The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-07-25
Will Array Solid Forces
Against Divided Repub-
lican Party.
PREPARE TO HOLD
STATE CONVENTION
Chiffon and McGraw Fight for
Gubernatorial Preferences, But
Promise Final Agreement.

CHARLESTON. w. Va, July 25.-In-
sDired by the split in the Republican
party In West Virginia, that resulted
in the placing OF two nominees for gov
ernor as well as two full State tickets
in the field. the indications now are that
the delegates who gather here Wednes-
day, July %. 10 make up the Democratic
State convention. Will put fractional diff
ferenceS aside and endeavOr 70 keep any
bitter feeling out OF their deliberations.
This does not mean. however. that the
contests for the various places on the
ticket, especially that Of governor. will
not be spirite1; and there are those
who predict that the old Chnton-McG raw
fight will crop out over the guberna-
torial nomination.
John T. McGraw. OF Grafton. who has
been IN the saddle in West Virginia for
twelve years, and who succeeded in get
ting himself reelected as National COM
mitteeman at Denver by a majority OF
one, Is supporting Lewis Bennett, OF
weston, for governor, and will throw
his strong organization to him
William E. Chiffon. OF Charleston. who
has opposed McGraw's leadership for
twelve years, and came so close 10 de-
featinS him at Denver, has announced
that he will support Adam 3 Little
page, OF Char, lesion. While McGraw is
the accredited State leader. Chiffon s
friends control the State committee. and
he has already been named as tenn
porary chairman
Fight IN Open.
There have been numerous warm
nights in the open between these. rivals.
but both Chiffon and McSraw have
declared that the convention next We'd
nesday Will be harmonious. and no per-
sonal fights will be allowed 70 enter the
delibera dons. These declarations are
taken tn mean that there will be no
soreness left after the issues are de-
cided.
In addition TO Bennett and LittIepaze.
Prof. Thomas Z. Hodges, Of Morgan
Town, member OF the faculty OF the
west Virginia University, is a candl-
cate for governor, but has SO few in
structed delegates that his chances for
success depend almost entirely lIpon a
deadlock or a detection in the ranks Of
the supporters Of one Of the other can
didates.
Talk Of a dark horse was almost To-
tally eliminated by a statement given our
Dy Mr.. ChHton. when he returned from
Denver. In which, after asserting that
his ardor for party success was not az
tected because Of his defeat BY McGraw.
ne announced that he would give his
support TO Littlepage. Before this
declaration, II was believed by MANY
that Chiffon had a dark horse I'D his
sleeve In the person Of former Coy.
William A MacCorl1Ie. his law partner.
There has been no Democratic governor
OF West Virginia since MacCorkle's ad-
ministration ended in 1897. he was elect
ed IN 1892, when Chiffon was national
committeeman and State chairman
Rep Olicans at Odds.
The fight between West Virginia Re
pubicans continues, with no present in
dications Of a compromise or with
drawal The efforts Of Senators Elkins
and Scott and Governor Dawson TO re-
pair the damage done at Charles
ton, when non eof them was present,
have so far not met with success. Ar
mold Z. Scherr, who was nominated for
governor by the boiling delegates, cali
ing themselves the Lincoln RepubIi-
cans" says there is no power that can
compel him TO withdraw unless Charles
w. Swlsher the regular nominee, also
will withdraw
declared MI Scherr, and II party sue
cess must be sacrificed this year the
blame be upon those who are endeavor-
ing to infiict Committee-named nominees
upon the Republican voters"
Offer Not Accepted.
ScEerr's declaration that he would
welcome a primary election and allow
the Republican voters to decide the dir-
ferences between him and Swisher has
not been accepted by the regulars" who
emphasize the point that they do not
recognize the Scherr ticket. In his
statement suggesting the primary,
SCheTT declared he was so confident he
would win out over Swisher in a pri-
mary that he would agree to remain
entirely inactive and cause his support
ers n do likewise from the calling TO
the holding Of the convention
When such leaders as Governor Daw-
son and Senator'S Elkins have prac-
tically given up hope of getting the two
factions together there are no reasons
for believing that the two tickets will
not stick, and both have a place on the
official ballot IN November, which, IL
is believed, IS almost certain 10 mean
Democratic victory. Umpire JUDGED on
lockers declare that the two Re9ubli-
can factions are about equal in number.
Governor Dawson'S majority in 1904 was
less thar 10000.
nNI ETEHAN n0nHEn