The Washington herald., 1911-11-21
With the Political Procession.

lIilam Graves Sharp, the "mildest
hammered man" who has come to Con-
gress as Il Democrat from Ohio in a
generation, almost forgot the mild man
| ner part of his early bringing up when
he saw the latest concoction for new
Congressional districts in his State
Sharp has twice carried a Republican
district. overcoming more than re-
spectacle Republican majority of ZOO
or more, and felt entitled to some con-
sideration by the Democrats engaged in
making new districts. Instead they
handed Sharp district with something
like 1000 Republican majority to over
come. In the desire to help some other
Democrats anxious for Congressional
honOrs, il was found necessary to bunch
all the heavy Republican counties in
Sharps region. The one hope of Sharp
is that Gov. Harmon will not call the
Legislature together in special session to
change the districts. Harmon had woes
enough with the regular session. and as
Il Presidential candidate, can hardly risk
the reassembling of the legislature.
Sharp is now in Washington severely
looking after Congressional duties and
engaged in answering letters from Ohio
urging him to be a candidate for gov
ernOr In fact, the governorship talk
began before the last session of Con-
gress adjourned, and Sharps success in
twice carrying a Republican district gave
him prominence throughout the State.
The recent shake-up in the West Viz
sinia Republican State committee still
leaves the old guard I'm control. The new
State chairman is Virgil Highland, Of
Clarks6urg, a bank president and long
headed both in business and politics.
He was secretary of the old committee
and needs no special instruction in po-
litCal management.
Davis Elkins, who succeeded his father
in the United States Senate, serving
twenty-three days, has become wonder
fully active in the Republican organiza-
ton of West Virginia, and has missed
no formal or informal gathering of the
party managers since Gov. Glasscock
handed him a short-term commission. No
diagram is needed to indicate the worthy
ambition of the younger Elkins to achieve
an actual election to the Senate, and he
was especially clever in bringing about
a reorganization of the State committee
that left his own friends and his father $
friends very much in control. While sew
eral other Republicans will be candidates
for Senator next year in opposition to
Senator Clarence Watson, the new Demo-
cratic leader of the State. 1t happens
that Davis EIxins is the only one bold
enough to announce his ambition thus
far in advance. He is credited with all
the native shrewdness of his father. and
with a popular way of handling things
and of getting nearer the actual workers
of the party.
With Jim Watson, once Republican
whip of the House and late the Republi-
can nominee for governor of Indiana, in
town, it Is no trouble to arouse interest
in Indiana politics. There was always
regret that Watson left the House, even
to be governor, but that was his am
bition. and he is young enough TO try
it again.
He will not admit any special activity
pertaining to net years campaigning in
Indiana. The Democratic situation
creates the most discussion, the Repub-
lican point of view being that the Demo-
Gratis accept Gov. Marshalrs Presiden-
tldl WIN lecllH6 ludl
mon or Wilson have more chance of
winning Senator Kern, who is content
with his six years term, is not in the
Presidential running. Since the election
the Harmon managers have been busy in
Indiana spreading the Harmon sentiment.
Many Indiana Republicans will be here
when the Republican National Committee
meets, and friends of the administration
are already talking Of Frank Davidson.
Of Indianapolis, for State chairman. He
is president of the Marion Club, the
chief organization OF Indianapolis. There
has been a careful lining up of admins
tration Republicans throughout the tSate,
with the view of controlling the next
State committee.
Uncle Joe Dennis, eighty-ive years old,
has been elected mayor OF Belle Center,
Ohio, over two other candidates. He is
remarkably spry for his years, and prom
Ises a liberal administration. He was
mayor OF the same village fifty years
ago, and knows every voter OF the town
ship The election of so old man to
once In Ohio has given joy to the Har-
mOa people, who have been busy refut-
ing the insistent claim that their Presl-
Dental candidate Is too old. Harmon Is
sixty-six, and viii be sixty-seven by
next inauguration day. Sc that Presi-
Dental term would throw him over the
seventy mark
"