Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-18
Corporations Interested.

(.
aside from political. is control for the
purpose of debating the legislat ion to be
enacted, and because there are certain
corporate interests which feel deeply
OH the question Of control there are red
sons for believing that the contests to
tie up the seats of two republican sena-
tors originate in part, or in whole from
corporate circles.
AS d plain statement of fact it is said
the last session Of the state senate set
tied Il contest strictly OH the points of a
vote against the prohibition amendment.
The democrat was elected on the returns
by close margin. The republican en-
tered contest. The matter was allowed
to rest until the end of the session, the
democrat sitting in the meantime and
he was given his title on the last day,
tier the prohibition vote was disposed of.
He was wet, or liberal, senator.
Whether the republican would have voted
likewise is question. Certainly the
majority were not disposed to bother
much when the man elected on the face
of the returns went along all right. but
especially because the large republican
majority felt it could be generous and re-
tanned that particular democ. at having
no dream of landslide two years later
which would make the senate tie.
Questions for Decision.
The senator in question, Joe Smith. has
since been quoted as agreeing to support
Hatfield republican) for senate president,
| because of an alleged agreement i'm re-
| turn for Hatfield's support and argument
when Smiths contest was on. Besides
the liquor question there are Tile taxation
of gas, the public utilities commission,
primary reform and the revision of vari-
Gus taxation propositions. all involving
| the close attention of large interests
which cut a figure in A state SO easily
handled as West Virginia.
| Whether these interests have cordial
regard for the United States senatorial
candidacy of any one Of the field of
democratic candidates is open to specula-
ton. but without mentioning names there
are reasons for adding . and = i'm Ons
instance. Sufficient 1T is that the 6. w.
Watson boomers propose to organize the
legislature If they can do it. With Wat
son against the field they have the adj
vantage of a preliminary organization.
Whether they want the two .e.,ublican
contested seats tied up for business rea-
sons is impossible to say, for the reason
that so far there can only oe speculation
in the absence of cOnfiding information.
and to this time the new leaders are do
ing no talking.
Had No Opposition.
entered against Senator White is that he
had no opposition in his district, which
is overwhelmingly republican, and that
out of 5000 votes there was but one cast
against him-for a man named Stephen
son. This vote was cast in Stephen SON 5
own precinct. There are people keen
enough to presume that Stephenson cast
this vote for himself. However, he has
entered the contest, asserting that White
was not qualified for election Eecause he
was also member Of the Mingo county
court Although White subsequently re-
signed as county commissioner the con-
the argument VIII b. raised that there
were illegal votes cast for White. since
Rankin Wiley, the defeated democratic
candidate TO. Congress. alleges frauds
which include the counties electing White
The protest against Hearne, in the
northern Panhandle. raised by Caldwell
democrat. alleges that there were 3Jt
ILLEGAL voters, men who voted without
being legally registered, in Hancock and
Brooke counties. Caldwell had recount
of the votes in these and Ohio counties
covering the district, without any change
in the original returns. Charges of ir-
regularities were never before heard in
Hancock and Brooke, which include in
their cltZenSnlp some OF the pest people
of the state.
Exciting But Little Comment.
In short. the republicans declare that
the democrats have simply grasped at
the barest teChnicalties to block republic
can progress and to secure democratic
control of a tied senate by desperate
methods. But, after ALL nobody is get
ting excited or particularly indignant.
Which may be one way of demonstrate
ing that there is more than politics back
Of the situation and that the character
Of legislation appeals with more force
to certain interests than the nominal po-
litical control Of either branch of the leg
islature.
Under the constitution both Hearne and
White can be sworn in on the secretary
of states returns. Their seating or I'M
seating will have no effect on the United
States senatOrship. The democrats have
more than a sufficiency for that Just
what is back of the effort, bluff or
sincere. to oppose the election of a man
who had no opposition on the ballots and
to that of another. whose majority of
300 was assured by satisfactory recounts
in every county Of his district, NAV de-