Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-07-20
SPECULATEING ON White
Governor and Tax Commissioner
Now at Charleston,
SWiSHER NOT TO WITHDRAW
Prevailing Belief That Former Gov
erncr viii Not Run Again for
Office Of Governor.

Charleston, July 17.-The return Of
Governor Dawson and Tax Commits
sioner White TO the city is causing
much interest to local politicians, who
attach great deal Of significance to
the affair at Kingwood last week,
when the republicans Of Preston coun-
ty endorsed Ex-Governor White as the
successor to Governor w. NJ. 0. Daw-
son.
In all their recent utterances both
the governor and the tax commissions
err have refrained from stating
definitely the position they occupy on
the subject of the tax commissioner
candidacy for the high Office, but an
expression must be- forthcoming at
once. The friends of Governor Daw-
son in Kanawha county do not take
kindly to the mention of the ex-gov-
ernor's name, although they have
good words for the former adsinistra-
tion Of the tax commissioner when he
was the executive of the state. 1t is the
breaking Of an established custom and
custom has played an important part
in the affairs OF both state and La
ton.
The friends of Secretary Swisher
who have followed closely the trend
Of events and have watched the situa-
ton over the state since the King
wood formality are very confident
that Mr.. White will not again be a
candidate for the highest office in the
state. 1t is an open boast among the
followers Of Secretary Swisher t hat
he can win over the ex-governor and
they deny strenuously that he would
try again, would cause the secretary
to withdraw.
1t Is asserted in some quarters that
the Kingwood formality was not a
surprise to any of those connected
with the meeting 1t is even said that
a special messenger with an account
of the Kingwood meeting was on his
his way and delivered the dispatch at
the office of the Grafton republican
four hours before the meeting was
called to order. If this report is true
there can be no doubt that the meet
ing was preconceived and prearrang-
ed by those who are friendly with
Governor Dawson and his appointee
in the famous buckwheat belt.
Tax Commissioner White has thus
far refused to confirm the report that
he would be candidate. In every
interview he has given to the press
he has stated that he was surprised
by the reception given him at King
wood, but that it was such a serious
matter that he would be unable to
decide until he had given it the con-
sideration it was entitled to. Because
Of this fact it is contended that the af-
fair was planned by Governor Dawson
merely as feeler to test the
SeltlAueuG VI tue otiIC'
Oae thorough republican who yes
terday returned from Boone county on
a business mission stated that it was
the expression among republicans in
that end Of the state that the repubr-
can party must choose this time as
standard bearer man in whom all
the people had confidence and that no
must not be a man who had occupied
that office before. The people he
thought in both state and nation were
of the same opinion in regard to this
matter and would demand that those
who wished for continuation of pow
er, must step down and out.
The departure of State Auditor
Arnold Scherr yesterday to attend the
meeting of the National Insurance
commissioners means that there Will
not be any announcement coming from
the auditor for at least another week.
After the meeting of the commission
ers, the auditor will visit some of the
cities in the northern section OF the
state and 1t remains problematical
whether or not he will remain in a
silent mood concerning his candidacy
for the gubernatorial chair. The
friends of the auditor have not been
swept loose from their mornings since
the advent of the White boom and
they are still loyal.