Evening star., 1908-01-26
SUBJECT OF INTERPRETATION
WEST VIRGINIA COMMITTEES
ENDORSEMENT OF TAFT.
Current Gossip Anent the Attitude
of the States Representatives
and Senators.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

ScTlDed as memorial, an 'aff1rmatlOn
and other things. In circles where it is
conceded to be an Endorsement the
qualifying explanation is advanced that i,
was merely an 'indivdual' Endorsement
inasmuch as the document contained only
the names of those in approval, twelve OF
the fifteen members present.
Attorney Gen. Wade H. Ellis of Ohio
who was on the ground attending to busi-
ness, did not object to a modification OF
the original resolution that had been sen,
on a day in advance, since the result was
tnofousniy satisfactory. 1t committed
west virginia to Taft in effect and could
be SO heralded in other states, regardless
OF its verbiage and construction.
mat there is more Taft sentiment ir
west Virginia than there is for any other
presidential aspirant goes without saying
POSSIBLY there is more for the War Secre-
tary than for the others combined. Blu,
1t Is a question If there could not be a
splendid showing made for Hughes, fol
instance, II backed by some of the organ
izlng ability manifested for Taft
The republican state committeeman were
inclined at first to halt on Endorsement OF
presidential candidate. They seemed tc
agree that 1t was unprecedented and might
lead to embarrassing complications Rut
they yielded when the pressure was an
Piled. First Assistant Postmaster General
hitchcock is credited with setting the
wheels in motion at the state postmas-
ters convention at Morgantown a few
days prior to the Parkersburg committee
meeting. And in connection with the ac-
lNlty at Parkersburg ascribed to his in
Splratlon 1t was said that he is slated for
postmaster General in the Taft cabinet
Mr.. Hubbard's Chance.
Likewise there was gossip at Parkers-
burg. but rather more intangible and
doubtless calculated to produce effect that
Representative w. P. Hubbard of Wheel
ing might stand a good show to be At
torney General I'm the Taft cabinet. Aside
from Chairman woodward of the state
committee Hubbard was the only con-
gressonal representative on the scene
Hubbard and Sturgiss are counted as Taft
men. The other threw oodyard. Hughes
and Gaines-are classified otherwise
woodward is a pronounced Cannon advo-
cate.
If fruits are to follow the Taft pro-
nouncement, as talk might indicate, those
members of the state committee already
enjoying official place will naturally sue
ceed themselves in their pre- sent estates
or fare somewhat better. Shs thought is
occurring to some republicans in West
Virginia who have figured it out that
eight members of the state committee are
federal officeholdars, and that two of them
are state officeholders, an aggregate COM
posing large majority of its personnel
Assurances are said to have been con-
veyed to the pOStmaSterS and others that
they would be retained. There are good
grounds for this conclusion. One or two
who were disposed to balk the Taft
business at first were later won over. but
there is little credence given to the yarn
recently given publicity that Sherman c.
Denham, the Clarksburg member of the
committee insisted on having a guaran-
tee in writing that he would not lose out
lif he consented to aid the Taft boom.
| Efforts to make capital against Senator
Scott because he opposed the committee s
Endorsement of Taft must fail. Taft men,
who were more earnest than enthusiastic,
and who would not mind change in the
senatorial representation in their interest
sought to proclaim that because the COM
mittee went contrary to Scott's desires his
influence with the committee was little,
1 and that he would. suffer by being placed
in an attitude which showed him against
the apparent presidential choice in West
Virginia.
Senator Scott's Attitude.
Scott was fatty opposed to the indorse-
ment of any candidate for President, and
has said right along that West Virginia
should go to the convention free to act
on the spur of the moment. In other
words, that committing the state to a
candidate in advance of d definite stu
alton is poor politics on the part of a
small state. which comes next to last on
the convention roll call. Senator Elkins
is believed to share similar views, but ii
is declared he does not possess the Scott
quality of candor.
Instead of personally opposing Taft for
the presidency, Scott is known to enter
tain the highest regard for him, be-
cause of intimate relations formed al
Washington, continued during the Taft
party's trip to the Philippines and en-
joyed since that time. One of the junior
senator's closest friends is authority for
the statement that the senator preferred
his support to Taft for the presidency
when he was first considered seriously,
about two years ago.
Taft replied to Scott at that time that
he was booked to go on the bench of the
Supreme Court. In thanking Scott for his
offer he added he had no desire for the
presidency and that the mantle of a Su-
preme Court justice had for him the
sole and chief charm. This incident
should be sufficient of Senator Scott S
position as regards Taft personally, al
though 1T is doubtless true that he has
now another favorite. because of the
turn of events starting from Tafts re-
ply to him and relations existing with
others mentioned like Fairbanks Can
non and Shaw.
But aside from that feature Senator
Scott'S opposition to the state committee S
action was based simply on the argument
that it was injudicious unnecessary and.
as stated, poor politics. With Cannon
in the House and Fairbanks in the Sen
ate he thought approval of another presi-
Dental candidate might also make chances
poor for favors for West Virginians and
West Virginia measures. His course will
find a certain approval
There are many who object to the COM
mttee's expression, which they consider
an assumption despite it's being classified
as Individual" But the most intense
dissatisfaction threatens to come from the
boys who have been looking longingly at
the pie counter for years and who may
conclude that the plumS now enjoyed by
the officeholding members OF the COM
mittee are to remain in the same old
hands for four years more in return for
I boosting Taft.
Fourth Wheeling Man in Race.
George A. Laughlin is the fourth Wheel
ing republican to aspire to be a national
convention delegate. Earl w. Oglebay.
are the others. Iaughlin. who looked
with favor on Fairbanks before Taft was
a certainty announces that he will 60
for Taft If West Virginia SO instructs.
Hoffman, wants to be one of the first
districts two delegates. and is backed by
Col viii K. Bodley Of Gov. Dawson S
staff and host of active party work
ers At this distance it looks like Hoff
mann will win. il Laughlin cares only to
be a delegate at large. This arrangement
would eliminate Oglebay and Schenk.
county and Capt B. S. Pope of Parkers-
burg both in the fourth district, are
others who want to go to Chicago Pope
is an announced Taft man and Armstrong
will be that way also II his district wants
it. 1t is significant that the aspirants all
Col. Armstrong is one of the ever-youth-
fn1 fellows who is a republican from the