Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-19
BAO MIx-UP IN WEST VIRGINIA
REPUBLICAN DISCORD SPELLS
DEMOCRATIC SUCCESS.
Two State Tickets, With Neither
Willing to Withdraw-Eforts
to Harmonic.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

WHEELING, w. Va, July 1S-Al-
though the republicans of West Virginia
are confident that the mix-up relative to
the state ticket will be settled In time to
eliminate complications now endangering
party success In November there is moth
ing definite at this writing to assure the
desired harmony The belief that every
thing will come out all right is based
practically on hope. Predictions are fire.
quent that one Of the two tickets will be
withdrawn before frost comes. If not
sooner, but just now the situation Is ex-
actly as 1t was a week ago at Charleston.
The Swisher state committee is called
to meet in Charleston July 81 to consider
the situation. Swisher has selected Sam
V. Mathews. state banking commissioner,
to manage his campaign. Swisher was
given the privilege to name the chairman
by virtue of a resolution adopted by the
state committee. The Scherr state COM
mittee will also be called soon by E. NJ.
Grant of Morgantown. its chairman. 1t
is probable it will meet next week at
Clarksburg.
The Scherr ticket is minus a candidate
for school superintendent and a candi-
date for secretary of state, T. c. Miller
and John T. Harris, who were awarded
these honors at the convention, declining
without much ado few hours later. The
Scherr committee will also have to name
two presidential electors to fill out the
bill. If this committee decides to go
ahead with a separate ticket II will I'M
doubtedly take the two electors named at
the regular convention.
The regular convention adopted the ca
gle as the party emblem. No action on
that feature was taken by the Scherr
forces. but their state committee is favor
able to a miniature picture Of Abraham
Lincoln. and the party is to be called
the Lincoln republican the suggested
choice will be appropriate.
Much interest was manifested in West
Elkins and Scott with National Chairman
Hitchcock at New York over the West
Virginia muddle. incidentally, there was
interest aroused by Representative Hub
bards visit to Taft at Hot Springs. Hub
bard wanted to satisfy himself that Taft
was to be retained In the Clarksburg
post Office. Following the visit Hubbard
flashed statement that Taft declared
he was not taking hand In that affair
II is an open secret that Denham secured
from Hitchcock last spring letter of au-
thority to become "perniciously active"
in Taft's interests. and Denhams sup
porters base their belief in his retention
of the post Office on that letter. Hubbard
wants Denham ousted and has made good
progress. but the custer is held up pend
ing developments and Denham may hold
his job until March next.
Is q Swisher Manager.
Denham is one of the Swisher managers
and is also a member of the state COM
mittee. His vote on the Ohio county con-
test before the convention was influenced
largely by the fact that Hubbard was
fighting desperately for the seating of the
delegation appointed by the county COM
mittee. and Denhams influence with his
colleagues on the committee was poten-
tial In getting good ma jority to seat the
so-called Hearne delegation. In fact the
HUBBARD enham feud cut a large figure
in the contests acted on by the state
committee and indirectly to the develop
ment Of the boiling convention. Although
Hubbard did not take part in that CON
vention, 1t is suspected his sympathies
were with it. The Hubbard Denham i'm
brogllo dates to the time, when Denham
championed Senator Robert Hazlett for
Hubbard's congressional shoes.
The compromise arrangement which
will make for only one republican state
| ticket. will be for the elimination of both
Swisher and Seherr in favor of a new
| man or the elimination of Scherr and the
retention Of the regular ticket headed nv
Swisher. Plans are working for the lat
ter end. 1t is believed pressure might be
brought to bear on Scherr to drop out IL
1t could be shown him convincingly that
maintenance Of his present attitude SPELL
ton which would require years to over
| come.
To get Scherr out of the way he would
have to be offered some practical conso-
| lation. and there are reports that Taft's
! abilities as harmonizer might be used
! to good effect with a promise of good
federal berth for the state auditor
Scherr's running mates are Stallings for
! attorney general; Snodgrass. for treas
urer. and Hall, for auditor. Hall at pres
| ent Is postmaster at Wheeling He does
not want to pose as a candidate of a bolt
ing faction. and would not mind stepping
down II he were assured OF another term
| as postmaster. Stallings might be salts
| fed with a United States district attor-
neyship. No suggestion for compensat-
| ing Snodgrass has been heard. but as he
is a new man in state politics and was
not burdened much with his candidacy a
promise Of future honors might make
| him be good.
Obstacles in the Way.
The trouble in adjusting a compromise
along this line 10 that Scherr's cause 10