Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-08-15
Our Washington Letter.

There mas Oeen ROOu ucdi vi suSSS
work as to whether Governor Glasscock,
former Governor Dawson and other DEL
egates from West Virginia TO the Roose-
welt convention in Chicago concur in the
opinion expressed by Theodore Roose-
welt, the candidate of the new party for
President, TO the effect that they are no
better in character and standing than the
negro delegates from West Virginia to
the same convention. In his speech at
Chicago Mr.. Roosevelt said:
"JuSt before began my speech, two
colored delegates from West Virginia
came up to shake hands with me. do
not know their names. One is the State
librarian of West Virginia; one is COL
ored business man from West Virginia,
who had never taken any great interest
in politics before. Never before has
West Virginia sent two colored delegates
to a national convention, and the colored
delegates it sent are in character and
standing the peers of the white delegates
from that State"
Among the delegates to the Chicago
convention who were characterized by
Mr.. Roosevelt as the peers of the negro
delegates were Governor Glasscock and
former Governor Dawson. This would
indicate that Mr.. Roosevelt is OF the opin-
ion that the negro delegates from West
Virginia are OF such character and stand
ing as to fit them for the governorShip OF
West Virginia. If Mr.. Roosevelt is SIN
cere and if the Bull Moose party deter
mines to put State ticket in the field,
il would be a logical conclusion that one
of the negro delegates to the Roosevelt
convention should be named as their
candidate for Governor. AT any rate, in
the opinion OF Mr.. Roosevelt, either one
OF them would be as suitable for Governor
of the State as w. M. o. Dawson or W.
E. Glasscock.
According to the information which
comes from Chicago, Roosevelt candi-
date for Congressman is to be put in the
field in every congressional district in the
United States. Wherever the Repuoli-
can nominee declares himself to be a
follower OF Roosevelt and opposed to
Taft he will be allowed to remain upon
the ticket without opposition from the
Roosevelt party. But if he insists upon
supporting Mr.. TAFT for reelection the
Bull Moose party expects to name can
didate against him. This information
comes not only from close friends OF Mr..
Roosevelt, but from his political manager,
Senator Dixon, as well as from Mr..
Roosevelt himself. 1t will be interesting
to see what is the attitude toward TAFT
and Roosevelt OF the Republican noml-
nees for Congressman in West Virginia.
1t is the apparent purpose OF the Bull
Moose party 10 utterly destroy and ex-
terminate the Republican party. Mr..
Roosevelt himself stated in Chicago that
he had been there at the death Of one
party and the birth of another. There
can be no doubt that it is the intention of
Mr.. Roosevelt and his followers to de-
stroy the Republican party and establish
a new party in its stead. Evidently in
West Virginia the Roosevelt party intends
to try to obtain larger vote than the
Republican party, so that in future cleo
tons il will have election officers instead
OF Republican election officers. 1t is
customary in the State to divide the cleo
ton officers between the two parties cast
ing the highest votes at the preceding
election. If the Bull Moose party can
get more votes than the Republican party
in the coming November election, there
will not be any Republican election COM
miSsioners in West Virginia for years to
come. 1t seems to be fight to the finish
of Mr.. Roosevelt, Governor GlaSscock,
former Governor Dawson, General Elliott
and others against the Republican party.
There is no question but what the old
Republican party is deserving OF annihila-
ton, but whether there would be any
improvement by placing Dawson and his
associates in control is a matter which
the voters of West Virginia are capable
of determining for themselves, having
tried both the Dawson machine and the
standpat machine and having practically
driven both of them out of political con-
troll in the State.
An effort was made in the Senate few
days ago by Senator Watson to have the
omnibus war claims bill reported TO the
Senate for action. He stated that the bill
had been on the Senate calendar since
May 20 without action, and that it was
due to the hundreds Of his constituents in
West Virginia who have claims in the
bill, that consideration should be given to
it. Senator Crawford, Republican, who
is chairman of the Committee on Claims,
was sharply criticized by Senator Wat
son for stating that the report of this bill
would cause unnecessary discussion and
delay adjournment. Senator Watson
insisted that the bill should be reported,
but being in minority in the Senate he
was not able to have the report made
over the objection of the Republican
Senators.
II was a matter of regret among his
colleagues in the Senate that Senator
Chiltt did not feel able to come on to
Washington after attending the meeting
OF the Democratic State Committee at
Parkersburg last week. He had expected
to return to Washington, but found that
after his recent illness his strength was
not equal to it and he went back to his
home to recuperate. Senator Chiffon
expects to be in Washington some time