Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-24
STATE PRIMARY LAW
ISSUE AMONG THE REPUBLICANS
IN WEST VIRGINIA.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
WHEELING, W. Va, February %
The matter of uniform state primary
law has become a burning issue among re-
publicans of West Virginia, and the ques-
ton promises in time to supplant that OF
tax reform. The dividing lines are largely
cast in the same mold. Geographically the
issue is clear so far as the southern belt OF
counties Is concerned.
Gov. Dawson threw down the gauntlet
80 to speak. few days ago in a demand
for a primary law, and it is somewhat
significant that his most ardent followers
on the tax issue are with him on the new
reform. The governor holds that the re-
publican party is pledged to electoral re-
form by its last state platform. but Hugh
Ike Shott of Bluef1eld, a member of the
state committee, argues in return that the
primary plank adopted by the convention
was not understood by nine-tenths of the
delegates. and that its introduction was g.
breach of the pre-convention agreement ar
rived at in the daylight hours preceding the
convention.
Shott makes the interesting announce
ment that there was an understanding or
agreement between ne warning Dawson
and Teter men to the effect that the pri-
mary resolution was to be withheld. and
that this agreement was furthermore ar
rived at when the anti-primary men
threatened to introduce disfranchisement
W riding Indefinite.
The wording of the state platform on
the primary feature was not particularly
definite or striking and really little was
heard of it from that time. over two years
ago, until this session Of the legislature.
II Postmaster Shott is correct, it Is argued
in rebuttal. the threatened disfranchise-
ment plank must have been kept within
osv.ol0 for G11ph ynr
was heard Of on the outside until now,
and no republican ever enanlv breathed
such a doctrine until Delegate Evans Of
Mingo did SO indirectly with his Jim Crow
car bill few weeks ago.
Then, when the pro-primary men got
active the republican leaders Of the black
belt counties pointed out the danger of
negro supremacy with mandatory pri-
mary, and they gave forth doleful predic
tions Of what would happen In the counties
where the negro vote preponderated. They
held that the safety of the white citizens
depended on continuance of the conven-
ton method.
The primary BILL offered by Delegate
John T. Cooper of Wood county, is a dead
duck. unless 1t should pop up at special
session, which 1t is said Gov. Dawson may
be induced to call under certain conditions.
The noise made over the primary comes en-
tirely from republicans. The democratic
members of the legislature mostly voted for
the primary bill. although they did not ex-
hibit much concern about the measure. As
a rule the people at large refuse to share
in the present hubbub. but there is never
theless q growing sentiment for q primary
law, which is certain to be fosteEed by Gov.
Daws0ns activity in it's behalf.
BY staxing on thes primary law the re-
publican ticket next year Will be named. al
usual by state convention In that body
the question will be q paramount topic
The Dawson faction To q man Will be- for II,
while many, Of the old Teter guard and all
from the southern cQNntiess win oppose IT.
One reason for tha opposition viii be on
account of feeling that with primary
law Gov. Dawson intends to be q candidate
before the people for the United Statea
Senate to succeed Senator Scott.
The Senator's Activity.