Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-03-15
Washington News.
From George w. Summers.

this year have already begun calling
names and accusing each other Of var
ious kinds OF crookedness and corrupt
politics. Senator Dixon who 10 man
aging the Roosevelt campaign wrote
to Congressman Mckinley, represent
ing President Taft, and demanded
that presidential preference primaries
be held throughout the county. AT
the time he wrote large number OF
delegates pledged to President Taft had
been selected, and conventions had
been called IN numerous states. Me
kinley's reply was that he did DOT like
to change the rules Of the game while
the game was in progress. Senator
Dixon came back with statement
that the wanted to ''elimipate mark,
cards and loaded dice. He added
nMr. Roosevelt and his supporter
will not tolerate the tricks and deces-
nons aud fraud which are indispensable
from the Kind Of politics your charact-
erization implies. You seriously can
not expect the voters to tolerate con-
ditjsn Of this kind, to vote supinely to
elect a man who has been forced upon
them by ss-controlled office hold
ing machine" Senator Dixon surely
did not have West Virginia IN mind
when he made this statement, for there
never was more powerful loss In
West Virginia politics than w. Nj. Q.
Dawson, the leader of the Dawson
campaign in that state. 1t IL true that
Roosevelt boom in West Virginia is
not managed by an Office holding ma
chine, so far as the federal offices ale
concerned. But it Ia "boss. controlled
and is an officeholding machine SO far
as the state administration can make
it, The Taft campaign in West Va
ginia is also boss controlled ard man
aged by an office holding machine.
Senator Dixon is right IN saying II
cannot be eS pected that the voters " u
tolerate condition Of this KIND, but -
far as West Virginia is concerned he is
wrong IN assuming that the Roosevelt
cam aign is less free from bosslsm aud
the influence Of an office holding ma
chine than is tie Taft campaign.
Not only is the selection Of postoflice
sites being brought into national poll
ties, az reported last week, bat the APP
pointment of presidea tial postmasters
has also been made factor in the cam
paign. Some time ago the President
sent to the Senate the nomination of
the Rev. Mr.. Tiger to succeed post
master Metcalf at Williamstown, who
was removed. Mr., Metcalf requested
that the confirmation of his successor
be delayed until he could ascertain the
cause Of his removal. 1t was reported
that his activity in behalf of COL
Roosevelt was the cause of his removal.
Now it is reported that he is not to he
removed, the supposition being that be
has climbed into the Taft bandwagon.
Some ten days ago hr. Randall was
appointed postmaster at Shinnston,
bur his confirmation has been delayed
at the request of prominent Repnbli-
can of West Virginia, who is support
Ing President Taft. /. is believed in
this case also that the possmastership
is being used as club to force Re-
publicans into the support of President
Taft.
Expressions Of prominent Democrats
in Washington from all sections of the
country and letters which come from
persons in various states all indicate
the general belief among the Deme-
erats of the country that the tariff
must be the principal issue in the COM
ing national campaign. The efforts of
men like Col. Roose yelt to stir up
great cloud of dust for the purpose OF
beclouding the principal issue will
have little effect it is believed in the
way of changing national issues. The
people of the United States are not so
much interested IN The recall ofJudges
or OF judicial opinions as they are in
reduced cost of living. Col. Roosevelt
Frances over the coHntry fieurishing
tue big stick and threatening all kinds
of dire disasters TO all the trusts except
the steel trust, the harvester trust and
such other trusts as contribute to his
cam paign. But, while he is doing
this the Democrats in Congress are
cutting two cents pound from the
price of sugar aud lowering the price
Of most of the necessities oflife through
a reduction of the tariff duties, and at
the same time providing for tax upon
net incomes of more than $4,000 year.
Senator Watson has undertaken 10
bring potatoes within the reach OF
common people. Believing that the
present high price Of potatoes Is due TO
the fact that the crop Of this country
has been cornered he has offered an
avran6nant n tho hill raAt1aisU the