Evening star., 1907-08-11
SCOTT LOOKS over FENCES
WEST VIRGINIA SENATOR PRE-
PAIRING FOR NEXT ELECTION.
Representative Hubbard Bobs Up as
4 Possible Rival, and Gov.
Dawson Also.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.


Senator Scott. accompanied by his private
secretary. John Steele. started this week to
swing around the circle and ascertain the
condition of his fences. He will make an
earnest study of the southern end of the
state where the big republican majorities
come from and where Legislative tickets
and the organizations that select them
should have respectful consideration.
Although there is no announced opposi-
ton to the senator's reelection. he does not
intend overlooking any possible slip-ups.
The state senator's elected next year Will
hold over for the United States senatorship
proposition. There will be fifteen. just half
the senate membership. The selection OF
pronounced Scott men would be of distinct
advantage, since that much of a start
would discourage rival ambitions which
were depending on the composition of the
Legislature to be elected two years follow
ing.
Senator Scott has no reasons for concern.
judging frsm a superficial view of the sit
uation. but he realizes with great many
others that a senatorship has been am
bition cherished for years by Gov. Dawson.
He Is also doubtless impressed by various
incidents in his home town which lead to
the conclusion that his fellow w heelins'te,
Representative w. p Hubbard. will reach
for the senatorial plum If he can arrange
things to his satisfaction.
One Aspirant Active.
Hubbard Is showing characteristic activ-
ity in familiarizing himself with political
management. There is nothing more tangi-
BILE than suspicious to demonstrate he will
run counter to Scott. but circumstantial
evidence allied to knowing mods from local
Hubbard followers build up a which
outlines a Hubbard campaign If he can see
his way clear to making the race. That
Scott considers that Hubbard needs watch
ing Is conclusive. In the same way Scott
regards Gov. Dawson. who is Hubbard's
other self In another part of the state SO
far as senatorial succession rumor goes.
1t may be that Hubbard Is merely enjoy
ing himself after the manner OF a boy on
a vacation these days. Coincident with his
determination to GUST Capt. Dovener from
the lower house Hubbard retired from
tive law practice. giving up attention to
kindred business affairs as WELL and ripe
maturity now finds him ready to play the
political game at his leisure. supplemented
by ample means. brllllant intellect and
vigorous physique.
He Is now beginning to get really ac-
ouainted with his neighbors at home and
his constituents of the first district at large
mencements. farmers and teachers insti-
tutes fishing camp outings and divers
forms OF gatherings where people are wont
to congregate. He Is diligently looking up
the first voters and otherwise keeping in
close touch with the workers who do things.
Campaign Undisguised.
Senator Scott has been camping homo
since Congress adjourned closer than he
ever did before. He has been personally
ht {p,-
mediate territory and now has left to look
over the field in the other districts. He
does business differently from his senior
colleague. for Elkins always made his trips
under the guise of examining business in
vestments In the coal and timber belts or
sojournlnR in the towns and cities to look
after banking institutions in which he was
interested. In this way Mr.. Elktns could
never be interviewe on subjects other than
business and prosperity.
SO far the governorship proposition has
monopolized attention. and Senator Scott
may take more than a side interest In 1t
by and by For one thing. he wants assur-
rance that the nominee will not distribute
his patronage in a way prejudicial to Scotts
upbuilding Of a legislative ticket when the
senatorial finals are on. Things may come
to a pass where Scott and Hubbard will be
on opposite sides in the gubernatorial race
but the present does not indicate any d.
vision.
Short Time for Record.
A Scott-Hubbard contest does not appeal
to local pride where the fear is entertained
that 1t may lead to the selection of outsd-
ers for both jobs. The states metropolis Is
rather proud of having both a representa-
tive and senator. when there only
seven OF them to go around. Another argu-
ment Hubbard will have to meet Is that he
has not yet been enrolled in the house and
that he will not have the opportunities and
time to make the record enthusiastically
predicted for him.
He can barely take his seat before the
matter of electing the state senate hold
overs comes up. and II he mixes into that
feature he will have opposition for
second term nomination in the same year.
At the best he cannot have more than two
full years in the lower house before a
senatorial decision, which will be mani
festly insufficient for him to cut the swath
predicted. without cutting the aforesaid
swath his candidacy for higher honors will
suffer a certain embarrassment