The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-05-09
POLITICS AT THE NATIONAL
| CAPITAL.
West Virginia and the Office Holders
in the Future.
Geo. w. Summers.

Now that the denomination OF
President Taft Is practically assur-
ed, there is considerable speculation
as to what will become Of the Ro5se-
welt boomers in West Virginia Sew
eral days ago announcement was
made from the Taft headquarters
that IL Col Roosevelt should secure
every delegate to the National Con-
vention to be chosen from now on
he would not have enough to give
him the nomination. At the same
time charges of bad faith were
made it being alleged that the
Roosevelt people finding they could
not get the delegates by means Of
primary elections or conventions
were trying to steal the delegates al
ready selected and instructed for
Taft 1t was stated at the Taft
headquarters several days ago tina.
with 80 delegates still to be se,nct-
ed Mr.. Taft needed only AZ to givt
him majority over Roosevelt, La
Toilette, and Cummins. This means
that President Taft will be renomi-
mated upon the first ballot, in spite
of the fact that the Roosevelt sup
porters in West Virginia have as
serted that he could not be elected
and could mot carry west Virginia
The determinatio of the 4.epuibli-
cans to renominate the resident
shows how little attention is paid
by the party in the country general
~ to the opinions of Governor Glass
cock and his associates in the Roose-
welt cause in West Virginia II they
are ignored before the convention
there is little likelihood that serious
attention will be paid to them after
the election, whether Mr.. Taft be
reelected or not, and they would
seem to be practically without any
political future.
Whatever may be me result of the
general election a clean sweep OF
the federal officeholders in West Vir-
ginia may be expected There are
three possibilities in the next cleo
tion-the election of a Democrat
for President, Tho election of Taft
or some one favored ~ him and the
election of Col Roosevelt or one OF
his type. Should a Democrat or
Col. Roosevelt be elected there is
not federal officeholder in West
Virginia who would hold his office
any longer than ehe time required
to- send him notice OF his removal
Even II President Taft SHOULD be re-
elected the results OF the last few
weeks have shown that the next
State Chairman and member of the
National Committee for West Vir-
ginia will be elected from among the
Roosevelt supporters. AS President
Taft has established the custom of
relying upon these two party officers
in the matter of appointments it may
readily be seen that a general re-
moval of the present officeholders
would follow even the Presidents
reelection
A compromise has been reached
in the mater of general pension
law for old soldiers which will be
adopted as a substitute for the dol
lar day Sherwood bill 1t Is a
combined age and service pension,
the amount to be paid the pensioner
depending both upon his age and the
lentgh of time he served in the
army. AT the age of 81 years he
would draw $13 month If he had
served 80 days in the army This
amount increases gradually with the
length of his service up to .$16 a
month, which he would receive If he
served three years or more in the
army. At Sc years his pension
would range from SIS month for
80 days service up to $19 month
for a service OF three years or more
At 10 years the pension would range
from SIS to $25 month according
to the length of servic, and at IS
years it would range from $21 a
month to $50 month the latter