The Washington herald., 1913-11-21
With the Political Procession.
By +. II. G.

Il
With the Hon. A. B. Fleming. Demo
c-at. Of Fairmont. w. Va, taking pains
to look up his old Republican adversary
Senator Nathan Con. during a shori
stay in Washington the West Virginia
politicians In town could not but recall
that Fleming and Goff were not quite
SO friendly In the old days when oppos-
ing candidates for Governor.
The ONCE went to Fleming, although
Con and the Republican organization
even insisted that a fair count would
have added the Governorship to the many
honors achieved by the eloquent states
man from Harrison County.
Evidently the two one-time foes made
1t up long ago and they had general
going over of home affairs last night at
the Con- Washington home, the Portland.
Con has done so remarkably well since
that Governorship campaign of twenty
five years ago that he can AFFORD to
forgive Gov Fleming for what happened.
A dozen years before Con had been
beaten fairly enough by Gov. Matthews
and admitted the fairness of the defeat.
but the 1858 result always ranked some-
what in the Con bosom as he had a
ldbuN d uCSlTc 70 6clNC ob ACaSN OAC NCAl
in the executive Office.
Gov. Fleming has not been especially
ambitious since his term ended, but has
remained very much q Democrat with
occasional suggestions by home friends
that he ought to round out his career
with some place OF honor under the
Wilson administration. When the Demo-
Gratis had a short furry Of success in
the State Gov. Fleming was active for
his young brother-in-law, Clarence w.
WayIand, also OF Fairmont. The Wat
son organization for the Senatorship had
been active in a quiet way for three
years prior to the actual achievement
OF the honor. and Gov. Fleming much
more of a politician than Watson.- was
mighty useful manager from start to
finish. While Gov. Fleming has no pre-
dictions to make as to the future opera
tions or ambitions OF his distinguished
brother-in-law, he remains watchful and
loyal, appreciating that Watson in his
two years term developed remarkable
qualifications for Senatorial service. Not
only Fleming but other Democrats Of
the State although discouraged by last
years results look for Watson as a pri-
vate citizen to figure in the next national
campaign, not only in an effort TO re-
gain West Virginia but to aid the or
ganization of New York. Maryland. and
Kentucky where he has big business
connections.
Five years ago Milo Shanks left Wash
ington for Elmira, N. Y, to show the
counties how a Republican newspaper
ought to be run for the good of the
party.
Primarily. the Shanks employment was
for the political promotion OF the Hon.
]. Sloat Fassett then anxious to con-
tinue in Congress Fassett had his
troubles like many others in the direful
period following the indifference of the
Taft administration to politics and
dropped out Of the game when some
counties of his district were united with
counties represented by John Wilbur
Dwight. Shanks took over the news
paper. the Elmira Advertiser, and now
announces that he will seek the regular
Republican nomination for Congress mex.
year. He claims credit for having done
much to overthrow the Democratic or
ganization in Chemung County this year,
and made possible a general getting to-
gether of Republicans next year with a
coming back to the true faith OF the
Progressives who aided in the election of
underhiIl. Democrat, in 1872.
The Shanks contention is that he has
done much in his newspaper. and per-
sonally, to unite not only the Repub-
licans and Progressives this year, but
even won the Prohibitionists to the sup
port of local Republican candidates. The
result was a very marked Republican
local victory, and he feels that his ef
forts entitle him to a few terms in Con-
gress.
Shanks was careful to be assured that