Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-10
Possibility of Reappearance in
Politics Suggested.
FEELING IN WEST VIRGINIA
Republican Candidate for Congress
Announced in Each District.
GEORGE A. LAUGHLIN IN FIRST
Democration Delegation Sure of Re-
nomination-Forecast of Guber-
material Race.
'ecial Correspondence Of The Star

special Correspondence Of The Star.
WHEELING, w. Va, December 9, 1911.
by the announcement of George 4.
Laughin Of Wheeling this week as a
candidate for the republican nomination
for the national House of Representatives
from the first district, there is almost
full quota of republicans out in the
five congressional districts On the demo-
cratic side there is no activity, because the
lncumbents In the four districts captured
from the republicans will have no oppo-
sition for a denomination for second
terms. and democrats are rather scarce
In the fifth district now represented by
a republican.
Mr.. Laughlin served term in the state
legislature in the lower house and was
one Of the big Four from West Vir-
ginta who helped to nominate Taft. He
has hankering for official life, and at
one time had the gubernatorial bee like
wise once entertained the idea of run
ming for the office Of mayor Of Wheeling.
He Invested heavily in the republican
organ In this city several years ago, and
for time had control. which was about
the time he entertained the gubernatorial
bee, but his journalistic experience was
His only other possible opponent is
Alexander r. Campbell deputy revenue
collector, but the latter has never an
nounced himself except to say that he
would take the nomination If nobody else
was particular about It, Since the advent
of Laughlin, Col. Campbell may not care
to go into fight. for the moment he gets
active in a contest of the kind the civil
service regulations under which he is en-
thralled would complicate his present
job.
cold Guard" Will Be Shy.
Laughlin will not get the cordial sup
port of the ''old guard He is consider
ed too individualistic to suit the workers
and too uncertain to tie to. Consequently
the entrance Of another candidate may
be considered a certainty, and whether
the other man comes from Wheeling or
another part of the district IAaughlin will
have to fight his way, and as he is indie
pendently rich and somewhat alive to the
necessity of Oil for the machinery, he
Will make the other fellow go some. The
decision will be by primary. and the con-
gressional organizatio it is believed, will
oppose him.
The average voter in the first wheel
ing, district will agree that the republi-
can vote predominates under normal con-
ditions, and many of the average voters
will agree that the democratic incumbent.
winning a second term.
Laughlin may be among those who
think young Davis will be candidate
for governor instead Of for Congress
next November. as there are grounds for
that belief. Senator Chiffon favors Davis
for governor. and Senator Watson is also
inclined to look with favor on the PROPOSE
ton. The only obstacle in the way will
be Davis himself He took the congress
sional nomination over his own sincere
and vigorous protest. a telegram from his
aged father. suggesting declination hav-
| ing been withheld from him until after
the convention. and it is question if he
would care to head the state ticket
If the late legislature had enacted
primary law which would permit the peo-
pie to register their choice for United
States senator next year and Davis would
have allowed the use of his name, the
chances are he would have distanced
every other aspirant including John T.
McGraw and Senator Watson. He is I'M
doubtedly the idol of the West Virginia
democracy and a great favorite with in
dependent republicans.
Former Senator Among the Boys.
Ex-senator SCOTS return to Wheeling
from Washington this week was for the
purpose of interesting Wheeling capital
In the proposed formation of a new bank
ing and trust company at the National
Capital, to help IN the campaign for a
new city hospital and to ming.e a little
with the boys and find out the lay OF the
land regarding Taft and the ''kickers."
and, incidentally. to bend his ear little
to the gossip that he was a consideration
for the governorship. Scott intends to
help organize the state for an instructed
Taft delegation, and help his friends and
see that the Hubbard-Dawson bunch do
not come to the top Of the heap He was
not particularly interested in the Laugh
lin announcement for Congress. made the
day of his arrival. and is not expected to
encourage it.
There is only one announced republican
candidate for governor. Charles w.
Swisher. but the anti-Swisher men intend to
rally around Charles w. Dillon of Fayette
county when Dillon makes his expected
entry. That entry is conditional on some
things, and there is a remote possibility
of It's not being made at all. Dillon was
Swsher supporter three years ago.
The man who will give SWisher most
concern is DR.. Hatfield of Mcdowell, and
he is said to be the candidate OF the
state organization. This shows the pc
culiarities of politics. for. while Hatfield
was a former Swisher man and the state
committee crowd was also formerly pro-
Swisher. the leaders are first of all prac-
teal, and they have their doubts as to
Swisher's ability to be elected. And far
Their down in the mass Of reasoning is
the apparent unwillingness Of Taft to
have his chances complicated by the
SWisher candidacy another time.
Taft by 10000 Majority.
Senator Scott, as a typical old-time Or
ganization leader submitting to pre-
election interview. gave out the statement
that Taft will carry West Virginia by
10000 and that the republicans would
elect the legislature and the entire con-
gressional delegation. He left nothing to
the opposition.
But the rank and file of the senator's
party take either gloomy or an indif-
ferent outlook HOWeYer the other