Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-14
OPPOSED TO SWISHER
COMBINATION IN WEST vIR-
GINA ON GovERNoRsHIP.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
WHEELING. W. Va, July 49, 1907.
Republicans opposing the nomination of
Secretary of State Swisher for goverper
may Centraltze on James l.. Caldwell of
Huntington, who made a fairly good show
ing for the United States senatorship fight
against Senator Scott five years ago in a
period of preliminary skirmishes. The pre-
liminaries ended, however, with an elimina-
ton conference at Washington.
Failing to get encouragement from Judge
John w. Mason, the Dawson republicans
inimcal to Swisher show tendency to
take Caldwell, while the Teter republicans,
unable likewise to get definite answer
from Auditor A. c. Scherr, declare that
Jim Caldwell is perfectly satisfactory to
them. Generally speaking. Caldwell is
classed as a man salts factory to all inter-
ests, particularly the business interests
and the business interests, so called, have
deal to do with the making of statesmen
in West Virginia.
The effort to promote Caldwell boom is
characterized by friends of Swisher an
attempt to make connection with the capa-
cious Caldwell barrel The Huntington man
Is well supplied with this worlds goods, and
his barrel was tapped freely While he had
the United States senatorship i'll view. He
is strong in his own section, which feature
is always a fiattering tribute to any man,
and the Caldwell movement, if launched
seriously and earnestly, will come close to
knocking the persimmon-
Perplexing and Surprising.
But the surprising and perplexing revela-
ton of the past week is the boom for the
denomination Of ex-Gov. White, which orig
mated in Preston county, Gov. Dawson's
old home. The former governor was in
dorsed for the gubernatoral office in the
presence of the present governor at King
wood by the so-caled leaders of the party
In the county. The announcement is said
to have been a ''surprise' to both. They
attended a meeting of the leaders though
each professed he did not know for what
purpose it had been called. When the sur
prise had been sprung Gov. Dawson at
once declared that he knew of no better
man to succeed to the governors chair.
Dawson served as secretary of state when
White was governor and recently the latter
was appointed state tax commissioner by
Dawson. Mr.. White would not admit he
was candidate for governor, but indicated
he was in receptive mood.
Returning to a discussion of Caldwell, 1t
may be stated he was one of the twenty
eight men who protested in public state
ment against the original tax commiss on
recommendations. Every one of the Signers
who bobbed up for political honors in that
year. including c. f. Teter. met with severe
itself now on that account.
Senator Elkins gets the credit OF being
the patron of the Swisher boom. with more
or less circumstantiality to support the as
sertion. Inasmuch as Elkins and Swisher
have been mutually helpful In business anu
political circles, it would appear that the
senator's support comes as mater OK
grateful memory. Notwithstanding the
popular impression, however, there are re-
liable reports to the effect that Elkins
would look with favor on Caldwells candl-
cd TO h-,X-a NVn
ised Caldwell something equally as good
when he withdrew from the senatorial race,
a withdrawal which carried with 1t no OPP
position to the succession of either Elkins
or Scott.
Remains Conjectural.
Gov Dawson's position really remains
conjectural in the gubernatorial affair. His
visit to Preston county is said to have been
because OF his interest in fight over the
Tunnelton post office. Senator Sam Mont
gomery, an anti-Dawson leader in that
county wants the Office to remain In his
family, and County Chairman ]. w. Flynn
and other ardent Dawson men want Repre-
Sturgiss to name another man.
Mixed up with the talk of the governor
ship nomination Is ripple or two about
the position West Virginia will take on the
presidential nomination. Representatives
Hubbard and WooAyard recently gave ut
terance to stand-pat tariff utterances,
" hich are viewed with solemn slgnincance
by those opposed to Taft as prejudicial to
the War Secretarys chances In this state.
combined with Hubbard and
Sturgiss, will be for Taft or Roosevelt for
another term. There are republicans who
will not be for Taft because of his state
supporters, and they say Roosevelt again
Is good enough for them, although they
do not attempt to conceal their preference
for Knox or every other candidate except
Ing Taft Local factional considerations,
so far as they apply, explain this align
ment
Opposition to the "Fixers."
Opposition Is being manifested to the fire.
uuent reports Of conferences at Washing
ton and jamestown for the purpose OF fixing
up the next state ticket and delegation to
the national republican convention. The
latest, that the state was to be delivered to
Taft and that Senators Elkins and Scott
were to be let down with delegateships- at
large has been denied by several OF those
Senator Scott declines consideration as a
delegate. He may or may not care to sue
coed himself as national committeeman,
but he will not withdraw If fight Is nee
essary to retain his membership. EX-GoV
White is talked of as a candidate for COM
but his name Is being. over
worked as a candidate for governor in 1908
and a candidate for the Senate in the event
OF vacancy.
sioner, the most conspicuous missionary
for the Swisher boom, and District At
torney Northcott. who said Taft would get
West Virginia. are being criticised for per-
nicious activity and premature announce
ments The criticism comes from those who
do not want Swisher for governor. In the
meantime the Swisher candidacy Is grow
ing actually while his opponents are more
at sea now than ever.