Evening star., 1911-06-04
BILL FAILS
West Virginia Legislature Ad-
journs Without Action.
SESSION LASTS TWO WEEKS
Democrats Control House, Parties a
Tie in Senate.
LINES WERE CLOSELY DRAWN
Governor Appeals to People for New
Legislature Pledged to
the Reform.
SESSION LASTS TWO WEEKS
LINES WERE CLOSELY DRAWN
Special Correspondence OF The Star.

WHEELING. W. Va. June 3. 1911
The special session OF the West vir-
ginia legislature is now nothing but .
memory. 1t met, Il sat for exactly two
weeks and adjourned. That was ALL
Called for the purpose OF enacting pri-
mary legislation by Gov. Glasscock, 10
became g mere snarl between the re-
publican and democratic organizations.
and disbanded when IL was seen neither
party would consent to the kind OF
state primary bill the other advocated.
Consequently. the general opinion 10
that Gov. Glasscock was handed a large
and juicy lemon. He had expected cor
dial support by a sufficient number Of
the legislators OF both parties 10 pass
a bill he had in mind. but he took too
much for granted.
The tie In the senate. which body was
under republican control, coupled with
the democratic control OF the house, was
responsible for the deadlock. Then. there
were secret enemies OF any and all kinds
OF primary legislation in both parties.
just as there were sincere primary a6-
vocates in both, but as the days length
ened. and the Issue was drawn. the night
became purely political. and the divided
control in the two chambers made an
agreement impossible. even If an agree
ment had been much desired.
Governor Looks to Future.
Gov. Glasscock threatens to take the
stump for q primary bill next spring, and
says he believes three-fourths OF the
members elected will be pledged to pass
progressive primary statute. Be that
as 1t may. both party platforms in 1908
pledged primary legislation. and the dem
ocratic house at the regular winter ses-
sd al.x1 1Iaw. ALL an
popular primary plan, and the one COM
ceded to suit the most fastidious tastes.
But this met sudden death in the republi-
can-controlled senate.
At the special session the democratio
house members who voted for the Camp
bell-Cooper bill apparently had a change
Of heart. For this they have been ac-
cused OF subserviency TO Senators Wat
son and Chiffon, who are against a law
that would take effect next year. because
Of the alleged fear OF Senator Watson TO
take his chances in a primary.
On the other hand. the democrats point
to Senator Watsons vote in the Senate
on the side OF popular election of sena-
French-Dice bill a week ago. which was
the Oregon law, except that IL
provided for its previous submission to
the people in 1912 This law would not
take effect until 1913, however. or until
after the campaign OF 1872. which left it
open to the suspicion that the referen-
dunn attachment was purely TO delay Its
effect until after Senator Watson's fight
for reelection.
Endorsed by Democratic Senators.
Nevertheless, the French-Dice bill ~.
ceived the wired encouragement OF Sena-
tors Gore and Owen of Oklahoma. These
democratic progresstves sent dispatch
to Speaker Wetzel. Just who interested
L.
gave strength to the democratic flanks
and centralized their defense. The re-
publicans pinned their fight to the Coff-
man bin. which received the support OF
Senators Fisher and Phillips. democratic.
ant-Watson or McGraw leaders, in ad-
dition to the fifteen republicans in the
upper chamber. The fifteen republicans
in the senate voted solidly against the
French-Dice bin or Oregon plan. which
passed the democratic house, while
Senators Fisher and Phillips voted with
their party conferees to make a solid
democratic fifteen in the bills favor.
Without a majority 1t lost of course.
When the Coffman or republican ad-
mfnistration measure reached the house
it was ruled out of order by Speaker
WetZel. on the ground that a similar bill
had been defeated In the house Saturday
last, and the speaker was sustained by
practically his party's strength. The
democrats made capital out of the fact
that the republicans made seventy-two
amendments TO their own document in the
Senate to satisfy republicans in the black
belt counties. Originally the bil's sponsor
was said to be ex-Gov. Dawson. but Daw-
son was inclined to repudiate the bill
after 1t received the patching
Few Really Independent.
There was a spirit 10 disregard parti-
sanship by q few legislators. like Dele
gate Strother of Mcdowell. republican.
who was eventually deposed from floor
leadership, largely because OF his per-
sonal attack on Dawson. whom he termed
a dangerous as well as a lean and
hungry Cassius," and by democrats in
the house like Tom Ice of Barbour. Camp
bell Of Cabell. Nelson C. Hubbard and
Padden of Ohio. The insurgent demo-
Gratis We're all opponents of Watson and
Chiffon in the senatorial caucus. Sena-
tors MacCorkle and Woods. democratic
leaders, openly stated their objections TO
primary legislation as based on their op-
position to the calling OF the special ses-
sion itself. and they gave the impression
Gov Glasscock desired at that particular
session.
The upshot win be the injection Of the
special session fzzle into the literature
Of the 1912 campaign. The democrats
viii upbraid the republicans for failure
to pass q primary bill during the years
they had control OF both branches OF the
legislature, and say they will show that
Senators Elkins and Scott and other dis
tinguished republicans either opposed
legislation were bluffing when
they publicly Endorsed the governors pro-
gram. The republican campaign orators
will center their fire on Senator Watson's
fear Of a primary. being potent with the
legislators to the exclusion
Of their personal preferences.
Talk Of La Toilette.
Incidentally. there are signs OF La
Toilette activity In West Virginia, and
there Is speculation as to the influences
Ex-Representatives Hub
bard and Sturgiss. and probably ex-Gov.
Dawson. are accused. But Taft will un-
doubtedly get the West Virginia deiega-
ton. unless there Is q radical change
from the present complexion OF things.
Col. Hubbard was one OF the interested
spectators at the special session, visiting
his son, the democratic insurgent. The
younger Hubbards failure to train with
his party. plus the fathers distaste for
the powers that be In the republican or
ganization has led to tae gossip that
events may shape themselves to induce
the father ana SON to switch political
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