The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-08-29
Fighting I II. !.
80. rti.,@ 49, istT- astf a. E,.-. .F. - =. ~.
. !. For 81 Life!
UNDER WEST VIRGINIA sTAIrry.
:, TBS ONLY 1.-TWO DOMINANT
j., FAIRIES ARE RECOGNIZED
Committee of Fifteen
Request State Chairman Lakin to
Place Only Electors Favoring
!, Taft on Republican Ticket. -,

i Taft ON Republican Ticket. =
:! =,... ---- ..[,.-. -.
j. AS the more serious aspects of the
political situation are presented to
the Republican leaders in West vir-
.sinla. 1t is more fully realized that the
tri-cornered contest between the Dem
ocrats. Republican and Progressive
parties Is really fight for the pre-
servation Of the Republican party and
dts Identification under that name, as
well as a notable battle for the re-
election OF President Taft
Under the West Virginia statutes
only the two dominant parties are
recognized, and the Republican lead
%ers who remain loyal Ito the A5minees
'og the old party now understand that
IN the event of the new political or
ganization led by Theodore Roosevelt
securing more votes In the state than
president, Taft, that hereafter the
progressive organization and not the
Republican party will receive recogni-
tion under the statutes. " ,..
with this understanding impressed
upon them there is q movement under
way which had dts inception at q
meeting Of Republican business men
at Charleston, who favor the re-elec-
tian of President Taft, to provide sep
arate sets. OF electors for the Repub-
lican and Bull Moose tickets, and at
a meeting during the present week
committee of 15, at the head of
whtch is former Congressman Joseph
II. fGatnes, was appointed to wait upon
Chairman James s. Lakin;. OF the Re
publican State Central Committee, and
request an arrangement for the seiee-
ton OF electors on the -RspsSaa..eesssss
ticket who will favor the election Of
William H. Taft and who will cast
their votes In the Electoral College
for the regular nominee of the Re-
publican party. .---~..-.
OF the present eight Presidential
Electors, only, three have given assur-
ance that they intend to support
President Taft in the Electoral Col
lege TN the event of their election. They
are James 8. Webb, OF Wayne county;
M. Stanley Hodges, Of Pendleton
county, and j. William Harman, Of
lucker county. These three have sig
nified their intention to remain loyal
to the regular nominee.
With this condition staring them in
the lace the regular Republicans in
the state realize that it would be fu-
tile for them to attempt to vote for
President TAFT, and for this reason
they desire a new set Of electors In
whom they have confidence. They do
not take kindly to the suggestion that
the same. set. of electors remain on
both the Republican and the Progress
sive tickets, and permit the candidate
receiving the largest number of votes
to}receive the support of the electors
IN the Electoral College.
1t Is argued by the supporters of
PRESIDENT Taft that they have right
to cast their ballots for their choice
and gbe assured that their votes will
be counted providing the electors are
successful at the election. They do
not desire to cast ballot for their IA
yorite presidential nominee with any
string attached to the same, and some
even assert that If they are unsuc-
cessful In returning the President a
winner that they prefer the election
Of Governor Wilson rather than the
success Of those who bolted from their
own party.
On the other hand, the Progressives
are falling In line with the idea
which originated in the Taft camp
While the Bull Moosers IN the early
part Of the campaign desired the same
set Of electors on both tickets with the
understanding that the election woult
merely serve as preferential primary
between Taft and Roosevelt, and the
electors would be guided by the re-
suit Of the vote, they now admit tha
there is justice In the demand of tht
Taft supporters and are entirely will
Ing, or at least great many of tht
leaders are, for two sets Of elector
to be chosen.
The willingness Of the Roosevelt
leaders to put out new set Of Pres