Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-31
BY NARROW MARGIN
Joseph H. Gaines Renominated
for Congress.
SAVED By SINGLE COUNTY
Politicians in West Virginia About
Through With Preliminaries.
CAMPAIGN 0RAT0RY TO COME
Republicans to Stand Pat on Pro-
tective Tariff, a Necessity
in the State.
SAVED BY SINGLE COUNTY
CAMPAIGN oRATORY TO COME
Special Correspondence Of The star.


WHEELING, w. Va. July 30. 1910.
The close call given Representative
Gaines for denomination in the third dis
trict by s. B. Avis. prosecuting attorney
of kanawha county, gives the poliucians
and the plebeians some food for thought
Following the stiff battle put up by
Prosecutor Lilly Of Raleigh against Rep
resentative Hughes in the fifth district,
the natural conjecture is that the IN
cumbents will have to look out
for the young men in their party.
Gaines gained denomination through the
vote of Fayette county, his majority
there constituting his majority for the
district. In the other counties 1t was an
even break Gaines has considerable
prestige because of his speeches In Con-
gress and knowledge of the demand on
his services for speeches throughout the
country. He had the postmasters bri-
gade with HMM fact, the federal ofiice-
holders and state officeholders generally
and he had majority Of the party
organs. Against him was the argument
that he was indolent and that he was IN
different to the needs of his district, ana
particularly neglectful Of his cores
pondence There was no conspicuous
sentiment for Avis.
Grant Hall His Champion.
Gaines young opponent is son-in-law
Of ex-Gov. Atkinson. Outside Of Kanawha
he was not known to much extent. His
great fight was due largely to the gen
eralship of Grant Hall. the Kanawha
leader, who has few equals as an organ
izer. The issue of Cannonism, raised at
the outset, did not cut much of q figure.
that issue, but it never approached the
dignity OF an issue.
In the coincident contest for control of
the congressional organization Avis won
a signal victory. His friends captured
eight of the n members of the commit
tee, which means an anti-Gaines commit
tee in the future. Previously 1t stood six
to four in Gaines favor. II Avis is a
candidate two years hence. his chances
are improved that much. Unless Gaines
does something to renew interest In him
self, and provided Avis does not deterio-
rate, this may be the last term Tor the
present representative.
Lilly. who fought to the last ditch
against Hughes, declares he will be a
candidate again in two years. H. N.
Ogden of Marion, who was defeated by
c. E. Carrigan for the nomination in the
first district, says he will also be can
didate the next time. He so stated In a
letter he sent to Carrigan pledging his
support. In that letter, which Carrigan
has made public, ogden intimates that
the contest was decided by irregu1ari-
ties, but that they were effected by the
supporters of the candidate rather than
by the candidate.
Preliminary Contests Nearing Close.
The republican congressional contests
are now over and they have only a few
legislative nominations to make. The
do &C. xI,1S- n
candidate In the fourth district to OPP
pose woodward August II. just four days
before the time limit set by statute, and
they are willing to confer the honor on
either Judge Tavenner or Scott Withers,
two strong men. With Davis, Brown,
Preston, Wiley and either Tavenner or
Withers the democrats will have a con-
gressional ticket OF unusual party
strength.
The tariff is to be the issue this fall
The republicans are going to contend
that West Virginia peculiarly needs a
high rate Of protection and they will at
being committed to a doctrine which,
while good, perhaps, for other sections, is
fraught with grave danger to West Vir-
ginia interests and industries. Already
the cry has gone up in the Wheeling Sec
ton that John w. Davis is free trader
Unless Davis can show to the contrary
he Is doomed to defeat, despite his per-
sonality and despite the acknowledged
soreness and Indifference manifest in the
republican ranks. However, Davis is not
expected to remain silent under the free
trade charge. And should he admit the
assertion he may be depended on to give
good account of himself. But as no
democrat since the days of William L.
Wilson in West Virginia has cared or
dared to go on record as opposed to any
tariff. and as Davis business connections
have all been with industries supposed
to depend on tariff of some kind he
is expected to rank with a great MANY
other distinguished democrats in the
state who are moderate protectionists
Disclaims Gubernatorial Ambition.
Wiley w. Beall, the gigantic democratic
leader of Brooke county. who is getting a
mild boom for governor, denies the soft
impeachment. He says his only ambition