The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-12-19
SENATORIAL GOSSIP
situation Now Looks.
CGeoge w. Summers.

Washington, December Much
interest is manifested in Washington
III regard TO what the West Virginia
legislature may do III the, Nay OF
eIevtlns Unlleu states senator.
there IL a poSsipiilty tnat the SAME
conditions wnlCn exist IN the state
Senate or west virginia may exist
III the Unileu states senate alter
the fourth OF next March. 1t is pos
sible that the result in West Virginia
Will determine whether the United
States senate shall De tied politically
or whether the Democrats snali nave
a majority. Consequently there Is
considerable interest as to the out
come in West Virginia, which other
wise would not excite comment be-
yond the State lines,
Should West Virginia elect a Re
publican Senator and snould Illinois
elect two republican Senators and
tennessee one Republican Senator
the Senate would be a tie. The Re-
publicans and Progressiyes together
have majority OF the Illinois legis-
lature, and it is possible that they
viii unite and sela tive Senators
the Senate, neither OF whom is a
Democrat. In Tennessee one faction
OF the Democrats mas fused with the
Republicans and the fusion controls
the legislature. Two years ago, as
result OF similar fusion Demo-
cratic Senator was elected and 1t is
possible that a Republican will be
chosen this time. Should Illinois
and Tennessee both elect Republican
Senators and West Virginia do the
same, the result would be tie. But
| Il West Virginia should get into a
deadlock and fail to elect a Senator,
| 1t would mean a Democratic major
ity in the United States Senate.
As seen from Washington, the
situation in West Virginia seems to
present a question as to whether the
Republican party shall be maintain
ed by the election OF Davis Elkins
straight out Republican, or whether
former Governor Dawson shall be
permitted to name Progressive for
the Senatorship and reap the reward
for the new third party of the Re-
publican victory in West Virginia.
| There can be no doubt that of all
the straight Republicans, Davis Elk
ms has the greatest strength, not
withstanding there are several other
candidates. He was the one who
selected the strongest men in vari-
Gus counties to run for the legisla-
ture and who contributed financially
and otherwise to their election
while others were of the opinion
that 1t would be useless TO expect a
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. o.
Dawson, Progressive, or some one
| whom he will name. Mr.. Dawson
or his candidate cannot be elected to
the Senate without a desertion OF
the Republican party by men who
have been elected on the Republican
ticket and by Republican votes. Mr.,
Elkins cannot be elected without the
support of those who are regarded
and the whole question resolves it
self into one of whether the Repub-
ficans and Progressiyes form one
party or two, and II they form one
party upon which candidate they viii
CONT ine.
Senator Chiffon, a few days ago,
authorized a denial OF a public
statement to the eject that Demo-
cratic State Senator'S in West Virgin
ia would run away from the capital
and 60 to some other State as the
fifteen Republican Senator'S did two
years ago, In order to prevent an or
ganization4 Of the SeIate, and there
by prevent the election Of Senator
Stuart W. Walker, Chairman OF the
Democratic State Committee, am
Virgil l.. Highland, former Chairman
OF the Republican State Committee,
both gave. out statements in Wash
inlton in which they expressed their
h.i'ef that the Democratic Senators
would not undertake any such plan
I, IL believed the Democrats will aid
II every way to bring about an or
eanization OF the State Senate and
70 push along all needed legislation,
leaving the Republicans and Pro-
grrssives to fight /. cut between
themselves III regar4 to the Senator
slip.