Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30
FOR STATE PRIMARY
West Virginia Legislature Ex-
pected to Enact Law.
CALLED IN EXTRA SESSION
Neither Party a Unit in Favor Of
the Proposition.
BATTLE LINES FOR NEXT YEAR
Republicans Talk Harmony and
Democrats Show Some Signs
of Coming Discord.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

| SPeCidi correspondence Oh Inc stat
WHEELING, w. Va. April 30 1911.
The special session of the legislature
called by Gov. Glasscock may draw the
battle lines for next years campaign in
West Virginia. The leaders Of both par
ties, as well as the minor lieutenants
! opposed the governors move. \ few
/, only concurred. Now that the solons
are summoned to Charleston to begin
their labors May 16 in the matter of
enacting a state primary bill, the en-
elusive call of the session, the republican
politicians are showing a readiness to
stand by the governor as the state leader
Of their party.
1t Is expected that the progressives
of both parties will unite in passing a
satisfactory primary bill. and that the
opposition will include the element de-
scribed as politicians. The repub
hcan leaders of the black-belt counties
in the southern tier have steadily op-
posed statewide primary. The Wat
| supposed to be hostile. a combination
Of this organization with southern re-
publcans may be formed to oppose a
bill not to their liking.
"some Sort" of Bill Predicted.
Everybody expects some sort of bill
out OF the hopper, for 1t Is not pre-
sumed that the legislature would have
the nerve to adjourn without turning
out some sort Of a bill. Four sessions
of the legislature previously could not
agree on the primary subject.
| The republican state committee reor-
ganization is contingent on the primary
legislation. Chairman Sam V. Mathews
| av,att cfotA
wide primary If the legislature turns
down primary law. The reorganiza-
ton Of the committee has been on the
tapis for months. and it provides for
the resignation of the state and fed
eral officeholding members. including
the chairman, who is the state banking
| commissioner.
There has been lot Of speculation as
to where Gov. Glasscock got his encour-
agement for calling the special session
influential members Of his party. from
Senator Scott down. Evidently he was
on to his job. That he expects demo-
| cratic support Is indicated by letters he
Graw and some other democrats of the
McGraw following. McGraw, in particu-
lar. was emphatic for a state primary
and for stringent corrupt practices leg1s-
lation. The tenor of his letter showed
him to be still ranking under his defeat
for senator by the Chilton-Watson COM
bine.
Governors Proposition.
Gov Glasscock proposes q statewide
primary for the nomination Of all elective
officials, from United States senator
down, including the members Of party
executive committees. He has the back
ing of progressive sentiment. but it has
been a question whether the results
whether ne could get a. satisfactory bill
from a legislature composed OF demo-
cratic house and republican controlled
senate.
1t is beginning to dawn on the Oh,
servant ones that the governors chie1
adviser has been ex-Gov. w. NJ. o. DaW-
son, the widest politician West Virginia
has had in generation. RepuDncans
profess to see in the Dawson advisory
capacity danger of Dawson in the sad.
die again, and they see a specter OF
Dawson running for the Senate. Inas-
much as 0lasscock lunched with w. +.
Hubbard when he came to Wheeling to
sound special session sentiment. 1t Is
construed that Hubbard favored the SEES
sion and may be a candidate for the
Senate again before q state primary.
All of which Is disturbing to the Scott
people, although there is harmony tax
Of a program which would put Scott
forth as the gubernatorial candidate. The
retired senator admits he is a receptive
candidate for governor. and fntimates he
will be a candidate for the Senate II
hardly spell Hubbard-Scott harmony.
Senator Watson's Tactics.
Senator Watson has not as yet been &C
cused Of being a shrewd politician, for
he has not been in the game sufficiently
long to win a reputation. But he has sur
rounded himself with the boys who know
how to do things. and he is not penurious.
Therefore, it Is as yet a debatable ques-
ton as to whether he will permit himself
to be, counted as opposing q primary.
which would include voting for United
States senator next year when ms case
comes up again. He voted in the United
States Senate in the affirmative on the
question of popular election. His retiring
colleague, Scott. who had been through a
primary with Hubbard in almost every
one Of the fifty-five counties, voted
against popular election Of senators.
But republicans generally and great
many democrats contend that Watson
would hesitate about intrusting his nomi-
nation to the electorate, and for that rea-
son the opposition of the senator's follow
ers to primary legislation Is figured on at
Charleston next month. II such opinion
is verified the issue will be drawn clearly
in the battle for the legislature next year
The republicans will use 1t as their stock
in trade to secure a republican legisla-
ture, and Watson candidates will be OPP
posed by many Of the McGraw following
McGraw to Compete.
On the other hand, there will be bang
| up time In both parties for the senator
ship should a senatorial primary law be
enacted Undoubtedly McGraw will be an
opposing candidate to Watson. and there
may be two or three other democrats in
tho ring. The republican entrants would
! include Isaac r. Mann, Davis ElKins and
| A. B. White, with probably w. P. Hub
| bard and n. B. Scott.
| Failing to divide as parties materially
on primary legislation the campaign bat
tie lines will be drawn on national is
| sues with the tariff as the bone OF con-
| tention. But no national affair will be