The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-12-24
NEWS NOTES
From the Nations Capital, of Interest
to West VirginianS.
(By George w. Summers)

Washington, Much interest i:
manifested in Washington in re-
gard to wi at the West Vireinia
Legislature may do in the way Of
electing United States Senator
There is a possibility that the
same conditions which exist in
the State Senate of West Virgin
la may exist in the United States
Senate after the fourth of next
March. 1t is possible that the
result in West Virginia will de-
termine whether the United
States Senate shall be tied polit-
icalIy, of whether the Democrats
shall have a majority. Conse-
quently there is considerable in
terest as to the outcome in West
Virginia, which otherwise would
not excite comment beyond the
State lines.
Should West Virginia EJECT a
Republican Senator and should
Illinois elect two Republican Sen
ators and Tennessee one Repub-
lican Senator the senate would be
a tie. The Republicans and
Progressives together have ma
Jority of the Illinois legislature,
and it is possible that they will
unite and send two Senators to
the Senate, neither Of whom is a
Democrat. In Tennessee one
faction of the Democrats has
fused with the Republicans and
the fusion controls the legisla-
ture. Two years ago, as a result
of a similar fusion a Democratic
Senator was elected and it is pos
sible that a Republican will be
chosen this time. Should Illinois
and Tennessee both elect Repub-
lican Senators and West Virginia
do the same, the result would be
a tie. Bat, if West Virginia
should ct into a dead!> CT and
fail to elect a Senator, it would
mean Democratic majority in
the United States Senate.
AS seen from Washington, the
situation in West Virginia seems
to present aquestion as to wheth-
er the Republican party shall be
maintained by the election of
Davis Elkins or Isaac T. Mann
or some other straight out Repub-
lican, or whether former Gov.
Dawson shall be permitted to
name Progressive for the Sen.
atorship and reap the reward for
the new third party of the Re-
publican victory in West Virgin
ia.
There can be no doubt flat of
all the straight Republicans, Da-
Wis Elkins has the greatest
strength, Notwithstanding there
are several other candidates.
He was the one who selected the
strongest men in various coun-
ties to run for the legislature
and who contributed financially
and otherwise to their election,
while others were of the opinion
that it would be useless to ex-
pect Republican victory.
When the real fight SINNERS
down, it will be found, in the
opinion Of Republicans here, that
the contest will be between Da-
Wis Eikins, Republican, and w.
M. 0. Dawson, Progressive, or
some one whom he will name.
Mr.. Dawson or his candidate can
not be elected to the Senate
without a desertion of the Re
publican ticket and by Republi-
can votes. Mr.. Elkins cannot be
elected without the support of
those who are regarded as mem
bers of the Progressive party,
and the whole question resolves
itself into one Of whether t1e Re
publicans and Pro1ressiyes form
one party or two. AID If they
form one party Up n which can
didate they VIII combine.
Senator Chiffon, O. few days
ago, author.z d denial of a pub
lie statement to The effect that
Democratic State Senators in
West Virginia would run away
from the capital and go to some
other State as the fifteen Repub.
lican Senators did two years ago,
in order to prevent an orpaniza
ton of the Senate, and thereby