Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-06-11
WETCH
REPUBLICAN FIGHT
Hopeful of Carrying the State to
Victory This Fall.
COSTLY TO THE REPUBLICANS

II Is Said That Scott and Hubbard
Have Paid About $1,000 For Ex.
penses During the Recent Voting
Many Democrats Eager to Make the
Race For Congress in This District.
Elkins, w. Va, June 6.-Apprehen-
sion is felt for the success OF the Re-.
publican candidates in November, as
reflected in the notes of warning
sounded by some OF the Republican
leaders and by the state press.
The small vote cast in nearly all
the Republican primaries notwith-
standing the intense interest aroused
In all contests Is causing certain par.
ty leaders a good deal of concern,
coupled with the outspoken opposi-
ton of many of the rank and file to
certain nominees in some OF the larg-
est Republican counties in the state
because of the high-handed methods
used in nominating these candidates.
In a large number of the counties
where primaries have been held to.
nominate candidates for the iegisla-
ture and for other offices. not over
so per cent. OF the full voting strength
of the party has been %polled-a state
of affairs that is alarming to those
interested in having the men nomina-
ted elected in November.
The county primaries have been
nothing more than a substitute for a
statewide primary law, which Senator
Scott is charged by his opponent. w.
p. Hubbard with knitting at the legis.
lative session of 1909, and have been
highly expensive to both candidates.
Neither Scott nor Hubbard have spent
less than $4,000. probably, merely to
get their names on the ticket in the
various primaries, an amount almost
equivalent to their years salary.
Valuable compaign thunder has
been furnished the Democrats by their
common enemy. the Republicans, in
the elimination and recrimination in
which the advocates of the candidates
for important offices have been indulg-
ing. and state secrets, long guarded.
have been revealed. The Democrats
will not be slow to seize upon the ar
guments furnished them by members
of the G. o. p. for use In the fall cam
paIgn.
The charge that Senator Scott Is
closely affiliated with the Standard
Oil Company and the American To-
bacco Company, as now charged by
Mr.. Hubbard, and therefore coming
from Republican sources. will be made
one Of the principal issues. Senator
SCOTS opposition to a statewide pri-
mary. as charged by his Republican
opponent, will be used as another
issue.
Democrats Are Together.
The Democrats of West Virginia
present a united front. while the dom
inant party is badly torn with dissen-
sions. fractional differences within
the Democratic party in the state for
the last 10 years have been largely
responsible for successive defeat and
reverses. But now, whatever diffef-
there may have been, the party
is more nearly harmonious than it
has ben in 20 years, Realizing the
advantages TO accrue to the party
from the outbreaks in the Republican
ranks, the Democrats are biding their
time and laying the foundation for
victory this fall.
A change Of 5000 votes would give
the Democrats two Congressional dis
tricts. George G. S~turgiss, the in
cumbent from the Second district.
who has had a harder road to travel
than any of his colleagues, was cleo
ted by less than $500 majority in a
presidential campaign. His downfall
is desired by a powerful machine. II
six or seven counties changed by as
much as 200 votes each, and the Dem
ocrats are counting upon such a con
~tingency, Mr.. Sturgiss will be defeat
ed.