Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-21
WHITE BOOM LAUNCHED
DAMON AND PYTHIAS PACT IN
WEST VIRGINIA.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.
WHEELING, W. Va. July 20. 1!

| Special Correspondence Of The Star.
WHEELING. W. Va. July 20. 1907.
i The gubernatorial nomination, which
early began to excite the active republicans
of Vest Virginia. has attracted an increas-
Ing amount of speculation which is now as
feverish as the weather Recent develop
ments have put many at sea, and there is a
tendency to see how the cat will next
jump before there definite alignments
which will remain aligned. The prospects
are for a three-cornered race. Certain
eventualities will cause ex-Gov. A. B. White
| to be pitted against Secretary of State
Swisher. but Judge Mason has the power
! by an affirmative nod to c.arify the situa-
ton immensely.
visit to Kingwood a few days ago by
| Gov. Dawson and his predecessor occa-
! stoned the launching of White boom by
a number of Preston county republicans.
! The fact that Preston is Dawsons old home
| county would have been significant in itself.
+; but the presence of the governor and White
! together, coupled with their remarks to
gathering of republicans. made it clear that
White was Dawson's choice. The White
boom was subsequently declared to have
/ been merely spontaneous movement,
! hence the spontaneity thereof subjects it to
some ridicule from anti-Dawson repnbl
cans.
| Dawson's speech for White was the first
| and only public announcement from him
that he was not for Swisher. and 1t de-
| stroyed the Swisher boomers assertion that
the governor would come into the fold.
Dawson said. furthermore, at the candidate
| he would support must be committed to
the policies advocated by him and Gov:
| White during their administrations, and
not only committed but identified with
| them actively and aggressively.
"Tax Reform" Once More.
A reaS soma le deductiop from, biS cpaacb
is that the tax reform issue which success
fully landed Dawson in the governors
chair is to be revamped that he has a
relative issue up his sleeve. In this respect
White is the most logical man in the state,
inasmuch as the constitution prohibits
Dawson succeeding himself, and since
White is not debarred from being governor
again after one term has interviewed But
the Dawson position offers other deduc-
tions.
The Kingwood incident was plain notice
to all other mentionables that none was
satisfactory to the present governor save
| and except Judge Mason. Condensed. Gov.
Dawson insists on candidate for governor
to his own liking, and all opposing his
views will have to fight it out for the
governor is a fighter and even a better
tactician than fighter.
But beyond the governorship issue lies
DawSonS future, wherein there's nut to
crack. Senator Scott. for instance. would
like it cracked without delay. Has Dawson
designs on SCOTS seat in the event of his
ability to name his successor in the gov
ernors chair? That's query which is
tertaining the senator's friends.
When White became governor he con-
tinued Dawson in office as secretary of
state, then an Office particularly lucrative.
and Dawson returned the favor by appoint
ing White as state tax commissioner few
months ago when Charles Wesley Dillon
vacated il. Should White become governor
again he could make Dawson the tax COM
missioner he could throw the influence
of the state machinery to the election of
Dawson to the United States Senate.
Might Control Legislature.
White and Dawson could easily control
legislature if victors the state ticket
composition. Thus there reasons for any
concern Senator Scott may entertain as to
| the Dawson program of White for governor.
So far White has not committed himself
positively. He says he does not want to
become candidate unless it seems that
the party's interests require it and the
movement in his behalf warrants 1t suffi-
GENTLY. Between the lines Of his remarks
and coupled with the subsequent conference
between Dawson and Judge Mason and am
plified by Mason in euloges In adminstra-
ton mouthpieces, it looks very much like
White will be the Dawson candidate only
in the event that Judge Mason fatty de-
clineS consideration.
1ae judge will doubtless be satisfactory
to the Dawson-White wing on the line of
state policies. although originally he was
not lined up with the tax reformers. His
decisions from the bench were satisfactory
and his attitude on the liquor question
makes him appeal to the Anti-Saloon
League. Governor Dawson Of late has
shown an inclination to be hostile to the
liquor business, Notwithstanding he realizes
its necessity for the maintenance of the
state government under the new revenue
system
Makes Votes for Swisher.
With the entrance of White prob
able candidate for governor there was a
disposition to join the Swisher ranks on the
part of those VINO were formerly against
him, but who prefer him as the lesser of
two evils. Very many admirers of ex-Gov.
White are only lukewarm at best to the
kingwood movement. They do not like
the idea of a DawsonW White monopoly of
the plums. Whites personality and his
advocacy of DaWson'S cause were the fac
tors that made Dawson governor, after
due credit is given Dawson for his strategy
leadership of Representative w. p. Hub
bard, but personality will rot cut the
same figure next time.
Gov. Dawson's desire to see himself sue
ceeded by one after his own heart would be
farther reaching if 1t could be divorced
from the suspicion that he has other fish to
fry. That feature may account for the
Indifferent reception given to the White
boom and the turning to Mason. Secretary
of State Swsher will fight it out to a
finish. To the present he is the only avowed
candidate.
c. E. HaddoX, the state prison warden
at Moundsvlie, ought to be a good Daw-
son selection, but certain Dawson followers
say Haddox is too extreme and radical in
his views. Haddox would have been state
tax commissioner if he hadn't encountered
Senator Elkns' veto two years ago AS
governorshp seeker he would strike the
same snag. but it is said he can get Mar
shall county to start with if he wants it.
PRINCE WILHELM OF SWEDEN.