Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-05-24
SPLIT is LIKELY
IN WEST VIRGINIA
Charges That Steam Roller Tactics
of Roosevelt Men VIII Divide
PARTY


Party.
Charleston. W. Va, May 21-For
the most complete steam roller ever
operated in West Virginia politics APP
ply to William NJ. o. Dawson, former
governor, associate counsel in the
Virginia debt case notwithstanding
the fact he was not practicing law
yer. and few other things. His as
sistants are exCongressman William
P. Hubbard and Governor William E.
Glasscock.
This triumvirate had charge of the
steam roller bureau Of tile Republican
State delegate convention at Hunting
ton last week and every Republican
who attended will give a testimonial
that they are experts in their line.
The Democrats of West Virginia are
indebted greatly to Dawson, Hubbard
and Glasscock. in the order named.
Thanks TO their untiring efforts in
leading the Roosevelt movement in the
State with the appurtenances apper-
tanning thereunto, the chances of Re
publican success in the coming cam
paign have declined. As result of
the attempt of the triumvirate to gain
control of the Republican State com
mittee, there promises to be split in
the party rigaling the campaign of
1908, when there were two Reltlblican
tickets in the field.
Colonel Dominated.
&c No ,f,ao
ton of two candidates for judge OF
the Supreme Court of Appeals, every
act of the State convention was a
Roosevelt movement. 1t was more.
Everything tho convention did was in
the control of the three Williams.
But it was in the matter of party
regulation that the triumvirate shone
and it is in this line that the Demo-
Gratis are indebted Dawson makes
the plans, Hubbard Is the official
bouncer, while Glassccck does the
monograph stunt. Several plans We're
concocted before Dawson and his
crowd decided upon what line to fol-
low in the convention, which they Sc
cured full control of through their
leadership of the Roosevelt boom.
The three succeeded through a new
stunt in West Virginia politics, known
as a committee to make rules and reg
ulations for party government.
Through this committee the conven-
ton raised the number of members
of the State committee from II to 80,
16 of whom were elected by the con-
vention.
Dawson and Hubbard want to go to
the United States Senate So does
Davis Elkins. The old State commit
tee is believed to favor Elkins, Daw-
son and Hubbard Joined forces to take
the committee away from the old
Scott Elkins crowd. The State commit
tee did not provide for the election
of committeeman at the Huntington
State convention. but included the
election of the committee in the State
wide primary to be held the fourth
of June The committee to be elected
will consist of II members. Dawson
and Hubbard have poor chances of
electing a majority in the primary.
Therefore with a convention ready to
obey their commands, it was easy.
Just increase the membership and
elect enough to assure them party con-
troll. 1t went through with a whoop,
few delegates seeing the underlying
purpose,
But the end is not yet. Following
the convention the State committee,
which is in power, held a meeting and
refused to give recognition to the new
membership. The committee held that
the convention was without authority
to elect them. The committee didn't ap
prove the proposition ITO increase its
membership and reopened the State
wide primary to let new candidates for
committeeman enter. The 80 elected
in the primary will be declared the
regular committee.
But suppose those elected at the
Huntington convention refuse to enter
the primary and demand TO be seated
as members OF the committee. The re-
suit will be 4 split and the Republican
party will haze two committees doing
business, each claiming to be the par
ty machinery. All of this causes a