Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-07-20
Our Washington Letter.

The grip OF the old RepuOllcdn oldte
machine is fastening more tightly upon
the throat of the Republican party IN
West Virginia, ard not only are former
Senators Scott and ElkinS, and Governor
Glasscock, the close friend OF former
Governor Dawson, to remain in aoso-
lutte control of party affairs in West Viz
GINA, according to the latest authoritative
reports here, but the sanction and ap-
proval OF the President OF the United
States is said to have been given a plan
recently concocted here by which these
men are 10 remain in full control OF the
policies OF the party in the State.
During last week Governor Glasscock,
WHO'S understoodto have been summoned
by the President, was at the White House
and spent several hours in private con-
versation with President Taft, discussing
West Virginia politics. As result OF
this meeting, Republican ticket for 1917
in West Virginia is said to have been
agreed upon by the party leaders above
mentioned and approved by the Presi-
dent. This ticket includes the nomina-
ton OF former Senator Scott as the Re-
publican candidate TO succeed Senator
Watson, at the end OF his present term,
and OF former Senator Davis ElkinS to
succeed Senator Chiffon at the end OF his
full term in 1917. BY the terms OF the
agreement, Elliott Northcott, OF Hunting
ton, now United States Minister to Mic
aragua, is to be recalled to the United
States ard given the Republican nomina-
ton for Governor OF West Virginia, while
Governor Glasscock, who was consulted
by the President in regard to the deal, is
TO be taken care of with Federal ap-
pointment, probably in the diplomatic
service, provided President Taft should
be reelected.
Mr.. Northcott has been away from West
Virginia for a number OF years, and con-
seuuently has not been allied with any
factions OF the party. Upon the refusal
of Judge Golf TO return 10 political life,
Mr.. Northcott was selected as the only
available Republican capable of filling
the office and unidentified with any oil
the factions into which the Republican
party OF West Virginia has been split.
He will be called upon to sacrifice his
position and to sacrifice the interests oil
the United States, because he was sent
to Nicaragua on account of his peculiar
fitness to handle present conditions in
that politically unsettled country, in order
that he might, if possible, reunite the
factions in West Virginia and help Scott
Elkins and Glasscock to get back into
office, which they feared they could moi
do without his assistance.
Should Mr.. Northcott be elected Gov
ernor, he would be under such obligations
to the men who had given him the NOM
nation that they would undoubtedly be
consulted by him in the distribution o
all State patronage. Thus former Sena,
tors Scott and Elkins, backed by the
President and the new Governor, pro-
vided Taft and Northcott should bt
elected, would be in absolute control o
the distribution in West Virginia OF al
political patronage, both State and Fed
eral.
This would leave the same old State ma
chine in full control OF the Republican
party and its affairs which has been il
control for so many years, and agalns
which the rank and file OF the party have
been inclined to rebel in the last two
campaigns. 1t would mean that all thu
efforts OF the past six years to reorganizt
the Republican party and to remove TIT
party control from the hands OF these ap'
pointed leaders, have been in vain, 10
with the backing of the President and hi!
approval of the new slate, these leader:
would be far more powerful and autocra-
tic in West Virginia than they have eve
been before.
The formation of this slate and its ac'
ceptance by the parties concerned neces
sarily means the abandonment OF Senate
LaFollette as Presidential candidate by
the socalled Progressive element OF thu
Republican party in the State. The frient
OF Roosevelt and the present representa-
tive of his policies, is sold out by the term!
OF this agreement in order that Scott
Elkins and Glasscock may get back int
office and continue to control the policle:
of the Republican party in the State.