Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-10
CONDITIONS ARE MIXED
NUMEROUS REPUBLICAN AsPIR-
ANTs-No FIXED ISSUES.



WHEELING. w. Va. March Q. 1907.
The state legislature finally completed the
work of its extended session this week, and
out of the last turn of the hopper came two
new booms for state office on the republic
can ticket Robert Stallings, a delegate
from Tucker county. who doomed up stead
lily to advantage in the house. will be a
candidate for attorney general Another
young man from his senatorial district, Sem
ator Sam B. Montgomery of Preston county,
will be a candidate for secretary of state.
Stallings is, so far. the only full-f1edged
candidate for attorney general. although it
Is believed Clark w. May, who now holds
that office. will be a candidate to succeed
himself If something better does not come
his way. May is a receptive candidate for
governor, and under certain contingencies
may try conclusions with Representative
James A. Hughes for a seat in Congress
from the fifth district.
The attorney generalship pays $500
year. and is the only state Office included in
the state board of public works that does
not require residence at Charleston. the
state capital. 1t is practically one of the
executive offices, with its incumbent MEM
her of the governors official family or cao-
met but it has never appealed TO big law
yers as place to rest long, especially In
late years. when the industrial development
of the state has given lawyers opportunities
which they would not care to foreso Tor
this office. 1t is understood that Attorney
General May would be more satlSned TO
succeed himself if the legislature had passed
the salary increase bill, and the same rea-
son is given for Judge Sanders candfdacy
for governor Had the salaries for the
supreme court judges been advanced 1t is
said Sanders would have been content to
remain on the bench.
Interests Will Clash.
If May persists in looking forward to the
governorship Judge Sanders will find his
path strewn with tacks since both men
will draw from the same section of the
state and, to a certain degree. from the
same elements of support. Neither is per-
sonally aggressive in a tireless fashion, out
there is defined sentiment behind Sanders.
which is not evident or is latent In May
case Should the divergent ends OF the
republican party have close nght on
hand for the head Of the ticket. May pos
sesses qualities which would fit him for
compromise choice.
The entrance of Montgomery into the race
for the secretaryshfp of state promises both
big field and a hustling skirmish among
half dozen aspirants. Since the incum-
bent, Charles Wesley Swfsher, came out IN
the open for governor there has been a
remarkable hustle among those who want
to succeed him, and all the calculations Oh
vorce Swisher from any thought of an am
bition to succeed hinself IN case ne cannot
climb higher rung.
MONTGOMERY was considered the Adonis OF
the senate, while his district partner in the
house. Bob Stallings. who wants to be at
torney general, was looked upon as the
Beau Brummel of that body, and attained
a record for university of vests that would
put Tim Woodruff in the frigid shadows.
montgomery backed Stallings when the lat
ter wanted to go to the senate instead OF 10
Tho nd will 10 int
Developments, now that their ambitions Will
clash The fact rs evident that both can
not expect to have places on the state
ticket.
Montgomery made a good campaigning
record in the session just closed. He played
up strong on the labor end. and otherwise
made a satisfactory showing. which should
help him among his constituents. His four
year term as senator has expired and he
will have to fight the governors machine in
the latter's former home county. II the Or
ganization were cordial to him he might
be returned to the senate, but he is prob
ably taking as good a chance in entering
the larger arena. Like. Swishers whom he
wants to replace. he. is a young West Vir-
gilman, who has come up out of the mines.
Rumors of Special Session.
There are intangible rumors of another
special session of the legislature, to be
called by Governor Dawson before the presr
ent year ends The governor has given no
sign of such intention, but those who have
observed his discontinue over the failure
of his party to work certain reforms close
to his heart will not be surprised II. he
again calls the solons together. His private
plea will be that the party should not have
to face needless embarrassments in the
campaign next year. -
Governor Dawson will have precedent in
the action Of Governor White who hurried
the legislature into session week after
the republican state convention in 1904 and
managed to have legislation enacted which
in turn became the basis of appeal to the
electorate in the campaign in the subse-
quent autumn.
The temper of the people at present is
one of disgust over the Legislative record.
Furthermore the republican party in the
state lacks potential or promising leader
ship. There Is no set program to offer the
people and campaigns were won heretofore
by definite issues, which had an echoing
ring. Now it is difficult to forecast the
partys platform, and as the Dawson fol-
lowing has not won any ground and prob
ably has lost some there is due to be a
fight for control along the lines of policy,
and the success of neither faction will be
as decisive or as strong in popular vote
getting possibilities as few years ago,
when the factions were born and when they
split on the rock of taxation.
While some progress was made on the
new tax system, 1t has been only scat
tered crop of the definite scheme proposed.
At this stage it looks like the republicans
might find Ii convenient to line up for their
state campaign next year on national Is
sues, leaving the democrats for change
to take the initiative on state issues.
Intelligence Of the Bee.
Maurice Maeterlnck in Harper's
TT would he EASY withOut anDealipp IN