Evening star., 1909-06-06
TO MEET NEXT WINTER
Extra Session of West Virqinia
SoIonS Forecasted.
PROGRAM Is MAPPED OUT
Governor Wants Economy to Prevail
in All Government Branches.
WHEELING MUNICIPAL CONTEST
Leading Democrat Renounces His
Party and Joins Republican
Ranks-Resultant Gossip.
WHEELING MUNICIPAL CONTEST
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

special correspondence of The Star.
WHEELING, w. Va, June 5. 1909
That the members Of the West Vir-
ginia legislature will be called in special
session next winter Is forecasted by the
campaign for the speakership of the house
of delegates promulgated by Delegate
Edwin r. kinsley of Parkersburg He
is sending out letters to the members in
his behalf, announcing that there will be
vacancy In the speakers chair, mas
much as Speaker Strickling has removed
from Tyler to Cabell county and that he
would like to be the presiding officer in
the event of very probable special ses-
sion.
If the lawmakers are called together
by Gov. Glasscock. as seems likely. they
will be asked to follow the republican
state platform adopted by the so-called
Swisher convention. The legislature last
winter was Indifferent to certain lively
planks which the governor desires ia
vorable action on. These embrace an en-
ployers liability bill, county option and
state primary measures, with the possi-
billty of the question of prohibition being
put up once more. Another matter not
touched on in the platform will be the
question of additional revenues to cover
up the gap occasioned by an insufficiency
to meet demands
Gov. Glasscock Is anxious to make his
administration distinguished for econom-
lcal management and does not care to
wait until a regular session to begin. If
he were anxious only to meet political
axigency he could wait three years hence
and have legislation in accord with the
state platform which would be in good
time for the 1912 campaign. but he figures
that the legislature elected on the 1908
platform should deliver the goods.
May Not Resign.
1t is question whether Speaker Strick-
ling will vacate his seat. He removed to
Huntington to form a law partnership
with George /. Neal, the democratic
leader of that section and vice chairman
of the state committee. If he should con-
tend that he removed only his business
location he might -tabliSh his eligibility
to retain his membership in the legisla-
ture for the rest of his term. If his re-
moval has been permanent a special cleo
ton will be necessary to elect new
member from Tyler county. In the
speakership contest last winter Kingsley
was a strong aspirant.
Gov. Glasscock is going to reward I'm
Gle john MILAN of Marion county with
the secretaryship of the state board of
agriculture. This is in return largely for
a unique letter written by MILAN to
Glasscock, which was used extensively
in his gubernatorial campaign. 1t was
pithy bunch of homely advice to heW to
the line, and contributed an element of
good nature, and altogether was an ef-
fective campaign document
Much state interest was evinced in the
Wheeling municipal election, which was
held under a new charter. with the re-
tory, excepting the mayoralty, which
was captured for the third time by
Mayor Charles NJ. Schmidt, a democrat OF
independent leanings.. The popular in
oct hoY
practical control of the city is vested
in board composed of the mayor and
two associate members. These two are
DR.. Thomas NJ. Haskins and c. Hal
Brues, two republicans of strong individ-
ual characteristics.
Democrat Executes a Flop.
The aftermath was also interesting.
from the announcement of John S. Ritz,
the democratic candidate for chief of
police, that hereafter he will be re-
publican. Ritz, who was chief of police
several years ago, and at one time coun-
ty chairman, has been one of the most
active democrats in the northern pan
handle, and it was through his efforts
to considerable extent that the oem-
ocratic state ticket last year included
Col J. A. Mile Of Wheeling as the
party candidate for state treasurer.
Ritz was disgusted by the large de-
lection in his party vote, because of
factional fight, occasioned by the first
democratic primary contest in Wheeling
in years. The slump in the democratic
vote. coupled with the large number of
recent fops to the republican column,
seems to point to Wheeling's becoming as
reliably republican as Pittsburg, with the
democratic organization as similarly
weak as its party in the Smoky city.
Similar conditions in West Virginia, ex-
emplifed lately by the attitude of for
mer prominent democrats on the tariff,
are far from cheerful to the remaining
followers of that faith.