Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24

as a delegate. Johnson lives at St Marys.
and, judging from some Horner asser-
tons, may be disposed to prefer his Min
nesota namesake.
Interest in the district conventions will
center at Fairmont, because Clarence w.
Watson. the millionaire coal operator,
wants to be chosen delegate. His party
regularity will be under fire. Watson at
first was disposed 10 go as a delegate at
large. The Marion county convention In
dorsed him a week ago, but bound him
with Bryan instructions by vote or
81 to 60. after long and acrimonious
fight. Watson issued a statement of his
position this week which will do much to
elect him. He announced his willingness
TO abide by the districts wishes and vote
for Bryan If so instructed by the district
convention and to support him heartily at
the polls. The Watson declaration. now
ever, called for conservatism and mar
mony with an undertone about the Wis
dom of seeing the situation better at Den
yer.
The promise of campaign contributions
Is undoubtedly being extended as means
of diverting rigid Bryan letters. but the
rank and file do not appear to be in
mood to be put off with diversions. Ihey
have it in their. heads that the octopus Is
bent on strangling the peerless one and
they are anxious TO asSail the monster
Furthermore they are aided by leaders
who are clamorous for Bryan because
they figure it is the popular thing to do
this year. The Chiffon wing of the dem
ocracy. located mostly In the southern
counties, have raised the Bryan banner
with this obvious purpose. and incidental
~ by SO doing have weakened the party
prestige of McGraw. Mckinney, Cornwell
ct al, who chose to hazard popularity
by opposing ironbound Bryan indorse-
mentS.
Renewal of Activity.
The democrats Of West Virginia are a
lively bunch this year compared to cam
paigns following the 1896 landslide. They
are holding a good semblance Of their
old-fashioned conventions with crimira-
tons, determinations. fisticuffs and the
other traditional trimmings. They will
even revive the contesting delegation feat
ure. an almost forgotten affair. a rump
county convention and finally dual SEN
atorial convention developed over In the
eastern panhandle this week, where the
followers of Senator William Campbell Of
jefferson died hard in an endeavor to pre-
vent the nomination going to A. D. Nc
Intyre of Morgan. The reports indicate
McIntyres nomination will be certified to
as regular, but the contest threatens to
seriously impair democratic success in one
of the only two democratic state senator
ial strongholds.
This democratic disposition to discord
and tGrbulency serves to offset republican
concern over their doings these days when
a county goes to the bat for its state con-
vention delegates. 1t is a WOW. a wiot
and wumpus almost without exception
increasing in extent with the approach of
the heated season and from the fact that
the delegates yet to be chosen will decide
the virtually drawn battle between
Swisher and Scherr. Swisher is in tha
10 hJlf Schorr in
the counties yet to be heard from casts an
element of doubt on the outcome. The ri
val claim bureaus will perplex the situa-
ton until the balloting at Charleston in