The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1910-12-29
SENATORIAL RACE
GETTING BITTER
But Watson is So Far in the
Lead He Can Not Be
Headed.
Chiffon GETS READY
To Open Headquarters for His
Own Benefit When
Solons Meet.

cIIARHaEsToN, w. va, Dec. 81
With the Christmas season nearing ar
end. Charleston is preparing for the
biennial visit of the lawmakers with
the approaching session OF the legis.
lature only two weeks away. Interest
I'm the coming session has been height.
ened by the fact that the legislature
will be Democratic in both branches
for the first time since 1893 If the 81:
ate contests are successful.
| With United States senator to be
elected md the plum to fall to a Dem.
ocrat. naturally the public is thinking
more about that event and displaying
a more feverish interest in the out
come of the senatorial contest than
they do in the organization of the two
Houses. For the last dozen years the
election of senator has been but the
perfunctory net of the legislature, but
this year there is real contest. For
merly the battle has been over the or.
sanizat'on of the House and Senate.
This year 1t is reversed.
| Although this is the home of w. E,
Chiffon, who is regarded as sena-
torlal candidate, there is an impress
sion existing among the politicians Of
the Kanawh valley who follow the
trend of events, that Clarence w. wat
son, the Fairmont candidate for the
Senate, has maintained the lead he
early acquired in the contest, and his
more launch supporters, enheartened
fby his recent canvass of the state, sry
he can not be headed.
However. Mr.. Watson while feeling
confident as the result of this same
canvass. has not been making eny
boasts ef his ability to win the eau
Gus nomination. He is the only can
didate seeking the Scott toga who has
made a tour Of the state and who
seems to be making an active fight,
hut he has been confident since the in
ception of his candidacy to state that
the continued success OF his party
through the preservation of party
harmony, is greater than the personal
Fambttion OF any man within the state.
The Fairmont candidate has been
making an active, but very dignifed
campaign, He has said nothing that
would tend to reflect upon any other
person who may be seeking the sena-
torship, but has been quietly, and his
friends say successfully, seeking the
favor OF the men who will comprise
the Democratic caucus, completing
tour OF the southern section of the
state during last week which enabled
him to return to Fatrmont for his
Christmas dinner.
Immediately following the begin
ming of the new year 1t is expected
that Mr.. Watson will open headquar-
tiers at Charleston for the Democratic
caucus will probably meet on the night
of January 10, the night preceding the
assembling of the Legislature. The
senator will be elected. as required byI
statute, on January "a. Col. Chiffon
has headquarters engaged for the pre-
liminary struggle and Col. John T. Nc
Graw is expected here within a few
days to engage headquarters.
For the presidency of the Senate
there are no active contestants. Among
the Republicans, Senator Hatfield and
Senator Sutherland have been men
toned, while along the Democrats,
Senator Kidd and Senator Woods, are
probabilities. f. H. Morton. of Web
ster springs Democratic for attorney
general two years ago, is seeking the
clerkship of the Senate, while the Re-
p~blfcans would tender the place to
John II. Harris, Of Parkersburg.
For speaker of the House of Dele
gates there are several whose names
have been mentioned, but no ono is
making an active contest. septtmus
HALL. of New Martlnsville; w. w.
Marcrtn, Of Ceredo; Warren Hayes.
of Grantsville: and c. NJ. wetzel. OF
Jefferson, are prominent Democrats
who are considered eligible.
While there are numerous Demo-
Gratis anxious to secure the clerkship
of the House of Delegates. and who
have written the delegates. there ars
only two who are making an active
campaign. j. Sirley Ross, Of Charles.
ton, and NJ NJ. Nicely, of Fairmont.