Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-22
STRIVE FOR PEACE
Democratic Nominees for Sen
ate on the Anxious Seat.
SENATE Is NOT ORGANIZED
Chiffon and Watson. Selected by
Caucus, Advise Compromise.
PLANS OF THE REPUBLICANS
Senator's Refuse to Assist organiza-
ton, Governor Declines to Rec
ognize Legality Of Body.
SENATE IS NOT ORGANIZED
PLANS OF THE REPUBLICANS
Special Correspondence of The Star.

WHEELING, W. Va, January n. 1911
There is general feeling that the West
Virginia legislative tangle will be
Strengthened out in few days by a sat
isfactory arrangement between the dem
ocratic and republican leaders. This feel
ing springs from the belief that in order
to obviate any question as to the legality
Of their election Clarence W. Watson and
William f. Chiffon, the short and long
term nominees for the United States Sen
ate, will procure q compromise.
The statutory date for the election OF a
United States senator is January -, but
the Legislature could take a vote th;.t day
and recess from day to day for month
after that. To obtain an unques;ioned
title Chiffon and Watson must have a
legislature properly and duly organized.
Gov. Glasscock has refused TO recognize
the body now sitting at Charleston "a
duly organized. Even the democrats do
not care to maintain that fifteen sena-
tors constitute majority Of thirty. Proof
party caucus. when Caldwell. who was
seated in place of Hearne, voted for the
long shots throughout the baIlotns, 50
as to keep from voting for the majority
selections.
Among the Possibilities.
Perhaps there may not be any compro-
mise. The fifteen republican senators
may decide to remain outside Of West
Virginia until the time limit for electing
a United States senator has expired, and
the democratic members in session may
decide to go ahead at Charleston IN
accordance with the organization they
forced in the senate, by seating Caldwell
by resolution, and without an inquiry by
committee in the prescribed way, SO as to
give them sixteen state senator's. The
general trend of opinion, however, is that
Watson and Chiffon, the senatorial win
ners, will advise patching up treaty
even to the extent of cOnceding the re-
publicans the presidency Of the state
senate, and perhaps, the seating OF
Hearne and the elimination Of Caldwell.
The situation at Charleston is un-
precedented. The senate tie caused IT
When neither side would concede the
presidency, and when the republicans
fearing to enter the chamber. locked
themselves in the governors room, the
democrats threatened them with arrest
Not desiring to be carried forcibly into
the senate chamber and desiring to avoid
physical strife and probably bioodsheo,
the republican senator's decided TO leave
the capital and take refuge In Cincinnati
The democrats assembled as they had fol
a week previous and on resolutions oner
ed by Woods of Barbour. declared Cald
well instead of Hearne the legal senator
from the Wheeling district. The resolu
tions cited that Hearne had failed 4
make answer to Caldwelrs claim OF 59l
UNREGISTERED votes cast in the district. II
does not appear in the record that Hearnt
was not given opportunity to answer.
The secret OF the republican disincii-
nation to enter the senate although the
thirty senators were divided equally
politically, is that Kidd, democrat. was
the Temporarily presiding officer. and be-
cause of the two contests filed by the
democrats, the republican senators-eiecl
from those districts would not be allowed
to vote Thus these contests could nave
Gratis to thirteen republicans. after which
everything would have been easy shedding
for the democrats.
Republican Contention.
The republicans contended as surface
proposition that their objection to DEM
ocratic president Of the senate was that
he would have succeeded Gov. Glasscock
in the event of the latter's death before
his term ends, as the president OF the
senate stands in the position OF lieu
tenant governor on the question Oh
gubernatorial succession should the gov
ernor become incapacitated. Senator
Kidd declares that he gave the republic
cans a promise to resign in case OF
the governors death.
Speculation as to the man the repubii-
cans may produce for United States SEN
ator next year to oppose Watson inclines
to Isaac Il. Mann, also coal baron OF
potential sway. Mann is considered
likely to be named to succeed Scott
should the legislative selections of Wat
son and Chiffon be repudiated by the
courts or on an appeal to the United
States Senate Again, the selection OF
Scott to succeed himself by Gov. Glass
cock is considered more logical
Judge Nathan Con, once the magical
leader of the West Virginia republicans.
is said in some circles to have stated that
he was willing to get back into politics
for the purpose OF going to the Senate.
and that he would oppose Watson vigor-
ously In the struggle to elect a legislature
next year. Goff could have Gone TO the
Senate years ago had he desired to make
an active effort. There is said to be
reasons why he would like to supplant
Watson.
An Invulnerable Proposition.
The Watson Chiffon combination proved
inyulnerable when the democratic caucus
met "Wednesday night. The surprise was
fbo ohoioo of Watson for the short term