Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-21
MAY RETIRE FROM POLITICS
RUMoR WHICH AFFECTS SENA.
TOR ELKINs' FUTURE.
Lacks Confirmation, But Neverthe.
less Is Discussed Among West
Virginia Republicans.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

l
port has 1t that Senator Elkns will
be content with the term in the Senate
which he was given without party OPP
position last winter, and that he will
not ask for a fourth term. That Is to
say, he is going to retire from active
| politics and will not have an eye to a
| machine to secure reelection
As the senior senator will have
| reached the allotted span of life when
his present term ends, this report of
his proposed intentions naturally should
find willing ear, especially since 1t Is
| supplemented by the explanation that he
wants to give exclusive attention to
| his very large and varied business In
terests and investments in the state of
| his adoption
But there Is an oracular denial of
the report from some state republican
leaders who are close to the Elkins cir
cle They declare that no such an an
nouncement will proceed from the SEN
ator. regardless of how industriously
the report may be circulated They
put more stress on the improbability
or such an announcement being made
by the senator in the near future than
they do in his suggested retirement
five or six years hence
Thare Is reason for the circulation
NhN sAV ACiAiaA vi tlllS SlOTy. II Is eUlDOQ-
led In the potency Of the name Of Elkins
In republican political councils Knowl-
edge that he is going to quit the political
game would mean great shaking up
among the lesser fry. There would be
more independence where now 1t is an in
different quantity, and much activity to-
ward getting sails in shape for trimming.
1t would cut a large figure, in fact, al
most deciding influence in the present
republican contest for the governorship
nomination.
Both After Endorsement.
Both Swisher and Scherr want the Ell
kins influence and prestige, which count
so much with certain fellows who believe
1t to be to their advantage to stand in
with the real big fellow. Scherr claims to
have received Elkins support a year or
SO back. Swisher claims to have 1t now,
and because 1t looks like Swisher is speak
Ing by the books, to use an expression of
Alex r. Campbell, one of Wheeling's re-
publican luminaries, Scherr Is reported to
be exceedingly warm under the collar.
The belief that Elkins was not looking
into the future would call for new deals
IN many ways, but the greatest effect
would be noticed among the federal ma
chine members. Ambition to succeed the
senator, even so far away. would play
quite part in the framing up of per-
sonal machines. Senator Scott's success
sion is only three years off, but Scott is
too well entrenched for battle. A war
on him would entail a herculean task, lit
tie encouragement and extremely doubt
full results.
Gaines a Possibility.
With Elkins out of the way. Represen-
tative Joseph H. Gaines would loom I'D
as a possible successor. The next COVER
nor would also have to be reckoned with,
not to count other members of the con-
gressional delegation besides Gaines, as
we'll as an eminent. assortment of republi-
cans, mostly in the southern end Of the
state, like Ed Huston OF Mcdowell who
dreams of dwelling some day in senate
rial halls.
If Senator Elkins entertains the idea of
retiring after he serves out his present
term 1t will be difficult to get him to take
the people into his confidence in advance,
both because Of a characteristic personal
trait and because of the effect 1t would
have on the campaigning Of those close
to him.
Senator Elkins has not been strenuously
active for several years, but he builded
his reputation strong and lasting for a
worker when he was at the head of his
party's firing line in 1894 and prior there
to. when the state was wrested from the
democracy and he was repaid with SEN
atorial honors.
He has been the acknowledged
leader since. The holders Of the bigger
Jobs and the candidates for the state
ticket places have since sought his in
dorsement, but the multitude of seekers
after small favors have gradually tired
of ringing his doorbell. His field Of busi-
ness endeavor has increased so steadily
that he has hardly time to remember
names, and less time for the promotion
of their appetites.
Senator Elkins' Prominence.
Senator Elkins has been prominent In
public, political and private life. West
Virgnians often express pity that he has
not seen fit to drop the chase of the al
mighty dollar and round out his life solely
as a statesman. They believe there is no
ladder too high for him to climb If he
specialiZes.
Originally, when he left Missouri as a
beardless boy with his Latin and Greek
books under his arm, he had dreamed of
becoming a collegiate instructor a phil
osopher or something of the sort, which
would teach the young idea how to shoot.
Shifted otherwise by the turn of circum-
stances he became a captain of finance
Seeing quickly the possibilities of West
Virginia he started at the infancy of its
industrial development and therein won
laurels. 1t will require Senator Elkins
own admission to confirm the story that
in the early future he Is to retire from
political activity.