Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-04
Hughes Speeches Aid West
Virginia Republicans.
DEMOCRATS LOSE COURAGE
Started Off With Enthusiasm, But
Steam Suddenly Shut Off.
INJUNCTION ISSUE PARAMOUNT
Probability That Samuel Gompers
Will Make Speeches in State.
Local Conditions.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star
WHEELING. w Va, October s. 1908.
The Hughes dash across the state threw
an electric thrill into the republican party
of West Virginia. The New York gov
ernors pungent. pithy rear-platform talks
infused ginger wherever he stopped, and
his utterances were read elsewhere with
considerable appreciation by republicans.
That one-day ride through West Virginia
put new life into the party and started
General Indifference on the retreat.
Until the present the democrats have
been the most boisterouS, profiting by the
enthusiasm Bryan's trip created and the
demoralized condition of the republicans
due TO their gubernatOrial mix-up. Now
that .Glasscock is the nominee for gov
ernor, with an undivided organization be-
hind him, the time was ripe for the
reaper Hughes. Republicans regret the
New Yorker could not speak in every sec
ton OF the state
Following the injection of the Roosevelt
letters and the settlement of the republic
can state troubles the democrats have
become befuddled. Their campaign has
begun to lag. in this respect resembling
the republican situation few weeks ago.
Bourke Cochran is programmed TO speak
near future. but otherwise there is prac-
tically nothing doing. Lewis Bennett has
been forgotten since his notification
speech.
One-Night Stands.
Vice Chairman George l. Neal and
George Byrne have been endeavorins to
whoop things up at one-night stands with
the negro planks as Byrnes piece de re-
sistance and Senator EIkins' alleged boss
ship as Meals target. They have not
sought the principal centers yet, notwth-
standing an unofficial demand for their
services. especially for Byrnes. The
entertaining talker. but his party leaders
are .averse 10 having him speak where
democratic county candidates figure on
corralling some negro votes.
Unless the democrats get particularly
lively in the ensuing weeks they are
doomed for a good beating. They started
off with great enthusiasm, but improved
republican conditions seem to have shut
off their steam recently. Nevertheless,
the democrats are better organized than
they have been for years. They pay
ing much attention to seeing all of their
faith get duly registered. and they have
raised a large bugaboo over their
serted belief that republican registrars
will not give them square deal.
Line of Attack Undetermined.
republican state tickets the democratic
policy was to go along quietly and let re-
pubiicans whack each other on the head
They are not recovered from the settle
ment of republican differences, but out
of their cropping there is faint outline to
indicate their line of attack will be on
Glasscock as being the personal choice
and creation OF Senator Elkins. The dem
ocrats realize the undoubted opposition
to the Elkins leadership among a consid-
cradle element of republicans and they
hope to turn this discomfort to their ben
eft.
Senator Elkins was quick to come out
in an interview, denying he had any
thing to do with Glasscock's selection to
take the place of Chas. w. Swisher.
Republicans interviewed in all parts OF
the state, including members of both the
regular and Lincoln party factions unite
in personal tributes to Glasscock's high
character and executive ability, but the
appeal to record dissatisfaction with Ell
kins has certain potency which will re-
quire hard work in every county to dis
pel completely.
Furthermore. many republicans espe-
cially in the northern part of the state
made UP their minds to vote for Ben
nett weeks ago. A number of these may
change to Glasscock, but others will not.
When Senator Scott predicted a major
ity of 5000 for Taft and 20 600 for the
state ticket he evidently attempted to
size up this element. 1t is question II
his estimate was correct. Glasscock
hopes to insure his election by can
vass which will take him into twenty
nine of the fifty-five counties. and his
itinerary will include places which need
to be reckoned with.
Bright Outlook for Taft.
The outlook for Taft's success is bright
er than it was week ago. Why outsid-
ers should class West Virginia as a
doubtful state on that proposition passes
all understanding. There might have been
justification for that view, but the
time is passed and not likely to return
OF course. the labor vote in the towns
is not yet lined up. Reports show that
TIE railroaders are very much in the no
ton of voting for Bryan, but to de-
gree democratic supporters of Taft will
tend to offset this loss. In Ohio county
alone probably 800 democratic votes Will
be lost to Bryan. These votes come
from the business element of the demOc-
racy and the same element elsewhere
can be figured on to do likewise.
Orators of both parties have made the
injunction plank the paramount issue In
the Industrial sections of West Virginia
The democrats have harped on that
chord with some success in the northern
and Ohio river counties, because the
memory of drastic injunctions issued by
the late Judge Jackson and Judge Day
ton have reacted on Taft. Republican
stumpers have met this issue stoutly and
the leaders figure on the closing days to
see much. If not all, of the opposition to
Taft melted on that score. They be-
lieVe Tafts personality will be a large
factor in his favor and they bank a great
deal on the results to be achieved from
Tafts visit to West Virginia the week
before election.
Democrats Want Gompers.
The democrats hope to have Samuel
Gompers speak in West Virginia. But
Gompers cannot hope for great things.
tnasmuoh as many republican working
men are coming to the lead in local or
CARNATIONS, and they will work hard to
counteract the Gompers influence Both
parties are complaining of lack of
funds, and that is the reason ascribed
by the democrats why they are not hold
ing more pretentious meetings
ExMayor Grimes of Cameron has been
selected state senatorial nominee to
succeed the late T. j. Parsons In the
second district over Josiah Sinclair in
spring the report that Representative
Hubbard is setting UP his pins to sue
eed Senator Scott. but Scott men declare
Grimes will be for Scott when the bell
rings.
ENTERTAINED FOR SICK FUND.