Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29
AWAIT LEGISLATIVE SESSION
POLITICIANS IN WEST VIR-
GINA AT STANDSTILL.
Puzzling Situation Develops in State,
Locally and Nationally-Taft
Divides With Knox.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

WHEELING. w. va,
December %, 1907.
Political developments in this state are
waiting on the special legislative session,
which begins next month. Chairman
Woodyards call for the republican state
committee meeting at Parkersburg a few
weeks hence is of minor Importance. al
though this meeting will select the state
convention date and place OF meeting.
Not until the legislature has adjourned
will the state campaign take on definite
shape.
The character of legislation tot be adopt
ed or defeated. together with such side is
sues and byplays affecting the governor
ship as may be participated in inciden-
tally. will draw the lines clearly as to the
issue to be pushed in the election con-
test between the republicans and demo-
Gratis, and serve also to cut a figure in
the composition of the state tickets of
both parties, but particularly, of course
with the republicans.
Gov. Dawsons attitude throughout the
special session talk has been somewhat
puzzling. First of all he wanted a special
session full year ago, but nothing vital
of popular import suggested itself. Then
came the opportunity with an adverse
decision Of the supreme court on the
Writ county tax case, whereupon the gov
ernor fixed January q for the beginning
or the session. Later when a rehearing
before the court was negotiated the ses-
sion went into the air, temporarily, and
when the court within the intervening
week refused to reverse it's decision the
word went out that. the session was to
Dawson carefully refrained from infict-
Ing on the public full and complete
knowledge of the subjects he wished leg
lslatlve action on and continued to de-
fer his official CALL
Situation is Puzzling.
In the meantime, while awaiting the
assembling of the solons, the party COM
m1ttees in the various counties don't
know where they are at" They are in
doubt as to a proper time for dating pri-
MARES and conventions. They hesitate
about selecting dates which may conflict
WIN the legislative session, providing the
session Is prolonged Where they are in
c!ineo TO early conventions they are re-
strained by the fear that the Legislature
may Still be at Charleston during local
ticket preliminaries. They can get a cue
from the state convention date but that
VIII not entirely suffice.
Ihere seems to be the impression that
the work of the special session will
strengthen the administration. In that
event the conclusion would be that Swish
ers gubernatorial stock will go higher, in
asmuch as he is regarded as the admins
trations logical choice as between him
self and Auditor Scherr Charles w.
Dilion's entrance in the race for governor
is not looked for now. He was the fav-
ored one in the extreme Dawson wing
but his circular letters directed to county
leaders on hunt for sentiment are not
supposed to have encouraged him. But
again the special session hobs up. Dillon
may hold out until then before formally
announcing his refusal to run. and the
session may also develop considera BILE
sentiment or strength for dark horse.
Between Swisher and Scherr.
The fight at present is between Swisher
and Scherr, with Hearne of Wheeling
pursuing less strenuous candidacy On
the surface the majority of politicians
appear to be for Scherr. There are other
politicians for Swisher who are not SO
pronounced in their views. The Scherr
men on the one hand pooh-pooh the re-
puted SwiSher strength, declaring 1T is a
myth while in the next breath they talk
in excited tones of what will happen to
the powers that be if they support
Swsher. The fact that they admit the
contingency of support from the higher
circles tends to confirm the general i'm
preston that Swisher is backed by Sena-
tor Elkins. And in the same boat might
be included Gov. Dawson, Elliott North
colt and others able to WELD potential
levers.
Likewise the fact that certain Swisher
followers mildly threatening Senator
Scott with defeat unless he lines up with
Swisher would indicate that Scott may
look approvingly ON Scherr. There are
good grounds for thinking that Scott isn't
advancing the Swisher cause, but Scott
has the most logical of reasons for not
butting into the fight. For one thing. in
Hearne his own city and county has
candidate for governor, and again he
doesn't want to mix into situation which
may embarass his own cause a few years
hence
Scott doesn't brighten at the drop of
hat. Sometimes the dire foreboding of
more or less influential advisers stir him,
but they do not scare him. He can be-
come concerned without sgetting excited.
The matter of beating him for reelection.
which is now popping up as subject of
gossip in the gubernatOrial affair, Is along
the line that Northcott will be the can
didate in opposition unless he agrees to
play ball with the Swisher people. Sew
eral months ago when the SWiSher cru
saders made a determined initial on
slaught on him the tune was that Rep
resentative Hubbard or Gov. Dawson
would find favor in their eyes for his
shoes.
Scene Shifts.
But now the prospective rivals location
has shifted to the southern end of the
state, while instead of Hubbard getting
push for SCOTS seat he is being handed
probable opposition for a second term
denomination in the rumors that State
Senator HaZett of his county will try
conclusions with him next summer. And
it may Or not be significant that certain
of the Hazlett boomers are particularly
active In the Swisher camp. although
they may not be opposing Hubbard be-
cause he does not come out for Swisher.
President Roosevelt's elimination of him
self did not clarity things relative to the
West Virginia delegation. Representative
Sturgiss thinks Taft will get it.. Gov.
Dawson says he hopes he will. Others
in a position to speak are either uncon-
cerned or prefer to await developments.
But this fact is clear, for the first time.
that there is evidence of Knox sentiment
and that it is destined to increase.
So it may come to pass that West Fir-
gnia will confine its national delegate
contest to the asprants from the two
neighboring states.
SEATrLE, Wash. December 2S-Fire
today destroyed the Washington chill