Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-05-27
Would Walk in Charleston.

Francis iB. Gessner In The Washing
ton Post of Wednesday has the follow
ing:
"The political pericardium of the
West Virginia republican Organization
will be given few throbs this week
If Senator Scott responds to the call
for his counsel and aid, given in per-
son at Charleston. The republican
governor, Glasscock, has asked Sena-
tor Scott to come quickly and save an
almost despairing situation. The gov
error, goaded perhaps by crafty ex-
governor, Dawson by name, called the
legislature in special session to pass
primary law for the nomination of
senators and all other officials.
"The legislature is democratic, but
the governors idea was that the DEM
ocrats did net oppose the election of
senators by the people, as both repub-
lean and democratic platforms had
declared for it.
''The democrats conceded that they
favored the direct primary method of
choosing senators, but did not care to
be whipped into the game by a repub-
lican governor and a crafty ex-goyern-
or, who has designs on the senatorship
for himself. So it comes to pass that
the democratic Legislators, or enough
Of them, are holding cut, and Glass
cock sees defeat ahead unless he can
get the aid of his old friend, "Scotty,'
who remains the one powerful figure
IN the republican organization of the
State.
No doubt it occurred to Glasscock
that Scott more than any other repuh-
lica1 of West Virginia has the car and
confidence of President Taft Hence
the telegraphic appeal for Scott to
take hold at Charleston and rescue
the perishing proposition.
IF / thought my counsel and sug-
gestfon would aid in passing the pri-
mary law" said Senator Scott, at the
Willard, Il would willingly walk to
Charleston. have just returned from
a trip and am little tired out. / am
in touch with things at the State cap
ital, and will do as desired.
81 hope it has not been forgotten in
West Virginia that favored the Coop
err bill, introduced in our legislature
years ago for the primary method of
nominations, and did all that could
to make it a law. | believe three
fcurths of West Virginia voters be-
lieve in a primary and | am glad to
note that the republican members OF
the present legislature are standing
solid and unanimously for the bill.
They are in minority, but at least
they have put the republican party on
record as consistently and persistent
iy favoring such a law, while the dem
ocrats are opposing it and going back
on their protestations of the cam
paign."
Senator Davis Elkins, who succeed
ed his father in the Senate, has been
at Charleston doing his utmost to put
the bin through. He returned last
night and went into executive session
with Senator Scott, going over the sit
uation in detail, also pointing out
what can be done by Scott to pass the
bill, or at least to sustain with honor
the attitude of the republican organi-
cation. Senator Chiffon, one of the
democratic leaders, is back, after CIV
ing a few words of advice to the ma
jority. Senator Watson, the longhead-
ed new leader of West Virginia demo
Gratis. has returned from New York,
where he had a private errand and
ever a silent philosopher, he is some
what more silent than usual about the
pending propositions at Charleston