Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-27
FIGHT ONFOR SENATE
Democrats at Sea in West
Virginia Over Scott Successor.
MANY ASPIRANTS IN FIELD
Millionaire Candidates Pursuing
Members of Legislature
TIE IN SENATE WORRIES
Belief Expressed That Republicans
and One Recalcitrant Democrat
Will Control Organization.
TIE IN SENATE WORRIES

general. With all due allowance, no Wat
sc1 enthusiast would term him the popu-
lar choice at present. The rank and file
first of all would select John J. Corn
Wei. or John W. Davis. OF the two an
nounced candidates they would by long
odds prefer John r. McGraw.
Which brings up the question of the
relative standing of these candidates as
compared 10 week ago. John T. Nc
Graws announcement. followed b. his
getting busy prior to and after the same.
makes him now seem like an even chance.
The determination OF the contest hinges
ON tho number of legislators that can be
controlled by William f. Chiffon. re-
ccpiiVc candidate. who is believed to have
combined with Watson for the purpose of
defeating Mct;raw and in return getting
Watson's SUI port for himself when Send
tor Elkins' successor il to be named.
McGraw and Watson live in adJoln-
ing counties in the northern part of
West Virginia McGraw'S home county
j. in the second congressional district;
WstSon's county tMarionl in the first.
Naturally. they want the backing OF
their home counties and neighborinS
counties. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Davis
and Brown are for McGraw. Sentiment
is decidedly in his favor in almost
every northern county. but, unfortu-
nately for him. some OF these counties
shall. have republican legislators.
Disposition of the Forces"
Watson will have the three house
members from Marion. McGraw one
from TAYLOR and probably the vote of
Hood Phillips of Taylor. who was elect
cd to the senate. But this vote is
problematical. irasmuch as Phillips
district tthe seconG) embraces Marion
county. ohio county will have four
democratic members for the first time
since 1892. and the Watson and Nc
Graw forces have recently been stirring
up the bushes around Wheeling at a
great rate. McGraw will get at least
shrCe of them.
The deciding element will therefore
reside in the southern counties. where
The Chilto?-MacCorkle faction OF the
party is strong. if not in control and
as there will be more than two men
bal1oted for in the democratic contest
the ultimate outcome is impossible to
determine, since thirtyfive votes will
nominate. and candidates apparently
weak at the start are likely to develop
strength il the ballotinS is prolonged.
j. r. Tierney of Cabell expects to
beneh; in this way: Incidentally. his
candidacy may withhold three votes
from the Chiffon lineup and eventu-
Ally benefit McGraw. Tierney's candidacy
Already indirectly helps the Taylor coun-
fy candidate.
William +. Chiffon has never been able
To defeat McGraw when their ambitions
have clashed. and their contests have
been the only matters of more than ordi
nary interes; for the minority party to be
entertained with while the republicans
controlled the legislature. Their last bout
was when Chiffon essayed to succeed
McGraw as national committeeman. A
year previously John j. CornweI was
given the empty honor of, senatorial. nom-
~ he. 6ernn 10 aft tori
pether McGraw nor Chiffon could get a
piaj6rity. Cornwell is supposed to be for
NcGraw in the present engagement.
Watson's Managers
Watson's candidacy is being generated
in the upper counties by Charles +. Wells,
who was United States marshal unde.
Cleveland. and O. S. Mckinney. speaker
of the last democratic house of dele
gates. and by William f Ohley, the last
democratic secretary of state, in the
Charleston district. This trio came to
Wheeling 10 look over the situation fol-
lowing The big dollar banquet of the
Marshall county democracy at Mounds
Vile. at which Mct;raw the star
3gure and honor guest. although not in
tentionally so on the part of the ban
qUet managers. When MCGraws train
from Grafton was late and he entered
Q beIated guest he was given an ovation
which left no doubts as To his standing
in the panhandle section. and his speech
Was a rouser.
! The republicans are looking on with
pnconcealed delight and will make capital
n the event of the selection of Watson,
On the ground Of his great wealth having
been the paramount consideration. The
democrats throughout the campaign as
serted IL Senator SCOTS wealth
which gave him his prestige, and that
tiIe republicans had no use for any other
ID raI he oh
Seems to be the other foot The re-
publicans are pardonably sleeful.
The dollar dinner of the Marshall
county democrats was arranged TO cele-
bTate the democratic victory generally
and the gains of the party in Marshall
County. IT was a repetition of similar
Affair given two years ago TO ceiebra te
fhe first big slice taken off the repub-
ficaE ma joriJies In a county which used
to DC one of the conspicuous republican
stronghods of West Virginia At the
rate the militant democrats of Marshall
arr marching on they expect TO win a
notable triumph two years hence
Those Bidden to Feast.
Invitations were sent 10 Norman E.
Mack. democratic national chairman:
I:epresentatves-elect Davis, Brown
Hamilton and Iittlepage Of West vir-
-inia: TO Col. McGraw. William Z. Chill
ton Henry 6. Davis. c. w. Watson, L.
H. Tierney. John J. Cornwell, l.. N. Tav-
tnner. John II. Holt, Lewis Bennett and
Az. a. Maccorkle. prospective United
States senator's. and to local and nearby
democratic leaders and legislators. OIL
these notables only McGraw and John w.
Davis responded. The others sent regrets.
Norman Mack's message was a cheering
one. which was loudly applauded.
There has just ended recount asked
for by Frank Caldwell, democratic can
didate for the state senate from the
FIRST (Wheeing) district, which would
have settled the situation in that body
lad IL resulted in his favor. He was
beaten on the face of the returns by
Julian G.. Hearne by 126 votes. Hearne
gained almost dozen on the recount.
Hence the state senate stands as first
reported-a IL TO II proposition. There
are fears In democratic circles OF the re-
pIblicans securing a weakened brother
and organizing the body with republican
rontrol
. For the patronage OF the house. which is
overwhelmingly democratic, there is a
great scramble. NJ NJ. Nicely. the Young
mayor OF Fairmont; eX-Sheriff e. r..
Nethken of Mineral, and once q state
university foot ball star. and Shirley
Ross, city recorder of Charleston. are the
most active aspirants for the c,erkship
4he best plum in the basket. Septimus
aIaiI OF Wetzel who sat in the state con.
setitutionai convention in 1872. and the
oldest member in point of age and legis-
sative service. hopes to be speaker, but
will be opposed by a lively field.