The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1912-04-12
MANAGER
USES SOME TRICKS

TO anybody very much. 1t merely
served to strengthen Watson's posi-
ton, and enabled the Baron of Btu
minous to have his own way the
easier.
The rules and regulations govern
ing the post-election primary were
devised and written by Neal. although
George Wallace, of Huntington pre-
scented them to the committee and is
given the credit. But, George had
nothing to do with them except to
present them and vote for their adop-
ton. The rules are very sklllfully
devised and upon their face seem
fair. The strong point of appeal to
the party Is that the officers to con-
duct the primary in each county are
to be appointed by the county. COM
mittees. And that is Just about as
weak point, for Watson opposition
as it is strong in its appeal to the
party. For the fact that the ma
chine absolutely controls a majority
of the committees now, and will CON
trOl practically all Of them when the
new committees are chosen in June.
The machine is looking carefully
to that business right now and is
sure of its ground and justifably
confident. So, it makes little differ
ence, anyway; had the rules stipulated
that the state committee should man
the polls, there would have been an
uproar, but permitting the commits
tees to exercise that function prevents
that and amounts to the same thing
merely shifting the shoe to the other
foot.
Neal is the high-card with the mu!-
ti-millionaire from Baltimore and
Fairmont Just now, and will continue
to be the captain on the bridge of the
old hulk of Democracy as it sails the
rough and unfriendly West virginian
seas. There are some would-be lead
ers who are Jealous OF him, and their
jealousy is beginning to show Itself.
But that doesn't.feaze Georgeye. He's
got hold OF the deck and will deal
the cards as he wants to and his prin-
cipal idea in shuffiing and dealing
will be TO benefit. Watson first,
Thompson and the state ticket second.
With the duties of his new position.
Neal has resigned as the leader of
the Harmon candidacy in West vir-
ginia, although he still announces
that he adheres to a public. commun-
ication he issued two months back, in |
which he gave reasons why he WAS
for Harmon and why the Democracy
of the state should support him.
However while still at heart, for
Harmon; he is not unfriendly toI
Clark's candidacy, and will not do !
anything TO impede that boom. InI
this attitude he reflects that Of the
machine, who would like Harmon
above any one else, but If it can't
get the Buckeye governor, then Clark,
or any conservative who can keep
Woodrow Wilson grom landing.
The fight in West Virginia, and the
way it is lined up now. tend to prove
Wilson's charge that there is a COM
munity of interests against him in
which all the other candidates have
Joined. The strongest opponent Of
the New Jersey man in this state Is
Speaker Clark, hence the fight Just
now is Wilson against Harmon,
with the prospects that Harmon, sec
ing that Clark has the better chance
OF capturing the delegation will drop
out, throwing what strength he has
against the ultra-conservauve Then
the fight will go to a decisive finish
between Wilson and Clark, with no.
body else interfering.