Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-05-31
Will Play a Big Figure in
Next Campaign--I Inter
esting Gossip of Politics
and Politicians Form the
State Capital.

In tho next gubernatorial Compaisn
m West Virginia. becoming MS i'm
portant an issue in this state as 1t
does III the sister commonwealth of
Virginia. With the campaign of
| 1912 three years away. the anti
saloon leasue has. since he adjourn
ment OF the last legislature, when
the hopes OF the league were dashed
to the ground by the senate. been
unusually active in every city OF any
size In West Virginia. appealing not
so much to tho normal syEipathies
OF the people as to tho;t business
inclinations. 1t doesn't pay" is
the slogan OF 7. NJ. Hare, president
| or the league. who has been maxing
a tour or the state and speaking
wherever and whenever the oppor-
tunity offered.
Al Charleston. the seat OF GOV
ernment, during the sission OF tho
Legislature there appeared to be lit
tie outside sentiment for the sub
mission OF an amendment. hut NOM
bers have found since returning to
their constituents that prohibition
sentiment is more pronounced than
II ever was, the refusal of the SEN
ate 10 allow the amendment to be
submitted having had the effect Of
tanning sentiment into blaze.
Deceived by the absen of red
lire agitation at Charleston, seaa-
tors who had been elected only ar-
ter pledging themselves II the sap
port OF prohibition amendment re-
pudiated their prediction promises
AID voted against the submission of
the amendment. The negative votes
Of Pistol Toting Bill Johnson. OF
Feyette, and Alexander McVeigh
Miller, both OF the same senatorial
district. who had made eueuivocal
promises TO support prohibition
amendment. surprised both the
league and the people Of their SEN
atorial district.
notwithstanding the reversal OF
sentiment toward Johnson, he is
credited with having ambitions to
succeed Joseph Holt Gaines, who
represents the third congressional
district In congress and who has an
tagonized many Of the leaders in
his district because he allowed GER
tain federal patronage to 20 TO other
districts and was lukewarm In adj
vocating a high duty on coal, iron
and other articles while :he Payne
Bill was pending in the house OF
representatives. Johnsons record
In the senate is such, however, that
It is considered improbable that he
could make any Roadway against
Gaines. This coupled win the fact
that two other leaders whose names
have been mentioned in connection
with the nom'nation-Grant T.. Hall
OF Kenova and Will Seymour Ed
wards. of the same county. are far
more formidable than Johnson seem
to preclude him as a serious candi-
date for Gaines shoes.
WeJt Virglnia's proximity TO
Washington is, 10 a large extent,
responsible for the turpitude I'm the
Republican machinge. Leaders fnJ
the nations capital so accessible
that among those not politically
hidebouni, Washington has been
designated as the capital % West
Virginia. There the laws arc made
for the people. and there party pol
itics are outlined. 1t was . protest
against this state OF 2Rairs that
one element Of the Republican party
Febelled last summer and for time
SndeayOred to throw off the yoke
OF Washington domination OF West
Virginia politics. Frequent gather
ings Of the smaller fry Of the party
at Washington during the last few
months have only Increased discon-
tent. In many parts Of the state
Republicans are inclined 10 DO open
~ mutinous at the continuance OF
Washington rule
With the game machine that
forced the nomination OF Charles w.
Swisher still in the saddle. ropubli-
cans are az much dissatisfied as they
were year ago.
Two members OF the Republican
state central committee who were
particularly obnoxious 20 the rank
and file Of the party w. w Whyte,
Of Mcdowell, and o. \. Petty, OF
ICharlesl On-whom the Swisher fac
ton indicated would be asked to
withdraw as members Of the com
mittee, still hold membership on the
committed and have expr sssed their
determination 10 remain as mem
bers. One OF these two men
Whyt e--was under Indictment or
felony while serving az orc Of the
staSs committee, and wls forced 20
withdraw as candidate for state
senator because OF the seriousness
OF the charges against him.
a mafOriv ~ tho coup-,fffao bag