Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-12-07

for the long term, which win last until
well into next summer. and every Dem
ocrat from West Virginia in either
House was present IN his seat when the
members were called to order. This
WAS merely in keeping with the record
vna,s ~ the Senator'S and Democratic
Css.g ressmen from West Virginia dur
ing the special session of last summer.
when, in spite Of the fact that the pro
igra n was limited to tariff legislation
an few matters Of minor Importance.
every Democrat from West Virginia
was constantly on the JOB. :, attending
to the interests of his constituents
Senators Watson, Chiffon and Congress.
linen Davis, Brown, Littlepage and
Hamilton are all here prepared to stay
till the adjournment next summer.
whenever that may be. Even during
the recess Of Congress they have been
keeping up their work in behalf of
their constituents, looking after pension
matters. trying to get new post Offices
established, rural routes inaugurated or
other matters attended to; and now
that congress is in session and they can
be on the ground steadily they areipre-
pared to give even closer attention than
ever to the wants of their constituents.
There need be no repetition of the COM
plant OF past years that letters remain
unanswered and that matters brought
to the attention of congressman or
Senators receive no attention. For
every one of the West Virginia delega-
ton OF Democrats is ready for work
and attending to business, with COM
petent secretary assisting him.
:. Senator Watson has been here at
tending to the duties Of his Office since
the middle of November. Heis mem
Der of the committee of the Senate on
Interstate Commerce, and has been
taking part in the hearings which have
been given by that committee. His
: terse method of Indicating his attitude
e toward the Sherman antitrust Law
s caused much comment here. Seth Low
president of the American Civic Associ
alton and former Mayor of New YorI
city. was before the committee. A
wide divergence of opinion as to tht
Interpretation and scope of the Sher
= man law had been manifested and il
. appeared that the committee was fal
from unanimous in its views Of the
law. Every one seemed to have com
q pleted the questioning of Mr. Low
e when Senator Watson asked him if 8
; meeting of directors Of corp lratior
should manifest such diverging views
as to any law if he did not think the
i ordinary course of procedure would be
: 10 refer the matter to lawyer, ane
d Mr.. low said it would be. Then Sena
d ftor Watson asked him If he had evel
e seen any two lawyers who held the
> same views as TO the Sherman law, anc
n he had to admit he had not. Having
L brough hit outhis point thus emphatically
senator Watson said no more at thai
time 10 favor Of revising the Sherman
law, but his ideas on the. subject hac
4 been made clear.
S Fresh from numerous visits to the
people of West Virginia, to whom he
e has been rendering account of his
stewardship as Senator, Senator Chill
> ton has returned to the national capita
), enthusiastic over the outlook for De
e mocracy in West Virginia next year
Fully and frankly Senator Chiffon hal
been telling the people where he has
spoken of>the work that has been done
!, and is being done in their behalf by
their Senator'S and Congressman anG
the people seem to be more than pleas
ed that chey are in such close touch
!. with their representatives and that
q their business matters are being 81
. carefully attended to by Senators aae
:. Congressman.
g One of the matters to come up at this
session of Congress which will be OF
4 special interest to West Vlrginians il
! the Wiley Hughes contested election
n case. The testimony and briefs have
: been printed and are in the hands Of
the Clerk of the House. The case il
now ready to turn over to the commit.
tee on elections and the probability is
that it will be so referred soon. Pro
badly it will be referred to the commit
tee before the Christmas holidays AND
the committee will very likely begin
the consideration of the case and the
examination of additional witnesses il
may require soon after the first Of
January.
When the Republican State Commit
tee in West Virginia decided upon q
Statewide primary election, the Wheel.
ing 1ntelligencer charged that it war
done in the interest of certain candi-
s date SO that the necessary majoritiee
could be rolled up in Mcdowell and
other similar counties. Now Charles
w. Swisher has announced his candi.
dacy for the GovernorshiD and 80 far il
the only candidate. whether the In,
telligeacer thought the Statewide pr.
1 mary plan was adopted in Mr.. Swisher's
, interest or not, is for the Intelligence
to explain. But the entrance Of Mr..
Swisher into the race for the Governor.
ship, looks like the beginning of the