The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-09-12
NEAL2S FRIENDS ARE
SORE At THOMPSO
On Account of His Treachery
at the Dictation Of Boss
Watson.
EFFORTS TO PLAcATE
Him by the Campaign Mana.
gers at Parkersburg Are
Unsuccessful.

- - 800 q "
I. Neal, said by many 10 be the
shrewdest politician that the Demo-
cratic party in West Virginia has, is
an object of solicitation on the part
Of the men in charge of the Democrat
&c state headquarters At Parkersburg.
They want, in some way. to enlist the
help and activity of Neal in the cam
paign that they are running, aud to
do It in such a way that he viii oc-
cupy prominent position in the can
vass without exercising any authority
worth mentioning. How 10 bring this
about without it appearing to con-
promise the dignity of Neal is the per-
plexity on which they are bringing to
bear wha. degree of political skill end
diplomacy they possess.
Mr.. Neal had expected 10 be the
state chairman this year, and to be
the supreme head of his party's a.
tivties in the present campaign. He
was the logical man for the place.
He is a shrewd manipulation and cam
paign maanger OF experience. He It Is
who was primarily responsible for tie
Watson-chilton machine taking dp
his fellow-townsman. w. r. Thomp-
son, and running him as their candi-
date for governor. He managed
Thompson's preliminary campaign
which consisted OF getting S. V. Woods
of Barbour, and Louis Bennett, Of,
Lewis county, and several other prom
inent party men with ambitions 10
secure the nomination. off the track
and ont OF the way of Thompson.
Neal made Thompsons nomination
certain by forestalling opposition.
How he pocketad Louis Bennett hy
fixing II up so that his brother. George
Bennett. got the nomination for the
court Of appeals bench. is one Of The
well known maneuvers of skill ana
adroitness connected with the pre-
convention campaign the details OF
which are generally known to pollti-
cal circles.
Neal expected 10 he made chairman
By the committee. He expected
Thompson to make a firm and deter
mined stand for him, which would
make his selection sure. The cand!-
date for governor of any party lyI
party law and custom, has the nam
ing of the state chairman. Thomp-
son was expected by everybody To in
sist on Neal running the campaign. |
and 1t was great surprise TO the pub /
lie when Thompson did not only not
stand up for his friend and insist on
his election. but didn't even make a
passive resistance to the command Of
Ross Watson that Stewart Walker
should he made the chairman. 1t ISL
said that Neal had the personal as
surance of Thompson that he would
be the Official head OF the Democratic
campaign. Thompsou's desertlon ri
his friend and benefactor was his first
Introduction TO the people OF West
Virginia. II proved to them at the
very start OF the campaign, indeed
before the campaign got started inl
Ia -, -, 49,. 49,
Republicans charged, from the first
a.. Ir'u i'.tNe 'S :, eyer si"t'' Fha
"o- ",! . ny '''' pF"a'",o y
.ne I" ",soi o"',,, s'u feauy 70 q" as
'hey te' MN Mi'nou' qulonie OF cues
- esv'l ~ ~ pm - nuH''''aanE
i .'. De'o,t ",l =, '"e No'''S o. 'ne
SUIT as ne "" !" 'niS case
- 'i'' committee "'ee''ns' y.
W"ieh thompson LOOK siF"hssr ana
man WI" i,hu peen one OF MS op-
po"e"'s, as MS campaign manager,
~. ,me fe'" "'onS pe'"een Neal ana
ho'''psun haEe oeen distant ana LOT
i''a', Aiso. naN."s hothihs worm
"hiie i'oi't'e"i'y :" uo' Heai mas neen
, i.'e.u'"s 70 ms private business aha
.e,t'ns politics, except IN a str'cty 10.
-. "a, sense Sh,ls lot i'sell' now Neal
state. lie nuu MANY friends The