The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-01-20
GRAFTON MAN HAD JUST
PLEDGED HIS SUPPORT.
Declaration for a Prim-
ary Was Made to Appease
The Voters.
Chiffon Believed to Have Influ-
enced Watson. In Order to
Cause His Defeat.
CHARLES BROOK smIru,

I'LL
PARkERSBURG. W. Va. Jan. 1s.
more happenings CT truly geat
signincance In the politics Of state
ana nanon have been compressed in
10 this week than. il is no embrpid.
edihs 10 say. have occurred in all the
,ime Intervening since the last ma.
tional campaign. II has seemed AN
age since there were so MANY events
considered TO be of such Importance
as TO turn the currents Of political
history. as the people OF this country
have witnessed this week with an in.
terest keyed TO the ti,ltest tension.
The sensation of the week in na-
tlonal politics. bore down directly
UPON local situation that was high
iY entertaining. and changed its aspect
entirely. The slump in the Wood
row Wilson candidacy left the leader
who proclaimed himself champion of
II In West Virginia in an embarass-
ment from which IL now seems he liz
not likely soon TO recover.
The local sensation was the letter
written by Senator Watson to Demo-
cratic State Chairman W. G. Bennett.
in which he stated that a post-elec.
uoin primary on the senatorial sue
cession issue. would be satisfactor to
him. What the effect OF that letter
VIII be hardly two men agree. II is
a document OF absorbing interest and
mystery. and much can be read be-
tween the lines by students of the
play and the highly imaginative who
interest themselves in the political
drama. One thing Is certain, how
ever. to be CLEANED from il. and that
Is that Watson never wrote IL until
a mr. ..fs s1as. .N.fg
forced him to the action His enemies
compelled IL. and when It came. they
raised their voices In triumph. But
their enthusiasm was soon brushed
aside by little sober reflection, and
now they are doubtful whether this
apparent concession TO them is lust
"nat they really wanted. or ought to
have. or not.
Can Watson Be Beat.
Can Watson. with a powerful or
Sanization behind him. and with the
great resources at his command, be-
beaten In such "A primary? They are
too full of fear and doubt TO answer
that 10 their complete happiness. The
wisest old owls in both parties very
promptly say that IL can't be done.
Evidently. Clarence Watson while
preferring not to have thus avnrese
himself. believes that Il can't be. He
is willing not. at any rate. 10 cnanSs
II. II the legislature remains Demo
cratic. he was wise enough TO know
that he would have TO put up the
hardest fight be was capable of. and
that being the case. there was not
such a great difference between the
rules governing the settling OF his
difficulties. II is probable he figured
u much in that wise.
The Watson letter doesn't settle
anything definitely and ~ has a bear
inE o. a future contingency which
ihay never come up. In the mean
'rr u should tend 20 adj some new
"rTuits 20 hiS Organization.
cnuton 20 Cut Ties
some there ar. who Sc In this lee.
fsr tae rrst move % senator Clifton
% c'-t ttr f'rs shleh bind nm 10 Wat.
-ua and hiF sIrporrs~- T. was pre-
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