The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1908-07-23
LittIepage Entices Bennett Into
Trap With Aid ofsLocaI
Bryan Club.
HOT TIME. IN THE OLD TOWN.
McGraw Declines to Mix in the
Melee, or to Be Smoked
Out Now By ChiItons.

The Democratic Bryan club as a
whole might have been honest and
sincere, when 1t arranged for a
Bryan and Kern ratification meeting
here Friday afternoon OF the present
week, but as 1t is house divided
against itself on the gubernatorial
question there is every evidence that
a fiasco Is to be pulled of, not sus-
pected at the beginning of the move
ment.
IT. Is to be used as an occasion to
ensnare Louis Bennett into the trap
of Adam Litltepage, who has striven
hard in the preliminary campaign for
governor to have joint debate with
Bennett, the latter, however, dodg-
ing such a meeting all the time, 1t is
claimed by men in the party opposed
to Bennett. The club itself as a
whole Is scarcely party to this trap
for Bennett, but unw1ttingy has been
led into furnishing the occasion.
Cunning Hand Used.
Littlepage has said many things in
this campaign of sarcastic nature,
rejecting deeply upon Bennett and
his manager, and on one occasion at
least, according to published reports,
reflected on Benefits ability. to make
a speech Of any length. Since then
Littlepage has been eager to get him
on the platform with him, but all eff
forts proved futile, until the cunning
hand of some of the faithful and I'M
terrified got in its work.
But. there will be more than the
Littlepage-Bennett exchange OF cour-
tesies, as John T. McGraw, he OF pur-
pie bench fame, has been billed as
one OF the speakers. Though billed
1t is stated by some that he sees the
handwriting on the wall and has an
nounced his inability to be present on
account OF previous engagements"
To Smoke McGraw Out.
A bird of the wind has 1t that Col.
McGraw has very good reasons for
not coming, and especially, as he
does not desire to come face to face
at this juncture, with the Chiffon fac
ton of the Democratic party, which,
according to report, is determined to
smoke him out In way that will not
be pleasing to the Bennett bunch.
1T is pretty well accepted that Ben
nett Is the McGraw choice. Even
the Chiltons firmly believe this. The
southern rivals of McGraw, too, are
not sure of their ability to land the
nomination for Littlepage, but 1t Is
not that they care SO much for that,as
the real purpose is to get McGraw's
scalp. The Chiltons stand ready to
turn the tables on McGraw. II they
can, by forcing him to abandon Ben
nett.
Cornwell to Be Brought Out.
The plan they have concocted to
authority, Is to drop Littlepage at the
psychological moment;and throw their
strength to John ]. Cornwell for the
gubernatorial nomination, thus fore
ing McGraw to withdraw his support
from Bennett and give it to Cornwell,
who was once closer friend than
Bennett to him and who has claims
on McGraw, which tfle latter cannot
evade or resist.
MoGraw is already aware of this
fact and he also has been apprised in
no uncertain terms the hostile atti-
tude Of the Bennett following in this
county toward such a plan, many de-
claring they will not vote for Corn
we'll under any consideration, recall
ing doubtless his favorable attitude
toward corporations and his subserv-
iency to some of them.
Regular Hornets Nest.
Col McGraw Is too far-sighted to
dash into any such hornets nest and
so previous engagements are not to
be neglected by him for any little
thing like Bryan and Kern ratifiea-
ton meeting. There are Democrats
who are mad and 1t makes no differ
ence to them whether McGraw shows
up and Gains the troubled waters or
whether he goes of to New York on
some big corporation deal.
On the verge of the convention the
Bennett managers are making strong
|iclaims. but even their figures do not
give him the nomination for COVER
nor. They say he has $50 votes
pledged. Others say he has but 342.
AS 463 are necessary toa choice Ben
nets own figures are an admission
that he has not got the nomination
cinched. and IL he; does show a dan
gerous strength the Chiltons Will not
be long in switching to Cornwell, who
will be used as a tool. to thwart the
plans OF ,McGraw, and then maybe
there will not be whole Bennett
bunch up in arms. ready to avenge
their wrongs at a slaughter at the
polls.
With such situation and all these
Interesting elements. the so-called
ratification meteing promises to prove
itself any thing else hut an event OF
party harmony and peace. A hot