The Washington herald., 1909-04-19
HODGES ELIMINATED
Removed as GubernatOrial
Possibility by New Job.
TOHNSONS STAR NOW RISES
Monroe Editor Looked Upon as
Democratic Leader in West Vir-
ginia Since the Appointment of
the sIOrEnntOwn Professor 10 the
State Board of Control.
suecial % rbs yvsshing+on Be-aId.

special 70 Ths Washington Herald
Elkins, w. Va, April 1&-When Gov
Glasscock appointed Prof. Thomas
Hodges, OF the faculty Of the State Uni
versity. as the minority member OF the
State board of control. he incidentally
put Hodges political sun in eclipse, so
far as his eligibility as a candidate for
the Democratic nomination for governor
is concerned. since the bin creating the
board expressly provides that no member
who has served on the board Of control
shall be eligible to hold any other State
Office within one year after he ceases to
be 4 memDer OF the board.
Prof. Hodges, since the smoke Of the
last campaign cleared away, had been
regarded as the logical candidate for the
Democratic nomination In 1872. but by
accepting Office under a Republican ad-
ministration he has eliminated hi nsel1
entirely from the field
Democrats are turning elsewhere for
material for the next conflict and ses in
Albert Sidney johnson, OF Monroe Coun-
y. editor OF the Monroe Watchman. a
Moses. Since serving IN the legislature
Johnson has been in political retirement,
out has made himself and his ability and
nigh standards conspicuously fell through
h!s strong and able editorials. Attention
was drawn 10 him a year or so ago, when
ne refused 10 be muzzled by Judge w. r.
Bennett, whom he had had the temerity
% criticise for letting a criminal on with
90 light a sentence.
Wetzel Was Logical Candidate.
The appointment which Hodges secured
4 rf,s
brains Of the legislative investigating
committee. who wrote the report OF the
findings Of the committee. and who draft
Cd the bill creating the board Of control
Il was confidently expected that Wet
eel would receive the appointment.
Practical application Of the Scriptures
was made by President Taft in relieving
Gov. Glasscock OF the necessity Of put
ling out a dragDet for a man 20 I'LL the
newly created Office Of commissioner OF
public roads. President Taft. it is said.
aid unto Gov. GiasscOck. Let there be
light" and there is Light-soon 70 hold
down the job Of commissioner OF public
roads at 5000 per annum-C. p Light OF
AIartinsburg, a member OF the Republican
State committee and q Swisher man, at
hat
Blue as Republican Moses.
II the rank and file Of the Republican
party IS consulted in the selection Of their
candidate for governor three years hence.
PhihpPi will give the party its nominee.
For small town, Philippi has been IN
usually prolific in its production OF public
men, First, Congressman. now Judge. A
q Dayton. sprang into prominence there
In casting about for a candidate for Su-
preme Court judge. the Democratic party
last summer selected Melville Peck, also
Of Philippi- The Woods boys. who have
been hoaored with nominations OF vari-
Gus kinds, are also "FilipinOs"
Last Of all, comes Fred. O. Blue. a State
senator. who has remained so close tc
the people. guarding their interests. that
political pTefeTmeEI is certain 70 be thrust
upon him. Blue had but 10 say the word
and he would have been selected as the
compromise candidate last September
He refused. however. to place himself un.
der any obligations 70 the powers that
be" and was passed up. That fact
combined with his freedom from any en-.
tangling alliances. has made him Swish
er's most formidable rival for the govern
Orship IN the next campaign.