young
Lochnvar. has the call. His. mastery
handling of the McDermott campaign for
president of the senate put him i'll the
forefront and caused all the oid-tlmers TO
sit up and take notice. Swisher's rise in
politics has been steady rather than meteo-
ric and il has come from playing the game
up to the handle all the time. At the pres
ent it is Swisher against the fed.
Had Oliver S. Marshall, the candidate of
the old Teter faction, won the senate presi-
dency fight, Arnold Scherr's boom would
have been more serious. 1t would then
1
by his close political friends, and ii would
have stimulated his candidacy wonderfully.
Scherr maintains that he is only recep-
tive candidate, "a statement he mas adnered
to since his name was first spFung, but he
will be backed by the men who backed
Teter and Marshall. and by WI personal
friends.
Also Receptive.
Attorney General May is also receptive
candidate with an indefinite following. His
attitude is a waiting one. He would be ac-
ceptable to all factions and foiowings in a
close fight Seamans candidacy will be
based on the etIect of his work as s. aker
of the house. but the fact that he frightened
off all corners in that contest gives some in
dications his magnetism and strength
generally. He is called with some reason
1.-THE Abe Lincoln of West Virginia. Ma
ture has not been generous TO him, and he
has made many hard sacrifices for his
party Unless all signs fail he will be
factor to be considered in any important
state Office in the future.
Judge Moss of Parkersburg. the youngest
circuit court judge in West Virginia, Is en-
Toying a potential pressure which is entire
ly unsolicited his part. He has host
of admirers who voice his strong points
with great enthusiasm, and who are ready
to present a nj merous nucleus around
which to rally state organization in his
behalf when the time is more propltlous.
If Moss refuses absolutely to stand for the
nomination it is certain that Swsher will
cut in heavily on the delegation from
Moss home county.
Lamar c. Powell. a former member OF the
house of delegates, is from Marion county,
from which Swisher halls, and he has al
ways been shoulder to shoulder with
Swisher in political fights Powell an
nounced to your correspondent that he
would be candidate for governor to the
finish, Notwithstanding. For over thirty
years Powell preached republicanism of the
militant order until a year ago when he
retired He has been in Charleston this
week pushing the candidacy of Harry Shaw
for the house clerkship. He lost on that
proposition, but he evinced considerable
in the other branch, for between Marshall
and Powell there is a personal feud OF some
moment politically.
Additional Booms.
Still another candidate in grooming in
addition to Swisher, Scherr. May. Seaman,
Moss and Powell is H. S. White of Mingo
county, a member of the state senate and
an old line republican, likewise an old SOL
der Charles w Dillon of Fayette county.
who is soon to resign the office of state tax
commissioner has also been urged to an
nounce himself, but has refrained. Dillon
prefers a good law practice to the tax
commissienership, but has stated that he
would take the governorShiD for the honor
it conferred, make the race for 1t. if
the pressure were applied sufficiently. The
plum is certain to go, however, to the gem
tleman who will a-hunting go, and the
hustler who will knock it down, unless
man with more speed distances him,
threatens to be SwiSher. That is the out
look under present conditions. but of
course conditions may be altered before
the legislature adjourns. The legislature
is expected to determine the governorship
and other places on the state ticket.
Is Elliott NOrthCOtt had the call a wear ago.