Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-06
WHAT ELECTION COST
West Virginia Republicans
Paid Out $4,000.
SMALL BALANCE REMAINS
Democrats Expended $28,0 in a
Losing Campaign.
FEUD IN THE MINORITY PARTY
Chiffon Wing Objects to Prominence
Given Chairman Neal-Changes
Wrought by Time.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

F.! Special Correspondence OF The Star.
| WHEELING, W. Va. December s, 1905
| 1t cost SAL 900 to elect the republican state
| ticket in West Virginia. The democratic
state committee spent over $4,000. This
information was contained in the official
statements filed this week In accordance
with the new publicity law. and there was
| the supplementary intelligence that a bal
| ance Of few hundred dollars was left in
the hands of Secretary-Treasurer v. l.
Highland OF the republican organization.
while Treasurer Wylie w. Bea.f Of the
democratic committee reported a de-
ficiency Of 81 500.
| Senator Scott was the main contributor
to the republican fund, giving up $11.5OO,
! while Isaac T. Mann, the Mercer county
coal operator who hopes to be a senator
some day. separated himself from $4,000.
| The only other four-fgure contributors
| were Senator Elkins and Gov.-elect Glass
cock, who gave each $1,000. State candi-
dates, officeholders and employees OF state
institutions came up handsomely. and the
national committee was good for $685..
The democratic committee got the bulk
of its funds from one family. Lewis Ben
nett, the candidate for governor, gave
81 500; his brother, W. George Bennett.
gave $500. and other members brought
the total donation of the fami y up to
something like $17,5OO. The democratic
national committee overlooked West Vir-
GINA, and Bryans SPECIAL train was a
considerable item Of expense. There was
host of ten-dollar subscriptions Vice
Chairman George l. Neal turned over
$4,000; National Committeeman John T.
McGraw gave $500, but there is no men,
ton in Treasurer BealPs detailed state
ment of any assistance from the Chiffon
! boys in Charleston. W. E. Chiffon made
contribution of $1,000 just before the
election to the natiOna committee.
! Likewise there is no mention of any
q, contribution from eX-Gov. MacCOrkle, a
| leader of the Chiffon faction. or anything
from ex-Gov. A. b. Fleming which is
strange, in view of the impression that
guard were deeply stirred on retaining
| the state.
ChiIton-MacCorkle Resentment.
The financial detection In the Chiffon
MacCorkle camp significantly speaks for
itself. They resented the leadership of
George Neal after he switched his vote
from Will Chiffon to McGraw at Denver
| in the bitter fight for the national COM
craftsmanship. They opposed Bennett
! preference for Neal as chairman and
agreed to the compromise on Bennett 8
brother, and their rage knew no bounds
when the state committee a few weeks
| after the convention adjourned Created
the Office of vice chairman and installed
Neal therein.
| Chiffon was Bryan's personal choice for
| national committeeman and Chiffon count
ed on winning the honor. He felt that
insult was added to injury when Neal,
whom he branded as party traitor, was
given active charge or the state CAM
paign. Right after that development the
ChiItons apparently lost interest in the
election.
Disguised completely and absolutely by
the election returns, which showed him
West Virg. mia was republican beyond
| question. VIII Chiffon announced he was
done with politics for good and that here
after he would pursue the even tenor Of a
business career entirely. He broke into
the game good about three years ago
after a retirement for years. He led
himself to believe he could become his
partys leader and that things were shap-
ing themselves to make the state demo-
cratic and send him to the United States
Senate. Following the democratic, victory
in Kanawha county In 1904 SO ,far as
governor was concerned, the Chiffon
forces twice carried the city of Charleston
in municipal elections
Went After McGraw's Scalp.
| Losing out two years ago for the minor
| ity nomination for the Senate against
Senator Elkins, Chiffon buckled on his
armor to depose McGraw as national COM
mitteeman and dictate the state ticket
He lost out in both efforts. His passing
| will undoubtedly leave the field open to
other aspirantS, but at this date it looks
| like George Neal or Charles w. OsentOn
of Fayette county will be recognized as
| the democratic BOSS in the southern Sec
| ton 0. the state.
And that section is becoming over
| whemingly republican as fast as indus
trial development and natural Increase
can make 1t. Future conventions will see
the counties south OF the GREAT kanawnd
| river dictate republican tickets from top
to bottom. Four of these counties alone
gave Glasscock his majority of IL ,S9o, and
save Taft more than half of his 26OO.
BASED on Ine convention CIuer vi rep
reSentation kanaWna will have 81 dele
gates in the next .epublican convention,
! or exactly as many as n three northern
/ panhandle counties-Ohio. Brooks and
| hancock. Mcdowell county's representa-
ton will be increased from 80 to AZ, max
! ing it the third larg. st county of the
lifty-five in voting strength. Mcdowell.
! hasn't a daily Newspaper; 1t hasn't one
! town worthy of the name except the
/ county seat, and the negroes outnumber
! he whites ten to one.
The shifting current will also S e con-
! troll of the democratic convention passed
| to the no thern part Of West Virginia,
! particularly if the democrats follow this
. years precedent of taking the CUB rnato-
| rial instead or the PRESIDENTIAL vote as
basis of representation. Ohio county,
| which includes Wheeling, will b come of
| large moment in democratic affairs,
which may be a sentimental consoIation
/ for it's deprecated strength in the re-
publican gathering.
Time Works Changes.
/ Ten years ago these conditions were
| exactly reversed. At that time the north
ern section contained the only industries,
while the southern section blossom with
democrats and farmed lands. The ire
mendous strides Of the coal industry
| brought in a population that outvotes
the natives of the lower counties, and
factonal strife in the republican ranks,
having create. means of dissemination
in the northern owns, has lessened re-
publican majorities.
If the legislature passes a state primary
law, expected, the .Xpediency of bid
ding for control of large delegate coun-
ties will be obviated to a degree Their
| is quite sentiment for the reform, in the
hope that 1t will. prev nj recu renee
of this years convention splits in the
dominant party.
Senators Johnson, White, Santee, For
man and Bailey are grooming themselves
| 10 preside over the d. stinieS of the upper
branch of the legislature. senator Cart