Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08

development of fortunate oil finds.
Gov. Glasscock and a party took a spe-
cial car from Charleston to Buckhannon
for the ceremonies and the state supreme
court adjourned as a result.
Donates a Monument.
Next Tuesday there will be dedicated in
Charleston a monument to the West ~Vir-
ginians who shouldered arms for the
Union in the civil war. This monument
was paid for by Col Edwards, who turn
ed it over to the Grand Army of the Re-
public and the Woman's Relief Corps of
Charleston, and the dedication will be
under their auspices. The base is to be
financed by popular subscription, and
numerous invitations to attend the cere-
monies Of dedication have been sent to
prominent people throughout the state,
with incidental suggestions to contribute
to the fund for the base, and accompany
ing the invitations is a circular which
that prompted Col. Edwards to finance
the monument proper and the time and
attention he has given the project.
This monument, by the way, will be a
companion to the Confederate memorial
located also on the capitol grounds, and
1t was doubtless the original location
there of the Confederate memorial which
prompted the tribute to the Federal sup
porters The affair is considered to be
commendable and Col Edwards deserves
liberal praise. but the point at present is
in the timeliness of the dedication taken
into connection with some other things
| which may have more or less significant
| relations to the coming senatorial con-
| fiict.
w. NJ. o. Dawson, who is the West Vir-
| GINA committeeman of the progressive
party, is one of the star Edwards BOOM
| ers Notwithstanding Edwards is the West
tfQ0V of he hill noy
party. and Dawson has issued call for
| a conference of all the progressive lead
| ers and followers to meet in Charleston
January 8. the day before the beginning
| of the regular session of the legislature.
| The inference drawn from the Dawson
| summons is that the progressive support
ers want to make a showing and to take
action that will enable them to organize
| the legislature and gain the senatorship
| presumably for Edwards, and to capture
any other plums in the way of clerk
ships, presiding officers and attaches. and
also to discuss ways and means of pre-
senting a solid front with the regular
republicans in order to overcome the
political tie in the senate branch, which
stands fifteen democrats to fifteen republi-
cans, or fifteen democrats to fifteen COM
| bined republicans and progressives
Phase of the Edwards Boom.
The Dawson summons is construed as
| another phase of the Edwards boom. 1t
| is expected to develop into a compact
! legislative organization that will first of
all boom and elect Edwards and then ap-
portion the fruits of the late election and
| brace I'D the lines for harmonious action
| in the future struggles to control West
Virginia. 1t is believed the ma jority Of
| the republican legislators either support
| ed Roosevelt or are in mood to take
counsel from the acknowledgements
| GlasscOck element.
| The Edwards senatorial propaganda be-
gan really with the opening of the fall
campaign, when his name appeared as a
candidate for senator on the steamers
| that bore the names and portraits of
| Roosevelt and Johnson. No authority for
attaching Edwards name in that connec-
ton was ever definitely disclosed, but it
is believed he paid the freight. 1t is
gressive committees treasury. for such
campaign expenses as were incurred.
| There was never any primary or con-
vention by which his name could have
only have been assumed by the pro-
| gressive managers, and owing to the
peculiar mix-up in the political situation
the Edwards streamers did not arouse the
comment that would have followed in any
other campaign year. Some followers of
w. p. Hubbard muttered little and en-
deavored to find out who was responsible,
but the matter was soon lost sight of in
4
was one of the shining lights Of the pro-
gressive movement, and the fact that he
made fight in the primaries with N. b.
Scott two years ago was considered
logical reason for his candidacy getting
chief consideration.
| Isaac T. Mann and Davis Elkins. who
were Taft republicans. will be before the
caucus, and also E. M. ShOwalter of
Fairmont and probably Hubbard. with
possibility of n. B. Scott getting compli-
mentary consideration, but as the thing
| stands Edwards has the start, he has
| some organization. which none Of his op-
ponents SO far has perfected, and he has
| the managers, and he surely has a we'll
oiled and timely boom department.
| Special Session Of Legislature.
Gov. Glasscock this week ISSUED a call
for a special session of the legislature to
meet a week prior to the regular term
and to take up the question of a county
officers salary law and thereby abolish
the existing fee system. Investigation
by the tax commissioners department
| shows princely incomes for many West
| Virginia sheriffs and county clerks. Sew
eral draw in combined salaries and fees
annual incomes running from $4,000 to
$4,000. This personal revenue Is out of
proportion to services rendered and to
the salaries paid other officers of the
state and of municipalities.
The governor does not take any stock
in the contention that these incomes can
not be disturbed during the terms Of Office
of the incumbents, who will take charge
preceding the date on which the Iegis-
lature may act. The governor cites the
CONSTITUTION and statutes to show that
the legislative action will be legal. But