The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-02-20
NEWS NOTES
From the Nations Capital, Of Interest TO
West YirgiaianS.
by George W. Sammersy

Washington, The merry wal
over the delegation from Yves
Virginia to the Republican Ma
tional Convention still goes on.
Gov. Glasscock and Sam Mont,
gomery with their friends and
followers are endeavoring to get
a square deal for the Republican
voters in West Virginia, The ma
iority of whom would undoubtcd-
~ prefer Theodore Roosevelt as
a candidate for President to VIII
liam II. Taft. But the state ma
chine dominated by federal Of
ficeholders who owe their ap-
pointment to President Taft is
working jusJ as hard to see that
the delegation from West Virgin
ia IS instructed for Taft. PROB
ably three out Of four Republi-
cans in West Virginia would pre-
fer the nomination of Roosevelt
to that Of Taft. But, it is prac-
tically certainty that Taft will
get the delegation. The workers
and leaders in the Republican
parry are supporters of Taft and
will see to it that the delegation
will vote for Taft even though it
should not be so instructed.
The possibility of scattering
delegate or two from West Vir-
ginia voting for Roosevelt is ad-
mitted at the Taft headquarters
here while the claim is made that
with the exception of few who
may get away the vote Of the
state will be cast ractically SOL
id for Taft.
However, the fact that work
was being done in West Virginia
for Roosevelt is not lost sight of
by the Republicans here and be-
coming alarmed lest efforts of
Gov. Glasscock and others might
amount to something the Presi-
dent summoned several of the
West Virginia leaders and has
been in conference with the
Presidents private Secretary
and political manager, Charles
ID. HilIes, and have discussed
with him the situation in West
Virginia. AS a result of these
meetings Virgil L. Highland,
chairman of the Republican State
Committee was as ed to assume
charge Of the Taft campaign in
West Virginia, bat declined to do
so on the ground that he was
Chairman of the entire party and
should not use his position in be-
half of any one. At the same
time Mr.. Highland announced
his allegiance to Pres dent Taft
and his belief that Taft would
carry the state for The nomina-
ton.
Evidently believing the truth
of the statements made recently
in this correspondence that the
50 called leaders in West Virgin
ia were not entirely loyal to Taft
the Pres dents campaign in the
state has been rlaced in new
hands. Former Senator Scott
who was regarded as one Of the
M st loyal of Taft supporters.
but who has not been in the
White House in more than three
months has been displaced as
the Taft manager and Isaac r.
Mann who for years has looked
with envious eyes upon the SEN
ate has been selected by Mr..
Taft to have charge of his cam
paign. It will be a steam roller
campaign and all the power of
the Postofilce Department and
the federal office holders will be
brought to bear to give the state
to Taft rather than to Roosevelt
who undoubtedly is the choice of
the Republicans Of the state II
is understood that Mr.. Mann
reward for turning the state del
egation to Taft against the wish
es of the people will be the Sen.
atorship, in case the legislature
should go Republican or diplo.
matte post at some important
Eur pean point in case he might
b3 unable to get to the Senate.
The LaFollctte idea OF holdino
a presidential preference pri
mary, which was turned do3r