Evening star., 1908-01-19

a
from now to the time of the state con-
vention the rival organizations will
bloom and be fOstered in every one OF
the ffty-fiNe countries.
Secretary Of State Swisher continues
TO be the most conspicuous candidate for
governor. having the support of 50 much
of the element of the old organization
Gov. Dawson will be able to muster.
since the governor has repeated what he
said last September in Wheeling that
Swisher was his choice as against Scherr
and Hearne. Consequently Scherr and
Hearne will embrace the old Teter fol-
lowing and such chunks as they may
bite off the former Dawson machine.
Unable to Center Opposition.
The opposition to Taft is unable to
center its fire. but shows signs of salts
faction with Il ticket reading Cannon for
President and Elkins for Vice President.
Elkins has enjoyed vice presidential
booms in West Virginia before. but never
promoted them vigorously. but it is said
by intimate friends that he would ap-
preciate the honor. and. Furthermore
would make the effort to land with all
his energies if a western man. presum-
ably and preferably Cannon. is to top
the ticket.
Since the West Virginia senator's
father-in-law. Henry G. Davis. was given
a like honor on the democratic ticket in
1904. the thing has appealed peculiarly
TO Elkins. incidentally an EIKins move
| ment would serve the purpose of pre-
venting i hidebound Taft delegation.
Senator Scott has already counseled
| against an instructed delegation. so it
| will be evident that the Taft workers
| are going 10 encounter a row of stun1ps
| # the senatorial influences are to count.
There can be good play for success
| sion to ElkinS' seat i'm the Senate made
with Canon tElkins' move. providing,
Of course. the movement pans out sue
cesuflly Considering the number of
| men who consider themselves eligible
| for the senatorial waiting list. there
should be some heavy support for a dele
CATION committed TO Elkins Vice
presidential boom. And. after ALL while
many republicans regard Taft as we'll
qualified to make good President and
entitled to their cordial support, his sup
port is superficial in a good many cases
and existing ones. because he is pro-
claimed to be the Presidents choice and
because there is real. positive effort
being made in West Virginia for any of
the- other presidential mentions.
Anti-Fee Bill.
| The announcement that Coy Dawson's $
support of the anti-fee bill for regu-
| lation Of county officers incomes was
contingent on or included the proposition
that the fees should be largely Increased
| excited general interest. The populace
lad been led to think the suggestion was
simply for the transfer of the scale of
fees now prevailing from the pockets OF
the Off1cehOlder to the public treasury
This impression was based on the origi-
nal movement in that direction. but it is
discounted by the governors elaborate
| aNplanation for calling the special legis-
.ative session.
AS that explanation was considered too
long foc reproduction it happened that
| the references to an increase of the fees
to be paid by the people for the record
| ing of land deeds. marriage licenses etc.
We're erased by the governors organs.
| The governor himself favors a fee in
crease and will say so if he repeats his
explanatory views ia his message to the
| Legislature. The announcement of his
| desires has thrown different light OH
the issue.
Announcement likewise that Isaac r.
Mann of Bluefeld. who wants To be ma
| tional convention delegate. was receiving
| tenders of Swisher support TO make the
lace for Senator Scotts shoes, has de-
| veloped apparently reliable information
| that Mr.. Mann is not open To those in
| iucementS. The tale ran that Mann was
expected first to deliver SwiSher dele
gates from his section down around the
Kentucky and Virginia borders, where
for he was to receive first the conven-
| ton honors and later the senatorial
| bays
Is a Scott Man.
Supplementary information is that
| Mann in his frequent visits to Washing
| ton has frequently assured Scott OF his
| hope to see Scott continued there. also
| that Mann refuses to play ball with the
| Swisher people unless they guarantee
! their support to Scott Which is alto
| gether horse OF much different color.
| Among the booms and boomlets having
national convention delegate places as a
| climax is included one personally con-
Quoted by Albert NJ. Schenk. an opulent
| pork packer of Wheeling. who prefaced
| his announcement by one made last sum-
mer that be intended to contest Senator
Scott's succession. Mr. Schenk believing
himself 10 be of the right calber and
holding that two terms for Scott are suffi-
! cient.
Mr.. Scott is in position to make things
hum in his immediate section. so far as
the national convention struggle is con-
cerned. for Scott would not oppose him
in that ambition. Earl ". Oglebay an
III her Wheeling capitalist. also wants to
go the convention. Neith her Oglebay nor
Schenk has fully decided whether to take
their chances with the big four at the
state convention with the congress
sional convention in the first. or Hubbard.
| district.
I Democrats Taking Measures"
Mayor James A. Holley. who led the
democratic hosts III their fell sweep Of