The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1912-04-13
BAT TIE OF BALLOTS Today
lin PENNSYL VANIA STATE
DAWSON IS MERELY
USING ROOSEVELT
In Order to Get Next West
Virginia National Com.
mitteeman.
.(By Charles I4rools snnlth. J

RAiREiERsBURG, April 1s-With
President Taft. leading with SSs
delegates, he has a short cut and a
straight one home to the nomination
He needs only 1885 more delegates.
can be no doubt now Of
his them. AS Frank Mum
seys Publisher. who Is said to be
helping finance the Roosevelt third
term candidacy, said 1t looks as
I'VE might have started too late.'
The large counties of West Viz
ginia are classed as Taft counties.
There is Wood, which has already
gone for Taft. at primary conven-
tons by two to one ratio, and such
counties as Ohio, Mcdowell, Fayette,
Kanawha, Harrison, Marion and
those that send the big delegations
are reasonably certain to stand
staunehly by him. Many Of the
smaller counties are for him, and
there does not seem to be any like
lihood bnt what West Yirginia's six
teen delegates will be found, when
elected, to be supporters Of the
president. They will be, of course,
eventually, for Taft's nomination
will be an accomplished fact long
before the WIS are reached on the
roh call at the great Chicago con-
vention.
Then. why keep up the flghte
many are asking. The inquiry is
timely. The Roosevelt movement in
this state was planned to get con-
troll Of the member of the national
committee from West virginia, so.
that around and about him the nuS
merous "exes" in this state can
rally.
1t is the delegation to Chicago
which will elect a new member OF
the Republican national committee;
and to secure that position is the
real bone of contention. 1t is not
Roosevelt that Ex-Governor Dawson
cares about for he practically ac-
knowledged in an interview given
out this week that there is, scanr
chance of defeating President Taft
now, when he declared that the re-
suit in this state was in doubt, sTd
that he did not care to be held re-
sponsible for the Roosevelt boom in
West Virginia nor the outcome of it.
Yet. Dawson is the head of the
Roosevelt organization. The natur-
al supposition is that Dawson, than
whom there is not a wileyer nor more
discerning politician in the state,
sees what every other experienced
politician knows. that the Taft can
didacy had too great start when
Roosevelt got into the contest,
to- be ovcrtaken, and .detractcd. 1T
also shows that Dawson is none too
certain as to the outcome in West
Virginia.
However, the fight goes on. 1t is
the position OF national committee
man. which the mon at the head ~
the Roosevelt movement are after,
and what Roosevelt sentiment there
is they are using to accomplish their
own little plan. Taft can be nomi-
mated without West Virginia they
figure and the national committee
manship they need as cornerstone
upon which to build up the new ma
chine they have planned.
If they succeed, who the commit
teeman will be is matter for them
yet to determine. Very likely it will
be Ex-Governor Dawson. 1t is not
probable that he would let ex-Con-
gresham Hubbard have it, or eX-
Governor White for that matter, for
Dawson has designs on the senator
iaI toga II he can rehabilitate him
self in political way. lHis prospects
for succeeding National Committee
man Scott would be the brightest, it
is figured, in the event that what
honest sentiment there is for Roose-
velt's nomination among the rank
and file proves sufficient for them to
use to their own advantage.
If they should succeed, which
doesn't appear probable. those who
Have sincerely followed the third
term candidate among the rank and
file will fnd, when it is too late, that
they had engaged in helping to start
over again that which they were
so many years in getting rid of. and
which to get rid OF they we're forced
to the extreme necessity Of voting
against their own party.
The continent for President Taft
has had steady growth in most sec
tons, Of the state during the last
CONTINUED on page four.