Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-25
Rank and File for McGraw.

Rank and File for McGraw.
Democratic bosses in this neighborhood
believe. confidently that Watson will be
chosen; the rank and file of democrats
are loyal to John T. McGraw. who has
been the state boss of the democracy
time out of mind and who has been
standing candidate flor the Senate for
twenty years. The republicans grit their
teeth, acknowledge they have millions of
dollars to contend with, and swear they
will die in the attempt to keep Watson
out of Washington. AS for McGraw.
well, the repub leans like him personally.
i'm a way But the republicans have at
least four candidates for the Senate. ana
i'm Martinsburg the republican workers
are somewhat averse to expressing any
preference. The candidate who shows
the greatest desire to open his purse for
the benefit of the campaign will make
the greatest hit in these parts. me re-
publican aspiranJs are former Senator
Davis ElkinS. regular republican: w. Nj.
o. Dawson, former governor and leader
of the third termers; William Seymour
Edwards. third termer. and relative or
Col Roosevelt, and Isaac Mann. wealthy
republican in the southwest section or
the safe. Despite the assertions of re-
publicans and McGraw democrats that
Senator Watsons machine will have mil
lions of dollars to fight with. that 1T
has already put $4,000 into this county
decided votes, there is no evidence of
personal poverty among the republican
candidates. William Seymour Edwards Is
so lucky that everywhere he sinks an
oil well the stuff PUSHES out OF the
ground in torrents. At one time his wells
produced him $1,000 day for sixty
nine days. and the DEMOCRATS say he
has an oil income now of $4,000 a week.
Refuses to Buy His Way.
Mr.. Edwards was in Martinsburg a few
days ago, and mysterious emissary
visited him at the hotel.
You can be senator" said this ennis
sary ''if you leave enough money behind
you.
IF l have to buy my way to Washing
ton. replied Mr.. Edwards, Il am not 60
ing"
The republicans who are out to beat
Watson are making strong play to elect
a republican state Legislature, and, OF
course. the democrats are doing the same
thing for their own side So much in ear
nest are all of them that no one would
care much if the rest of the ticket is
hacked to pieces. The republicans feel
confident that they will elect Dr. Henry
ID. Hatfield governor. as he is tremen-
dously popular all over the state, and
they think the vote for governor will
carry much influence for the rest of the
ticket. Republicans do not admit that
Watson will be elected senatOr-not by
long shot.
The fight among the democrats which
started when Watson and Chiffon went
to Washington as senators is keeping up
in frightful earnest. McGraw's friends
are bitter because they claim Watson
and Chiffon euchred McGraw out of the
seat. There Is no compromise no mat
ter what the Watson machine says.
Dissension Aids Republicans.
Republicans who are dead set against
Watson are making the most of this
fight. and Sam Montgomery, third term
er. is going up and down the state ask
ing FOR third term votes and at the same
| time calling on all good democrats to
vote for McGraw and ticket that will
insure Watson's defeat. 1t is perhaps
the first time politician has made such
an appeal.
Talking to the leaders of the Watson
| machine in this county gives one the
idea that the biggest democrats around
here do not care a snap whether they
send six democrats to the House of Rep
resentatives or not
We want democratic Senate" they
say. and we have one senator to send
But the House is going to be democratic
without our help so what's the use of
worrying?
The republican candidate for the House
in this the second) district is popular
young man named William c. Conlev
|. and he has a popular democrat Repre-
sentative w. G. Brown, jr., against him
The chances are good for Conley's cleo
ton, for the reason that he comes from
. republican stronghold, that he is ex-
pected to pull a large number of demo-
cratic votes and because of the apparent
listlessness on the part of the democratic
| machine to whether or not six demo
cratic representatives are elected This
year West Virginia sends six men to the
House for the first time. Five will come
from the districts and one will be elected
| at large.
Fraud Cry Finds an Echo.
The republican cry of fraud and pur-
chased votes finds an echo in the demo-
cratic camp. None will deny it, but they
shoulder the blame on the republicans.
Are the democrats crooked?'
Ask that of one Of them and bark to
his derisive laughter.
Crooked" he will exclaim: do they
say we are crooked. when they have the
Standard Oil Company with them every
minute OF :he day.
Under the gentle tutelage of the demo-
cratic leaders the average democrat
likens the Standard Oil Company to a
we'll known parsonage with startling eye
brows and cloven hoofs and sharply
pointed tail. The democrat in this
county who Is pointed out by his ad-
versaries as being the man who dis
penses the tainted money Of the demo-
cratic machinery explained what his
party thinks Of the republicans. 1t was
not complimentary.
The explanation reeked OF privilege"
Of graft" Of '.stolen votes" OF millions
Of dollars spent to prevent the taxation