Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-06
Rumor That William Seymour Ed
wards Is in Race.
PRICE OF HARMONY IN PARTY
Both Factions Apparently Sincere in
Effort to Elect Republican
State Ticket.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

States Senate. contingent on the election
of the republican legislature, is expected
TO be made public in few days. Ed
wards is being urged to come forward
by coterie of Roosevelt supporters
and he is said to be contemplating &C
quiescence 1t is pretty generally known
mat he is anxious 10 go to the Senate
"a successor 70 Senator Watson and
that be figures that he has already forged
ahead sufficiently in the political lime
night 10 he considered fac;or in the sit
uation.
In and around the Edwards candidacy
there Is said to be deal between the
Roosevelt leaders in West Virginia and
the Taft organization of regulars. This
deal has been evidenced in various ways,
but particularly by the refusal of the re-
publican state committee TO choose a
the national committee. after the national
body left 1t to the state committee to
substitute a regular for Edwards, after
Edwards had proclaimed himself for
II is said that ex-Gov. Dawson. the
state chairman of the progressive conf
mittee, has in his possession "a written
faction. The terms of this agreement are
not known. 1t Is known. however that
TINS agreement was entered into on condi-
uon or ENDORSEMENT by the Roosevelt ele-
ment of the republican state and county
lickets-in other words for refraining
from putting third ticket in the field.
Ignores the Suggestion.
The refusal to act on the national COM
mittees orders TO supplant Edwards with
Taft supporter must naturally be con-
strued as part OF the deal. The state COM
ihlttee did not actually refuse to take
action. but it ignored the question en-
lHsiS al It's recent meeting, and, from all
Ihdcdtlons, intends to let it go BY de-
tauit Hence. West Virginia presents the
spectacle of having as it's member of the
national committee a pronounced oppo-
nent of President Taft.
me sincere Taft men in West Virginia
can nardly be expected to warm up over
the Edwards candidacy for the United
states Senate when the time comes but
Tor the present they are anxious to avoid
All complications. and when the reported
deal was entered into. several weeks
ago, they We're desperately afraid of Jos
ing their state ticket and We're anxious
10 nave this ticket indorsed by the Roose-
welt men.
The secretary Of the progressive COM
mittee has been sending out feelers to
the republican candidates for the leris-
lature. which gives rise to the reports
that the Dawson-E Edwards leadership
torial Candidate Hatfield. while a Taft
supporter. is also raising his voice for
the election of a republican legisla-
ture. which might indicate he was anx-
ious to return favOrs for the pro-
gressive Endorsement. Hatfield is say
ing he wants republican legislature
elected with him SO he can have
harmonious party backing for legisla-
ton, but he fails to make plain the
fact that the legislature elected in No
yember will have ended it's session
prior to the inauguration of governor
March 4, save for fifteen hold-Over
senators.
In short, the scramble for office is on
with all the old-time trimmings, regardless
of more or less sentimental talke about
progreSsiveism. third parties. bull moose
ism and the like, and this may be rea
son why the Roosevelt support is becom-
ing less pronounced and the Taft strength
coming more to the surface daily. The
Taft men are now doing the shouting
and steadily pushing back the Roosevelt
men. In this they are aided by the al
most unanimous support Of the repub-
lican press. The Roosevelt men have be-
come the defensive faction in the short
course Of two weeks, beginning with the
announcement that the Roosevelt COM
mittee would not put third state ticket
out and supplemented by the reported
deals for the legislature.
The bull moose opening in Wheeling
Vas sidestepped by all but one of the
county candidates-Jesse A. Bloch. son of
q millionaire tobacco manufacturer.
Bloch is candidate for the legislature,
having been nominated by the Roosevelt
element in the primaries. and he is con-
sidered favorable to the election of eX-
Representative w. p. Hubbard to the
HIteu GtdttS SeIIdIe- he Dull moose
speaker. e. c. Hunt. formerly an auditor
for the republican national committee
and former head of the United CONNER
c:a1 Travellers, made a break by quoting
young Bloch as saving ex-senator n. b.
Scott tried to hold up his father, s. S.
Bloch, for a 5000 campaign contribution
and charging that Scott likewise held up
North Carolina tobacco men,
Young Bloch the following day denied
having made such a statement and Sem
dtI.. Scott his 10 q,
day later, supplemented il with even a
more vigorous denial Nothing has since
been heard from Speaker Hunt. who GER
tainly called up things for his following.
Attend Meeting of Regulars.
While The younger Bloch was the only
county candidate at the progressive
meeting. all his colleagues on the ticket
attended the republican opening. which
Vas addressed by the republican state
candidates. At this meeting Taft and
sherman pictures We're displayed but
none Of Teddy's. Tafts name was men,
toned once incidentally by speaker
iaVorably, but otherwise there was "A
studious effort TO confne the remarks to
boosting the state ticket and attacks on
the democrats, from Wilson down.
Many OF the rank and lille Roosevelt
men say they We're sighted at the repub-
lean meeting and that they should get
more considera ton in return for their in
dolSelnent of the republican state ticket
ana they may show their resentment by
voting for the democratic candidates.
one Of the outcroppings OF this cam
raien Is that when a supporter of either
the Taft or Roosevelt tickets gets worked
up nc threatens to vote the democratic
ticket. Whenever the tide seems TO point
toward Roosevelt the Tafters talk of
suplInrtinS Wilson to prevent Teddy's
election, and again the Roosevelt men
say they will vote for Wilson If Taft
grows dangerous.
Woodrow Wilson is booked to come TO
West Virginia October IL or 49, according
10 announcement made by Col. John 7.
NcGraw. who figures on having him
speak in the morning at ClarksburG
and in the afternoon at Wheeling. In
the evening Wilson will speak at Pitts
hurgh and his West Virginia stops will
be on his journey west from Whining
ton. Del
No definite dates for the coming of
Roosevelt or Johnson to this state
are known. other than Roosevelt is ex-
pected October %. The republicans
have not moved yet toward getting ma
tional speakers and may fight it out
pinning their faith to the candidacy
Of Hatfield, for governor. bringing sue
cess. Hatfield is making an extended
tour OF the state, accompanied by the
best publicity outht that ever ac-
companied state candidate.
No party polls have been completed.
and the few straw votes taken have
not been signifi. ant. Every effort to
ascertain the true sentiment has run
UP against the recognized fact that
~ ld~ee reTcentaee of the voters decline
To 1:;nounue their preferences tbs year.
Ia .GEst rs;so@. they say. they have not
!uiH made CD their minds. Their silence
g.a.r