The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1912-04-11
Is a Question Now Occupy
ing the Attention of the
Republican Party
(By Charles Brooks smith. )

PARKHRaBURG, April 11-In
all the political uproar there is one
important question that the general
public Is overlooking Not SO with
several prominent West iVirginlans
possessed OF high ambition.
1t is the proposition to amend the
cali for the Republican statewide
primary to be held the fourth OF
next June SO as to include in 1t the
privilege of letting the party recon-
mend to its legislative candidates
who it wants to have elected a mem
Der of the United States Senate, in
the event that the party gains con-
troi Of the next Legislature.
b There is strong, persistent, but
quietly conducted movement ON foot
to have this done. Several members
ofsthe state committee have public
by expressed themselves favorable to
II, a party. newspaper here and
there has endorsed It. One of the
few probable candidates the only
one who Is ciassed In the '95ag;otSwesdo
Column, so Gar ssair@ am aware, IS
etftspoketeforSitg and Isl understood
to, be back of the pressure being
bf94eht 30 bear upon the members
of the, committee TO accede to the
which new2seems certain to
be presented to the committee at its
next, meeting Rhich5ls to be held In
Huntington the same day as the state
delegate convention, May 16. Ex-
Senator Davis Ellsins is out-spoken
for the proposition and is working
to bring about Its adoption.
Last month, it will be recalled,
other prospective candidates for the
senatorial toga were sounded on the
question, and there was a widely
varying opinion. Ex-senator Scott
and Ex-Governor Dawson favored it.
Ex-Governor White and exICon-
gresham Hubbard intimated that II
was better for the party strength
at the polls on election day to keep
the senatorial matter submerged.f
\. so far. as Outward appearances
count, these men. and whatever 9TH
ers there may be who are stung with
tine samesambition and whose names
have been mentioned in connection
withy the senatorship, have dones lit
tie to! Advance their respective inter
ests,' witt one exception. and he Sc
young Elkins He has been very
active, although not noisy or con,
spicuous, in building up a personal
organization ever since he walked
out of the Senate chamber after his
three weeks' service, and returned
to his native state. He has been or
the go ever since, his last pilgrim,
age of consequence being a visit
into the staunch Republican countie;
along the Chesapeake and Ohio and
Norfolk and Western railroads. II
the Second congressional district
which was the stronghold of the
elder Elkins, he had been at work
flor months previously, and upor
that district the son, like the father
places his strongest reliance in the
candidacy he has undertaken. Ell
Ikins, it now appears, is very much
in earnest, and is conducting a cam
Ipaign that can no longer be carried
on in the background. 1t is looming
up, and if 1t has not, started the
other iprospectives into more active
interest in their own affairs; 1t ought
to, ~
s For instance, who knows how the
istate committee stands on the ques'
ttion OF including the senatorial pref
erence in the June primary? Who
knows how Thea members of that
committee stand in reference to the
senatorial candidates, prospective
and otherwise? AS Elkins has been
quietly pressing the inclusion of that
matter into the primary, who can
Itch, how; many; org how few friends
he may have on the committee?
These are decidedly important
questions for all those worthy and
ambitious gentlemen. and if'they do
not know the answers to them, it
would seem the part of political wis
dom for them to try to find out,
That the party is divided on whether
any change should be made in the
primary call to include this matter,
there is no doubt, but which side has
the majority sentiment nobody
knows, because there has been no
test of strengt.h However, there
may be and sooner than the publiet
excited and Interested over the
spectacular presidential contest, has
any idea of.