Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-15
OPPOSITION TO Mr.. HUBBARD
POSSIBLE CONFLICT IN WEST
VIRGINIA DISTRICT.
Republicans Said to Have New Man
Under Consideration-The In
cumbent's Troubles.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence OF The Star.
WHEELING. w. Va. December II, 1901
1t is more than reasonable assumption
that the first West Virginia congressional
district will be the scene of another highly
interesting contest for the republican
nomination. Representative William p.
Hubbard, who defeated Capt. Dovener for
the honor last year. is due. unless indca-
lions fail. to measure lances with a
younger foeman in the person of Robert
Hazlett. a follower member of the state
senate.
There are at present only the barest
preliminaries to the pending struggle.
Hubbard and Hazle;t are Ohio county
men. and Ohio county will be the storm
center as 1t was between Hubbard and
Dovener. The evidences of apparent dis
affection from Hubbard. however, have
come first from Harrison county, and it is
asserted that Hubbard might not be able
to carry Harrison. and the same oracles
aver that as Harrison goes so will Marion
county, its neghbor.
The prospective skirmish will come as a
surprise to those who considered that
Hubbards commanding stature entitled
him to a second term nomination without
question. but the politicians are inclined
to argue that Hubbard's course of treat
ment TO the fellows who do things makes
him dangerous from the standpoint of
party unity. although why this argument
was not heard promiScuouSy a year ago
is not explained. except on the theory
that Hubbard is now in a position to be
dictatorial. # he chooses.
Ambitious and Aggressive.
Senator Hazle.t is ambitious and in
tensely aggressive when he goes after
things. He has fitted himself for promo
ton I'D the ladder of s.atecraft by serv-
ice of half a dozen years in the
Wheeling city council and is now rounding
out six wears of service in the legislature.
His friends think congressional career
IS right in the line of advancement. and,
while they concede Hubbard's ability,
they believe if the opposition to Hubbard
is as pronounced and growing as It is
claimed to be that he might as well put
up his lightning rod as have the honor
go outside of Ohio county
HaZlett is non-committal but is known
to have under serious and solemn con-
sideration the overtures of support ten
dered in his behalf by party workers who
command elements of strength. Hubbard
is in Washington. enjoying the seat he
began to occupy barely two weeks ago.
Among the rank and file throughout the
district there is no perceptible evidence
of the approaching battle, and Hazletts
announcement would have surprise as It's
first effect. Later it might develop the
latent powerful antagonism to Hubbard
claimed to exist by those leaders who are
credited with souring on Hubbard or
having him sour on them.
In this Connection the names of Sher-
man Denham and Virgil Highland. the
Harrison county leaders, figure luminous
ly, and thereby revive the gossip anent
the part they played in the Hubbard
Dovener contest. They were criticised
intensely and immensely for alleged
treachery-or. at least. base ingratitude-
TO Dovener but their defenders maintain
that their side of the controversy has
never been presented. Instead of playing
both ends and the middle. as has been
charged against Them their defenders
assert that Dovener was advised by Den
ham and Highland that he was up against
II and should realize he had losing prop
osition hand. 1t is pointed out also
that Clarksburg's vote, where Denham's
influence was exerted, gave Dovener a
good margin. which. while not sufficient
to overcome the vote in the rural pre-
cincts, proved that the Denham- Highland
organization was loyal.
Charge of Disloyalty.
However that may be, the impression
was generally created through West
Virginia that Dehham and Highland for
got the hand that recognized them in the
plum distribution, and it has hurt them,
whether justly or unjustly. in the large
circle which knows them in political
sense. That they will line up for Haz-
lett against HubH lard is foregone con-
.HsLon HUBBARD has started out in
tho&h fhe popular impression has been
thalSac<y were Instrumental in trimming
DoyefSr down for him. Hubbards att-'
tude Mould tend to indicate that they
DID noS support him, as is supposed, or
tdat-ff they Supported him and were dis
, loSe+to Dow rer he is gifted with an
equal appreciation of the fitness of things.
Hubbard recently made a driving trip
y rOUglH roads in Harrison county to
Ninvestlgg the situation at Adamston.
NwheF~a new postmaster is to lie ap-
fonted. Adamston is not on the state
maps. but can be located on county pro-
filts and is big enough to h-ve several
PATRIOTS willing TO serve under Uncle Sam.
Gossip has IL mat after Hubbard spent
anxious hours trying to solve the puzzle
he consulted Messrs. Denham and High
land and that they told him to settle ii
himself. The outcome at Adamcton has
not yet been contided to yearning public.
Representative Hubbard has another
prcblem az Wellsburg. with half a dozen
active aspirants. and these two post office
tangIes are only the first of what must
be gone Through with by new man
Those who understand Hubbard's char
acteristics will not be surprised IL this
phase of the congressional business goes
against his grain He has started off to
give every post office succession typical
personal attention.
May Have Blundered.
Following this plan he may have blum
deTed by not getting the ear of those
gentlemen who attend TO getting voters
TO the polls on bleak and blustery No
vember days. Perhaps If congressional
duties did not include, the filling of petty
post offices and the distribution CT garden
seeds Hubbard might sit through con-
Gressional terms unopposed. but the work
ers know II is the things that appear as
trifles to the great minds which are vitality
necessary TO organization
There is nothing new in the republican
Eubernatorial matter, except that C.. ',
Dillon continues to send out circular let
tiers to county committeeman and others.
asking for Information as to the existence
of any sentiment for him. HIS para
graph that he had been given to under
stand that there was not - much s-n-
timent for the candidates already in the
field has not been accepted kindly by the
devOtees at the Swisher, Scherr and
IIearne shrnes.