Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-07-01
SWANSON TO
BE APPOINT TED
Belief that Ex Governor
Will Be Named to Com
plete Term of Sena-
tor Daniel.

Richmond, July There is no dis.
sent from the opinion that ex-Gover.
nor Claude A. Swanson will be ap
pointed To fill out the unexpired term
OF Senator Daniel, which will end or
March 4, 1911. He will also be nam
ed for the new term beginning on
that day. subject. of course, to the
action of the Legislature at the ses-
sion which begins in January 1912.
This means that there will be &,
double primary in Virginia next sum
mer. The term of Senator Martin will
expire in March. 1913. and the next
General Assembly VIII be called upon
to elect his successor. Thus there
are two Senators to be elected, un.
der instructions by the people az
the Democratic primary next sum
mer.
There are Iew indeed who do NOT
believe that MIR. Swanson is TO be the
lucky successor of the late Senator
When he retired from Office on Feb.
ruary ] last. it was generally recog.
nized that his active life has hardly.
more than begun. His hold upon the
people of the state is undeniable. and
there is no reason to think that Coy.
ernor Mann has any idea of appoint.
ing another man.
1t is not, of course, expected that
official a.
come until after Senator Daniels fu.
neral, but when 1t Goes come IL will
land the Ex-Governor in Washington.
When the senior Senator was so III
last March, at the time OF the ad-
1ournment OF the Legislature, there
was naturally much discussion. as io
who would succeed him. This talk
was largely forced by the exigencies
of the situation. Nearly all the men.
oers had gone to their homes, after
voting a formal five day extension ofl
the session for the purpose of allow
ing the signing of bills by the Lie,,-
tenant-Governor and the Speaker of
the House. Only a handful of mem
bers remained on the scene. With
Senator Daniels death momentariIy
expected, the situation was crucial
probably unprecedented. There was
much talk of sending for the absent
members and bringing back a quorum
so as to further extend the session.
Had the Senator died on the last
day of the constructive session. there
could have been but two results.
either the Legislature would have
been called in extra session, at great
cost. to elect successor. or else
there would have been vacancy un-
til 1912. For the Governor could not
have appointed had the Legislature
while in constructive session. failed
to elect
But the lcngthening of Senator
Daniels life averted this situation.
The Governor may now appoint.
There was a general feeling at the
time that Representative II. ID. Flood
of the Tenth District. could have the
appointment if he desired But in
that case it would be necessary for
him to measure swords, with ex.Goy-
ernor Swanson in the primaries of
next summer. This would have made
a memorable fight. But MIR. Flood
himself cut the Gordian knot by de-
claring that he was not candidate.
It is now probable that no name will
be presented to the. Governor for ap.
pointment save that or Mr.. Swanson.
But It is by no means certain that
the new Senator will not have oDpo.
sition in the primary II is more than
likely that other candidates will de-
veloD and that Messrs. Martin and
Swanson will be forced to wage
a lively campaign to hold their
seats