The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-01-13
Taft Men Plan
To Sweep State
ROOSEVELT SENTIMENT
WORRYING THE LEADERS
Early Convention Expected to Aid
in Securing Solid Taft
Delegation.
McGraw's Attack on Senator Re
news Talk of Chiffon Desert
ing Watson.
(cHARLEs BROOKS smIrH1

PARKERSBURG. w Va. Jan. I2.-
The week closed saw two things occur
of far-reaching Importance on the DO
litical situation-both the parties in
volved-in West Virginia One was the
laying bare of his general plans OF IN.
ture political activity by National Com
mitteeman McGraw. and the other the
getting busy of Secretary to tho
President Hills. no doubt stirred TO
activity by reports to Postmaster Cen
eral Hitchcock from the administra-
iion's loyal supporters in this state,
which reports were amplified in a
clearly comprehensive way by clip
pings of a certain rather disturbing
article of mine. sent back TO my West
Virginia clients from Washington. In
that. il will he recalled was contained
certain reading of the stars that
sparkle in the political heavens favor
able to a parsonage of Oyster Bay.
more or less well known. and the
statement that his enigmetical attitude
had so mystified the Republican poll
ticians ia West Virginia that very
large number of them. although favor
ing Taft now. did not believe il to
their best interests 70 work to the
end that the delegation from this state
might be irrevocably tied up TO the
Taft candidacy. II was this last
declaration that proved disquieting in
I Washington. Several prominent men
were called TO Washington. and sew
eral of them are still there as this is
written.
Urge Early Convention.
They have seen Hitchcock, talked it
over with Hills. and they in turn have
| talked IL over with their chief and their
candidate. All three. in the end. urged
the calling of the convention to select
delegates 10 the national convention at
the earliest possible date. When told
I by the West Virginians that the earli.
est possible date permitting such a
convention TO be held was a matter
that the corrupt practice act in forcee
in West Virginia had much to do with
and that. conforming Nth the provi-
sions CT the law. May 16 was the very
earliest day that such convention
could be held. the managers OF the
I Taft candidacy said: Hold IL on that
day" And so word came over the
mountains by wire TO the sub-commit
tee OF three OF the state committee,
authorized to set the date. the COM
mittee itself having az its Psrkers-
burg meeting named Huntington as
the place. and the date for the con-
vcntion was announced without
minutes delay.
Managers Hills and Hitchcock were
disappointed that the convention could
not be- held earlier They had count
ed on West Virginia being one of the
very earliest states. II not the first. To
select Taft delegates. followed by Nir-
rinia and Maryland
Roosevelt Talk In Air.
They were interviewed. too. a. 20
the statement ~ my Washington cor
r"spondenc-. 20 m" effect that there
Was larg" element al unreliability
in M" Tar ~upPOr' among the party
leaders So long a. Roosevelt kept the
situation shroud~d ~ doubt and myS-
trry and thai there vere a number
~ TAR men who would throw him II
th-s thought Roosevelt wanted the
romiIat.o.. .r would take 90 20 he
could go be- b, 0as of a -'ampede. u
maf cause f.. reader surprise 20
learn t.sr ff.- vas not nsffoOtedly
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