Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-16
HE DECLARES FOR SWISHER
GOVERNOR OF WEST VIRGINIA
SUGGESTS HIS SUCCESSOR.
Gathering of Politicians at Wheeling
and the Developments Noted.
Probable Ticket.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
| WHEELING, w. Va, September 10. 1907
With the state fair and home corners
! week Wheeling has been the mecca for
several days for West Virginians interested
| In politics. They came from points hundreds
| of miles away 90 get line.on the situation,
which means the republican, gull erna-
torial nomination. Next to the state con-
vention itself next year it will probably
| not be excelled by any subsequent period
| as an occasion for hobnobbings and fxings
Meredith j. Simms came from Fayette
county, fully 800 miles distant to help on
the Swisher governorship BOOM and he
brought two other able politicians from
the same section. Simms is president Of
the county court, which Office popularity
| carries with it the title of judge in West
Virginia. Judge Simms had words Of
praise for Sam Dixon, the big boss of his
section, of whose kingdom Fayette is only
a part, and the fact that Dixon and Smms
are for Swisher means goodly bunch of
Swisher delegates to begin with
Just to the golden pumpkins and the
red lemonade came also Col. Robert STALL
ngs from Tucker county. easily 200 miles
away, and bringing with him his boom for
attorney general. w. G. Conley of Preston
county. of the same congressional district
and who also has figured on the same office
with fair reasons for satisfaction was
also here.
Gov. Dawson for Swisher
Fresh from a Colorado jaunt came Gov
Dawson and Secretary of State Swisher
and the governor for the first time made
it plain and final that Swisher is his choice
to succeed him, all of which information
satisfied conside rable yearning on the part
or the populace as to that point Auditor
Cob ;e
was early on the ground. and In the midst
Of the Swsher and Scherr activities Will
liam II. Hearne of Wheeling officially and
formally let loose his boom. thus making a
trio of candidate, for the executive chair
Judge Marmaduke H. Willis of Dod-
bridge with an eye to elevation from the
circuit bench to succeed Judge McWhorter
on the supreme bench Senator John w
Santee of Wetzel, who wants to be super
intendent of state schools: John Sherman
Darts, with dream of the authorship; c.
L. Topping of Charleston. who IS putting
up whirlwind chase for secretary Of
state-these and other luminaries of more
or less effulgence buzzed around indus
triously.
Early in the February preceding the 1904
convention. which was held here in July,
the situation had defined itself sufficiently
to your correspondent to predict the COM
position of the state ticket from top to
bottom aside from the state school super
intendency, which was not attempted The.
winter gathering was clear index Of the
probable outcome six months later, and
the prediction was verified to the letter.
May Read This Way.
Ten months in advance of the 1908 conven-
ton does not furnish a sufficiently clarified
atmosphere, but the present outlook, sub
ject to notifications. of course, in the very
near future. suggests a surmise that the
ticket will read this way:
Governor-Charles w. Swisher of Marion.
Secretary 7 of X
nawha
Auditor-J S. Darst of Jackson.
Attorney generally. G. Conley of Pres
ton.
Treasurer-Newton Ogdin of Peasants.
he other place on the ticket, the school
SUPPLEMENTARY, regarded often as a con-
ISOLATION stakes or geographical consldera
ton. has only one avowed candidate so far
Senator Santee-but w. K. Corby of Roane, |
who tried once before: NJ. p. Shawkey of |
kanawha and some others may pop up
later.
Stuart F. Reed of Harrison. first doomed |
for treasurer, is going to shift to secretary
of state. SO that Treasurer Ogdin's only |
other suggested opponent to date is John |
Linnser of Richie. But as in the case of |
the other offices. more candidates may de- |
veop as time rolls on, for the game is still |
young. |
All of the state officers except the secre-
tary of state. comprise the board of public |
works, and the fight will have that feature
In view. because upon control of that body !
rests the future OF the tax-reform move |
ment. Gov. Dawson wants governor and |
a board In sympathy with the policies he |
has pursued. and he stands with Swisher |
because Swisher has been loyal to him, al |
though differing from him at times as to the |
attitude toward certain taxable interests |
and methods Of taxation. The governor Is |
thought to regard Scherr's attitude as of !
both a doubtful and negative character on |
the paramount questions on which the re- |
publican party made its fight three years |
ago and the administrations subsequent |
policies
Real Test to Come.
1t remains to be whether the Daw-
SON Swisher organization Is all-powerful. |
Nobody now demands the repeal Of the new |
tax laws, so that bitterly contested Issue |
Is a thing Of the past, but the people will be |
asked to choose between candidates in full |
sympathy with the tax movement and those |
whose affiliations suggest the contrary.
The Dawson Endorsement OF SWiSher will |
be an influential lever. since it will be sup
plemented by Endorsement from ex-Gov. |
White and District Attorney Elliott North
colt The latter had been the sentimental |
choice for governor until he vetoed 1t in |
Swsher's behalf.
Aside from his announcement, Candidate
Hearne has not interested himself in an
effort to effect an organization: He has
reasons for being confident of the support /
of his own immediate section. and may
later get busy in the other sections. In this
respect Swisher and Scherr have the ad-
vantage of extended and familiar acquaint-
ance among the workers Hearne is en-
dowed with much persistency which, II
called into play will make his position grow
where now 1t Is without root.
a