The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-04-17
STURGlSS TALKS POLITICS
Second District Congressman Dis.
cusses Political Situation
Very interestingly.
PEOPLE ARE ToR ROOSEVELT
with Secretary Taft as Second Choice
As He Win Garry Out the
Policies Of Roosevelt.


Congressman George c. sturgiss
in a few brief remarks to repre-
sentative of the Telegram here Tues
day evening stated the political con-
ditions as he finds them in his dis
jrict. Mr.. sturgiss said that the
sentiment of the people, irrespective
Of party afIiliation, so far as he had
come in contact with public senti-
ment, is very strongly for Roose-
velt, with Taft as the man to carry
ont the Roosevelt policies, in the
event the President does not run
again. Mr.. sturgiss is also Of the
belief that President Roosevelt will
not consent to be a candidate for
the Presidency again, unless the peo-
pie force it upon him.
Congressman sturgiss reiterated
a denial that Governor Dawson,
Congressman Hubbard and himself
had set out to set up the West vir-
sinia delegation for Mr.. Taft.
Ridicules Bryan Idea.
The Bryan idea of government
ownership of trunk or interstate
railroad lines and state ownership
Of state lines were shown up by Mr..
sturgiss to be so impracticable as to
he ridiculously chaotic. In Illus
rating this point. Mr.. sturgiss had
no idea that the people of West yir-
ginia would bond the State for mil
lions of dollars to buy and own the
railroads in the State, and, there
fore, if that were not done, and the
Interstate railroads were owned by
the government and the state rail-
roads by private individuals or cor
porations, there would be confus-
ion and conflict most disastrous.
Also in this connection he referred
to Bryan's not being fully assured
that the time was really ripe for gov
ernment ownership. which is as much
to say that he is in doubt or makes
a grandstand play now in order to
dodge the responsibility Of recent
declarations that government owner
ship is the right thing. Mr.. Sturgiss
pronounces Bryan's views on govern
ment ownership as unfavorable and
as ludicrous as Bryan's free-silver
contention.
Next Campaign Issues.
Congressman sturgiss is of the
opinion that the next campaign will
be fought on two main questions.
One of those will be Grover CIeve-
lands free-trade ideas as against
protection, which is responsible for
the splendid high development of
the country, and the other is govern
ment ownership on the part Of the
Bryan advocacy as against reason
able governmental regulations of
railroads and corporations as is now
so well under headway by President
Roosevelt and his policies.
That the Roosevelt policies and
some one to carry them out, is the
popular idea, Mr.. sturgiss has not
the slightest doubt, and he is Of the
firm conviction, from his contact
with many people, that either the
President or some one in sympathy
with the Presidents policies viii be
the next President of the Uniteu
States.
Even prominent Democrats here
have assured Mr. sturgiss that they
viii vote for Mr.. Taft, if he is the
nominee, which but adds to his con-
viction that the next President of the
United States will be man repre-
senting the Roosevelt policies.
-. :. .-S.,..z.,..s