The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-01-19
M'GRAW May
LOSE THIS Time
CHIFFON IS AFTER rAE PARTY
LESpERsaiP AND A BATTLE
TO a FINISH Isl ON.

CHARLESTON, Jan. Is, Affairs
have % shaped themselves that the
remnant Of the West Virginia Democ.
racy Is soon TO engage ii q factionai
battle that win reyerberate through.
out the State and have It's effect on
party affairs for years to come. No
less distinguished facticnalists than
Hon: John 7. McGraw and Hon. w. e.
Chiffon are 70 lead the opposing fore.
es and the battle ground w.n be In
Charleston when the Democratic mem.
beers OF the Legislature meet to nom.
mate a candidate forsthe United states
Senate.
There is no Disgusting the fact
that the McGraw leadership has be.
come distasteful to considerable
element of the party. The so.cei.ed
little giant. is accused of logging
1t all when the empty honors are
passed around while Others OF less
renown bear the brunt Of the fights.
put up the money aud do the heavy
work generally. {
McGraw's opponents accuse him
of pursuing an assinine policy in re.
cent State campaigns and they point
out that under his leadership the
Republican majority has Increased
from year TO year with appalling ra.
pidity. The remnant that remains
wishes to save itself from complete
humiliation. hence the proposed
change of leadership
To wrest control from McGraw his
fractional enemies have induced Hon.
William e. Chiffon, of Charleston.
to aspire for the empty honor Of tie
Democratic caucus nomination for
United States Senator: II this fight
can be won the warfare will he car.
ried to the next State convention and
an attempt win be made to pnseat
McGraw as national Committeeman, a
posi- he has held for ten years or
more.
It is authorftatively asserted that
Mr.. Chiffon was not dragged into
the fight. but that he entered will
ingly. He is, in fact, generally
credited with being the leader and
the insdgator of the anti.Mccraw
movement. He is fighter and
knows how to play the game.
The Chiffon aspirations have been
known for some time and 1t is stat
ed that when Mr.. McGraw was here
not long ago he was asked to step
down and out and that he refused.
He has friends on the ground, Tow.
ever, and the preliminary skirmishes
are now taking place.
The election to the Senate OF
Hon. Adam B. Littlepage materially
helped the Chiffon contingent ami
1t is claimed that his adherence to
the Kanawha county leader has been
shown in his course since taking the
seat. For instance, It Is asserted
that Senator Littlepage's resolution
to investigate certain corporations
and their reputed Hobbies at the cap.
itol was blow at McGraw because
it is alleged that certain persons
friendly to these corporations are
managing the McGraw campaign.
The chiltons were active in the
last campaign. It is stated that
they had furnished most Of the
finance and that they were able to
secure the nomination OF men friend
" to their interests. They were able
to penetrate some Of the Democratic
Businesses controlled by McGraw in
former years and dictate some nom,
nations.
Some Of the old war horses who
have stood for McGrew year after
year have lined up against him IN
this fight and it looks like a hilton
victory. 1t is stated that the Demo
cratic caucus will take place next
Monday night and unless all signs
fail there will be memorable hattie.
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