Evening star., 1909-05-02
WILL Be SURE WINNER
Representative Hubbard's
Friends Certain of Future.
COMMITTEE STANDS BY HIM
Politicians Getting Ready for Far
Away Primaries.
FIRST WEST VIRGINIA DISTRICT
Discussion Of Conditions and of
Probable Appointments-Liq
License Fee Increased.
FIRST WEST VIRGINIA DISTRICT
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
WHEELING, w. Va. May /. 1909.
There Is ground for the belief that Rep
resentative w. p. Hubbard of the first
district is to have opposition for renomi-
nation a year hence in the person Of Judge
NJ. II. Willis Of Doddridge county. Moth
ing has developed conclusively to SUBJ
stantiate this conjecture, except in the
fact that Sherman c. Denham and Virgil
Highland, republican leaders in Harrison
county. who opposed Mr.. Hubbard strenu-
ously q year ago. are interested in the
purchase of the republican organ In the
adjoining county of Wetzel, a deal pulled
of a few days ago.
Judge Willis has long cherished a con-
gressional ambition. He failed to land a
nomination for the supreme bench at the
state convention last year. and cannot
expect to try again for a place for sew
eral years yet. as the higher judgeships
are for twelve-year terms He is now cir
cult Judge in the district embracing Dodd-
ridge, Tyler and Wetzel counties.
Cecil B. Highland Is the nominal pur-
is brother Of the Harrison county poll
tician and removed himself from Harri-
son to Wetzel county a few years ago to
become deputy under Sheriff Victor
Myers. the one republican who slipped
into office In that democratic county.
Was Forlorn Hope.
The Denham-Highland faction fought
Hubbard with Senator Robert Hazlett Of
Ohio county, and led a forlorn hope, be-
cause there was no sentiment for oppos-.
ing a second term for Hubbard. and be-
cause the congressional primary plan.
adopted by the committee Influenced by
Hubbard. had not been figured on by the
anti-Hubbard men. They had looked for
the traditional convention confidently,
based on their former successes, in cap
turing and handling delegates. Hubbard
showed HaZlett under in the first counties
voted in and Hazlett thereupon withdrew
before the others went to the bat
If the Denham- Highlanders do not in
tend to make real fight against Hub
bard this time/ with Willis they may be
intending TO harrass him. at least, 10
the end that he will let up on his de-
termination to eliminate Denham from
the Clarksburg postmastership. Hubbard
endeavored to have him removed for per-
nicious political activity some months
prior to the national election and made
headway for time, until Denham flashed
a letter from Chairman Frank H. Hitch
cock which warranted the postmaster's
activity SO far as setting up Taft dele
cation from West Virginia went.
The final denouement of the controversy
Was an implied agreement 1Or Denndm
to continue postmaster, and the i'm
preston was circulated that Denham
would be satisfied to finish out his term.
He may not be planning to continue the
war on Hubbard to clinch his own job
again SO much he may be counting
upon giving Hubbard such a bunch of
trouble that he will have no time for
bothering about a United States senator
ship.
1t is all conjecture. the spreading out
of the Denham-Highland string of papers,
for they already own the republican or
gan in Harrison county, but the Wetzel
county purchase Immediately started gos-
sip in Wheeling this week that the scheme
was to bring out Judge Willis for Hub
bard's seat. Time will tell. The congress
sional committee is stronger for Hubbard
than the old committee. and it is sure to
declare for another primary. Hubbard
would be just as easy winner over
Willis, his friends say. as he was over
Hazlett, and this is based on every sign
and signal at this time.