Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-21
BOOMS GIVEN AIRING
West Virginia Governorship
Subject of Discussion.
THREE ASPIRANTS IN FIELD
Significance of Recent Conference at
Home of Senator Elkins.
ECHOES OF LAST CAMPAIGN
Formal Choice of the Candidate Not
Due for More Than Two
Years.
THREE ASPIRANTS IN FIELD
ECHOES OF LAST CAMPAIGN

WHEELING, W. Va, November % 1909.
There has suddenly developed an APP
parent desire to fix on the republican
candidate for Governor of West Virginia
at this early date. more than two years
in advance. Within the week three
booms have popped up for more or less
extensive consideration. appertainins to,
respectively. Charles ". Swisher. Charles
w. Dillon and Fred o. Blue And in this
connection comes also boom for Blue
for Congress in the second district both
for the purpose of taking him out of the
gubernatorial running and the desire of
certain factions to furnish an opponent
to Representative George c. Sturgiss.
AS the gossip runs, the recent visit of
Gov. Glasscock to Senator Elkns at the
latter's home was productive of some
dealing in political futures. Besides the
governor there dropped into the sena-
torial paror Federal Judge A. G. Dayton
of Phiippi, Blues home town Judge
Hunter II. Moss Of Parkersburg. ex-Sec-
rotary of State Swisher of Charleston and
Mr.. Blue. 1t is said that Blue was prom
ised much backing to pit himself against
Sturgiss if he would be SO good not
to run for governor. and that the Swisher
subernatorial candidacy was incidentally
advanced There is somewhat supple
mentary information that promise was
made to support Judge Moss for the Of
flee of United States district attorney to
succeed Reese Blizzard, also Of Parkers-
burS.
All Enter Disclaimers.
Those attending the conference arc r;s-
ing to disclaim that it had any such
character. Judge Moss happened to be
In the town of Elkins to deliver an ad-
dress to the y. NJ c. A., one of his first
appearances from home as a lecturer, it
is stated and Senator Blue declares the
gathering was merely conversational and
not conferential. He refuses to say
whether he will be a candidate for Com
Sress or governor. He refuses TO say
also that he will not be a candidate for
either. 1t is explained for Gov. Glass
cock that he was paying a long-deferred
and promised friendly visit to the senior
senator.
This is certain: Judge Moss was re-
ceptive candidate for governor in 1905
senator Blue came within an ace of being
chosen as the compromise candidate that
year from the Swisher and Scl1err fac
lions, and is i'm present possession Of
much encouragement to become an active
candidate next time He and Judge Day
ton, his brother-in-laW. were Scherr par.
| tisans and therefore opposed to Swisher
IN the last campaign. And the meeting
at Elkins can be interpreted as con-
clusively meaning that it is on the cards
to nominate Swisher without the attend
ing complications of rival or rump
convention the next time
Assured of Swisher's Support.
Senator Blue is young man of some
promise, and, his health permitting. is
destined to loom high in his political lie.
If he can be persuaded to try for Con-
gress he will be assured Of all the
strength Swisher can command SO as to
remove formidable gubernatorial rival.
With Judge Moss, not 50 dangerous an
opponent, also out of the way by some
what similar obligations, Swisher will
have put up pretty nice line Of fences
And among the posts will be a large
number Of those who opposed his like
ambition most bitterly one year ago.
Illustrating the strange turns in poll
tics, prospective opponent of Swisher
will be Charles W. Dillon of Fayette, ex-
state tax commissioner and formerly one
of Swisher's chief supporters. Dillon LETT
a political office to pursue a more lucra-
tive legal practice, but he Graves political
honors and confesses to desire to be
governor, although he would not mind
something nearly as good. For instance,
he would not object to being the district
attorney for the southern district AT
any rate he wants to be considered in the
distribution of the big plums when the
harvest Is around.
Changes Regarded as Remarkable.
In many respects the changing attitude
toward Swisher is remarkable Some of
the men who declared they would vote
for the democratic candidate for governor
in preference had Swisher remained on
the ticket of the convention that named
him are now ready to take off their coats
enthusiastically for him. They do not
withdraw their former opinions as to his
weak points, considering a governor from
the traditional standpoint, but certain
good points have won them to him.
The way he bore up under the onslaught
Of abuse, more especially the way in
which he bore with the disappointment
attending on his voluntary release of his
nomination to insure party success, cou-
pied with his subsequent success i'm the
business world, have won him an admira-
ton that is enthusiastic At the same
time he has retained the warm-hearted
loyalty of q large and active personal fol-
lowing, particularly among the younger
republicans.
Political strategist.
Aside from his engaging personality,
Swisher is high-ciass political strate-
gist persistent. worker to form combi-
nations that will bring results. Another
thing responsible for the noticeable
Swisher sentiment where it failed to -four
ish before Is the growing desire for more
liberal treatment from the state admins
trations The Dawson tax laws are not
working out on the lines expected, and
the spoken utterances of Gov. Glasscock
are construed as rigid and narrow in the
towns and cities. which do not relish re-
strictive legislation that comes from the
representatives OF purely rural localities.
This refers to liquor licenses and license
taxes generally. The people are showing
a disposition to buck at any more re
forms and candidates on reform plat
forms. AS Blue and Dillon are consid-
cred radicals and Swisher liberal his
stock is growing steadily.
INDIAN HEAD. MD.