Evening star., 1909-03-07
First Duty of New Governor OF
West Virginia.
CLANS AFTER THE PLUMS
Office of Fire Warden Created by
the Legislature.
WHEELING MEN WANT THE JOB
Board of Control to Be Composed Of
Representatives Of Both
Parties.
ecjaI Corrcspondepce Of The Star.

| Special Correspondence Of The Star.
! WHEELING. w. Va, March 6, 1909.
| With the novelty of an inaugural pa
| rade and ceremonies of the most pre-
| tentiouS character in connection with the
| beginning of a gubernatorial administra-
| ton William +. GlasScock on Thursday
began to preside over the deStinieS of
West Virginia for four years. He will
admit he has his troubles to begin with,
but they are the same that always con-
front a man with patronage to dispense.
There is vast horde of ambitious West
Virginians who want the plums.
fractional lines have entirely disap-
peared. Those who supported the rival
Swisher and Scherr banners believe con-
fidently that their support of Glasscock
made his election possible and the rivals
claim in turn that they deserve recogni-
tion and nothing should be handed out
which would be construed as prejudicial.
The thing of all exciting interest is the
new state board of control, to be COM
posed of majority and minority represen-
tation, and the democrats are equally
concerned over the GlasscOck favors.
Many democrats want to see Thomas E.
Hodges of Morgantown. who tried to be
their gubernatorial nominee, selected as
the minority member. Others incline to
C. NJ. Wetzel of Jefferson county, the
floor leader in the house for two sessions
Ex-Gov. W. A. MacCorkle is also in the
limelight
On the republican side there is a great
forest of good and willing timber. Prob
ably eX-Gov. Dawson could be one of the
majority. too, If he cared to give up his
new federal post in China Friends of
Arnold G. Scherr are pushing him. but
nothing is heard of Charles w. Swisher
in this respect, although he might be
agreeable.
New Office Created.
new job created by the legislature Is
state fire warden, for which there is the
conventional political appetite. The lead
ing aspirant is Moses c. Kindelberger. as
sistant chief of the Wheeling fire depart
ment. He is backed by the insurance
men and strong republican influence. and
is considered very strong factor in the
race. Charles H. Henning of the same
city, and a former circuit court clerk. Is
another candidate. 1t is believed the ap-
pointment will come to Wheeling, as this
city has the only department on a metro
politan standard in the state. and as the
insurance men will have to pay the sal
airy their influence will cut q figure. The
appointment is to be made by Auditor ].
S. Darst in his capacity as insurance COM
missioner.
Col Clarke Hamilton of Wheeling re-
signed from the board of prison directors
in time to allow Gov. Dawson to name his
successor. The resignation was rendered
and acted on just before the governor
made room for his successor. D. E. Abb
bott of Huntington, close friend Of
Dawsons. was named, the appointment to
hold until June 1. Hamilton was appoint
ed on the board first as a democrat. but
some six or eight years ago he saw the
republican light and was reappointed as
q republican, and he has since become
active in republican councils.
May Change Inauguration Date.
The people of the state are beginning
to see the sense Of changing the order of
things so that a governor will go into Of
flee with the legislature elected with him.
He now goes into Office just after one
legislature ad1ourns. and does not get
into communion with another for two
years subsequently. In other words the
legislature elected with him on his plat
form is not part of his administration.
The people generally expect a safe and
sane administration under Gov. Gasscock
His predecessor went in on a wave of
agitation for an upturning Of the old tax
system and the agitation continued In
degree to the close. In a certain respect
the Dawson administration paralleled the
strenuously insistent features emanating
from the White House during the same
for the new governor as Is displayed by
his venerable father. Daniel Glasscock,
who at the age Of eighty-one journeyed
from MorgantOwn to the state capital to
see his son invested with the highest hon
ors of the state.