Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-10
That Scherr Faction Is Now
Officially Irregular.
LONG FIGHT is SETTLED
Opposition Plans Revenge at Polls in
November.
BY SENATOR ELK1Ns
National Committeeman Appointed
by Hitchcock Heard Testimony OF
Both Factions Before Deciding.

NEW YORK, September 1O.-The in.
volved political situation in West Virginia.
where the factions, led respectively by
Arnold Scherr, now serving a second term
as auditor, and Charles r. Swisher, secre-
tary. of state, each claiming recognition
as the only regular and authorized repre-
resentative Of the regular republican or
ganization, has been cleared by the recog-
milton as regular Of the convention pre-
sided over by Representative Joseph H.
Gaines.
The fight had been carried up to Chair
man Frank H. Hitchcock of the national
republican committee, who appointed Ma
tional Committeeman w. L. Ward, T. c.
Du Point and Charles F. BROKER sub
committee to hear both sides and pass on
the respective merits of the claims ad-
yanced.
Subcommittee Report.
Last night the subcommittee reported as
follows:
After a careful investigation and hear
ing. at which both sides received all the
time they asked for. We find that the con-
vention presided over by Mr.. Joseph H.
Gaines was regular. and that the republic
can state committee of which Mr.. S. ".
Matthews is chairman, elected at that
convention, is the regular republican state
committee of West Virginia.
We, therefore, recommend that the
republican national committee recognize
of which Mr.. s. v. Matthews is chair
man.
'W. l.. WARD.
ct c.. DU POINT.
CHARLES F. BROKER
Chairman Hitchcock has approved the
finding of the subcommittee.
Fight on Since July.
This settles the disputed point as to
which of the two conventions held on
July and was authorized. The Scherr
party, it will be recalled, bolted an hour
before the calling to order of the con-
vention and put in the field ticket Of
its own. In opposition to that headed by
Swisher for governor. This ticket now
finds itself without an official label, and
must either be withdrawn or else run in
dependently and in opposition to the tick
ct now Endorsed as regular.
Senator Stephen B. Elkins of West Vir-
ginia could not be made to say what ef-
feet the recognition OF the Swisher fac
ton by the national committee would
have on the future attitude Of the
Scherr party.
las far as the rank and file Of the
partly concerned" said he. 1.-THE action
of the national committee In recognizing
the convention presided over by Repre-
sentative Gaines as regular removes what
ever doubts may have existed as to the
legitimacy Of the ticket nominated by that
convention. 1t clears the committee
headed by Mr.. Matthews of the fraud ac-
cusations brought by the other side and
establishes Charles T. Swisher as the Of
fetal gubernatorial nominee of the repub-
hcan party in West Virginia
Swisher Feels Better.
Mr.. Swisher, when questioned as to the
effect which the action Of the national
committee would have on his opponents,
was reluctant to give his opinion. He
was gratihed that the legitimacy of the
convention nominating him had been Of
ficiaily recognized, but would not say
whether, in his opinion, his adversaries
would accept the verdict and retire from
the field. He admitted the. possibility
that the Scherr faction would oppose him
at the polls with Lincoln republican"
ticket. His position, however, had been
materially strengthened, he felt, by the
recognition of Messrs. Matthews and
Gaines.
Chairman Hitchcock said last night that
he had been assured that, irrespective of
any action that might be taken by the
Scherr faction in the matter, II was alb
solutely certain that but one set of presi-
Dental electors would be nominated in
West Virginia, SO that the fight, II one
be made. will affect only the state Of
fees to be filled and will in no way i'm
peril the national ticket. The chairman
added that the committee counted upon
the loyalty of West Virginia republicans
to protect in every way the interests
of the national candidates and had every
reason to believe that such protection
would be accorded.