Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-06-01
Our Washington Letter.


tween the last and the next Presidential
election indicate that West Virginia may
cast the deciding vote and determine
whether the President who will succeed
Mr.. Taft shall be Democrat or d Repub-
lican.
The Democrats will certainly carry all
the States in 1912 which they carried in
| 1908, and Maryland and Missouri are con-
ceded to them at the next election. These
States would give 1873 Democratic votes
in the electoral college. States which
cast their votes at the last election for the
Republican candidate, but which must be
classed as doubtful in the next election,
are Indiana, New Jersey, New York,
Ohio and West Virginia. Omitting these
from The Republican lis of 1903 the GER
tainly Republican vote is 1873.
OF the doubtful States, give New York
to the Republicans and it would make
23S Republican votes in the electoral COL
lege, with PAP necessary to elect. Giving
the remaining doubtful States except
West Virginia TO the Democrats would
make the total Democratic vote in the
electoral College 23S, the same as the Re-
publican vote, with West Virginia'S seven
votes 10 determine the election. Or il
New Jersey and New York be placed in
the Democratic column and Ohio and In
diana be given to the Republicans, the
Republican vote would be 237 and the
Democratic vote 237, with West Virginia
to hear from.
With the wooden schedule of the tariff
law about TO be revised, and with the
Democratic idea OF what it should be
ready to submit, it is worthy OF note that
the West Virginia Democratic Congress-
men are in full accord with the plan OF
the Ways and Means Committee in regard
to wool. All the Democrats from West
Virginia protested against putting wool
on the free list while leaving other articles
of as great importance to the general
public covered by protection.
The position of the West Virginia Con-
gressmen is that wool should be treated
the same as other articles, and that If a
general free trade law were to be enacted
wool should go along with the rest, but
that il tariff is to be retained on other
articles there is no reason why wool
should be singled out for the free list.
This is the attitude ofthe Ways and Means
Committee and the West Virginians con-
Cured in it. They went so far as to
threaten to vote against the measure if it
put wool on the free list without removing
the duty from other articles as well. And
their views were adopted by the COM
mittee, if reports from that committee can
be credited.
The West Virginia delegation in both
Houses of Congress, except Mr.. Hughes,
who is absent, have united in recon-
mendng to the President that Phil T.
Waters, of Charleston, Republican ne
gro politician, now assistant clerk OF the
Supreme Court OF Appeals, be appointed
United States miaister 10 Haiti. 1t is a
position that will be given TO some Re-
publican and to negro, so the West Viz
ginians, leaving politics aside, joined in
recommending the appointment Of West
Virginia man for the place.
Senators Watson and Chiffon and Con-
greSsmen Davis, Brown and Hamilton
expect to 60 TO Philippi this week for the
"Blue and Grey" celebration OF the fif-
tieth anniversary Of the battle OF Philippi,
the first battle OF the Civil War. They
have obtained the promise of Senator
Bailey, of Texas, Congressman Sherwood,
of Ohio, and Judge Prouty, of Iowa, to
attend the same celebration and deliver
addresses. Both the Senators and the
Congressman hava tried to assist in max
ing the Philippi celebration success. 1t
was difficult TO get speakers from here
on account of the work in Congress and
the dislike OF Senators and Congressman
TO make addresses in hot weather, but
they kept at if till they secured promises
from those mentioned and number Of
addresses of an interesting character are
expected.
Senator Watson has appointed Harry
PhareS, of Valley Bend, Randolph coun-
ty, principal, and Brooks Miller and Earl
L. Miller, both OF Morgantown, alternates,
for cadetShip at the United States Ma
val Academy at Annapolis.
For the United States Military Academy
at West Point, Senator Watson has ap-
pointed Ray Ash, of West Union, bod
bridge county, principal, and Charles Pat
terson Clifford, of Clarksburg, and Will
bur L. Wright, OF Belington, alternates.
Senator Watson has introduced bills
providing for The donation OF two cannon
for the new State armory at Huntington
and two for the State park at Berkeley
Springs.
There is little indication that Congress
will adjourn before some time in the fall.
Some predictions are that it will adjourn
in August, but from the amount to be
done and the rate of speed at which it is
being done there is little to warrant the
belief that an adjournment will be had
before the first of October, And even
then, the entire program of the House
probably will not have been carried out
by the Senate.
Congressman Brown expects TO spend
large par. of this week in Philippi and
Shepherdstown. AT the former place he
will attend the celebration of the fiftieth
anniversary of the first battle OF the Civil
War, and at the latter place he will par
ticiDate in the Confederate memorial day