The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-02-29


ty, left the field Of tentative candidates
and announced they were in the GU
bernatorial contest TO the end
The announcement of Senator Hat
field that he would stick to the finish
was made at Keyser, Mineral county.
where a harmony dinner was held
on last Tuesday. Dr.. Hatfield and for
mer Secretary Swisher were present
at this meeting the third candidate
Mr.. Dillon being unable to attend.
Senator Hatfield there declared that
he was a real bona fide candidate
and was out to win. Secretary Swisher
had already made formal announce
ment of his candidacy and is at work
on an organization
Dillon made definite announcement
OF his candidacy at a time when it
was reported that he would withdraw
Act ii, the dining room secene OF
from the contest. Needless to say
these rumOrs Of withdrawal were
ended by his announcement, which he
made at the same time he published
his platform principles.
In his declaration Of principles Dill
lon stated that at the present time
there was not a great demand for
much new legislation, but that bust
ness generally was asking for a rest
not from overworl, but from the con-
slant agitation of the untried theo-
ries of lawmakers. He declared un-
equivocally for a direct primary law
and amended corrupt practices act and
for labOrers compensation law, at
the same time indorsing the theories
of four Republican Governors and in
sisting upon economy in tho conduct
Of the state government.
The plunge taken by Dillon and
Hatfield into the gubernatorial fray is
taken to mean a lively contest and
no one deems himself competent at
the present, because Of unfamliarity
with statewide primaries, to forsee the
result Of the contest. Hatfield, COM
ing from Norfolk and Western So
tons Of the State, leaves his home
section with a slight advantage over
SwiSher and Dillon. but the latter two
candidates will poll unusually heavy
votes in their home counties of Kalaw-
ha and Fayette while the whole north
ern and central sections of the state
known as debatable territory, with
each candidate showing particularly
strong in spots
The sudden death of Charles T. Ia
ney at Wheeling last week, was a
distinct shock to the Democratic pol
iticians of the state. Mr.. fancy, who
for years had been the directing head
of the Wheeling Register, one of the
strong Democratic dailies of the state,
had been a prominent figure in the
Democratic councils of the party. He
had never sought office, but was hon.
ored by his party with an election as
delegate to The st. Louis Convention
Of 1904. His brother James B. fancy,
was appointed Consul to Belfast, Ire
land, by former President Grover
Cleveland. Editor fancy, after the
election of 190?&GWas ,asIppointed, by
Governor Glasscock as one Of the
board of Directors of the Second Hos
pital for Insane at Spencer and scrv-
ed until he was succeeded by the
State Board Of Control.
Democratic leaders in the Third Con-
greSslonal District are supporting Will
liam y. ADley, a prominent business
man of Charleston for delegate to
the Baltimore Convention. Mr.. Abney
belongs to the kanaWha co. Democracy
and is popular. While in no sense a
candidate, he is regarded as repre-
sentative Of the Democracy Of the Ka-
naWha Valley, has never been partic-
ipant in factional struggles and will
probably be the unaniomous choice
of his party for the honor.
MarlCn county Republicans surprised
the state this week by ending fac