Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-22
SENATE SEAT PRIZE
West Virginia Republicans and
Pr0gressives Lock Horns.
CONTROL THE LEGISLATURE
Democrats Apparently Indifferent,
But Program Undeveloped.
ROOSEVELT'S HAND DISCLOSED
Writes Letter Indorsing His Cousin,
William Seymour Edw ards, as
Watson's Successor.
RO0SEvELT'S HAND DISCLOSED
rvcial Correspondence Of The Star.

Srrcial Correspondence OF The Star
W NEELING. w. Va, December 81. 1912
frr the first time since 1898 the re-
publicans of West Virginia are going to
hava battle royal for a United States
senaaorship During the period dating
from the first election of n. B. Scott,
when he got the caucus nomination OF
the twentyffth ballot and beat out John
t. McGraw, democratic nominee. by
bare majority. the democrats had but
one chance, that of two years ago. when
they captured both senatorships. When
the legislatures were republican the late
Senator S. B. Elkns and ex-senator
Scott had no trouble
West Virginia was conspicuous for re-
sisting the democratic sweep last No
vember. and as a result the republicans
captured the legislature by a margin of
twenty-five votes. Consequently Senator
Watsons seat is a prize sought by half
a dozen ambitious republicans, and a hot
fight is on, with a legislative deadlock
as a probability. Combinations of demo-
Gratis and republicans, democrats and
proeressives and republicans and pro-
gressives already subjects of specu-
la ton and practical overtures.
The regular forty-five-day session of
the legislature opens January s. spe-
cial session, to begin January ., has been
called by Gov. Glasscock for the sole
consideration of county salaries bill
with the purpose of ending the fee sys-
TEN in the state. The governor has in
timated he expects to prOlong the regu-
lar session, If necessary, to the end of
his term, which is March 4. After that
date DIR. Hatfield will be the governor
Problems to Solve.
1t is a question if the progressives will
enter the republican caucus But aside
from that is the question Of the organi-
zation of both branches of the legisla-
ture. The senate is a tie-fifteen demo-
Gratis and fifteen republicans and pro-
gressives.
A source of conjecture is whether the
progressive element will dictate the or
ganization. They have that desire. and
if they succeed they will press their ad-
vantage to gain the senatorship plum
Politicians of all parties are at sea as to
the outcome. The old republican state
machine has been battered and twisted
by the progressive movement. The DEM
ocratic end is passively indifferent.
This much seems to be admltted-that
ex-Gov. Dawson holds the Key 10 the SIT
uation, and that any decided turn must
take him into account. Both democrats
and republican old liners say so. and the
progressives take it for granted. Daw-
son, as the third party state chairman, IS
in alliance with William Seymour Ed
wards, who claims to be progressive and
republican, and the leading candidate to
succeed Senator Watson.
Dawson is credited with making the
election of the entire republican state tick
ct POSSIBLE by delivering the third party
Endorsement. He obligated the victOrs by
that turn, and is in a position to call Tor
a settlement. He has engineered the Ed
wards candidacy, booming Edwards as
the progressive candidate and deserving
Of the support Of all prOgressives. To
clinch this claim. which was beginning to
be of uncertain value. he flashed letter
this week from Col Roosevelt, indOrsing
Dawson's handling of the fall campaign
and Edwards as a senatorial candidate
Roosevelt and Edwards are cousins by
marriage.