Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-01-02
POLITICS
IN OLD STATE
West Virginia Legislature
Converting for an Extraor.
binary Session
Regular Session Does Not
Start Till Next Week aDd
will Elect Senator

CHARLESTON, w. VA, Jan. p
In compliance with the call Of Gov
ernor Glasscock the West Virginia
Legislature assembled today in ex-
t%raordinary session. The sole pur-
pose Of the special session is to take
up the question of a county officers
salary law and thereby abolish the
existing fee system, under which the
! sheriffs and county clerks are declar-
ed TO receive revenues out OF all pro.
portion to the services rendered.
The gathering or the lawmakers for
the special session marks the begin
ming Of a period of political activity
that promises to be the liveliest seen
in West Virginia since the memorable
senatorial struggle in 1898. AS in
that year, the interest again centers
in a contest for. the United States
senatorship.
The regular session of the legisla-
ture will begin next Wednesday. Two
weeks later the two houses will pro.
coed to the election of a United States
senator to succeed Clarence w. Wat
sol, whose term will expire next
March.
In the November election West
Virginia was conspicuous for resist
ing the democratic landslide, and as
a result the republicans captured the
legislature by a substantial margin.
Consequently Senator Watson's seat
is a prize sought by half a dozen am
bilious republicans, and a hot fight is
on, with a legislative deadlock as a
possibility.
The opposition that exists between
the regular republicans and the pro.
gressiyes and the possibility that the
latter may effect a combination with
the democrats are two matters that
serve to make the senatorial contest !
an exceedingly complex affair and the
outcome uncertain. AS matters now
stand the progressives are generally
conceded 10 hold the key to the stu.
alton.
The progressive candidates for the
seat of Senator Watson are William
S. Edwards of Charleston and former
Congressman w. p. Hubbard of
Wheeling. In the regular republican
camp the names most frequently men.
toned in connection with the sena-
tor nip are those of Davis Ellins of
Morgantown, Isaac 7. Mann of Bran
we'll, and former Governor A. s.
White, Of Parkersburg, but only the
first named two are Waging aggressive
campaigns, II the event of a dead
lock. Circuit Judge John w. Mason of
Fairmont and several others are ex-
pected to loom up as candidates.
William S. Edwards is the man
whom the other candidates believe
they will have to beat in order to win
the toga. Edwards is generally look.
cd upon as the leading choice, of the
Drogressiyes. He is related to Col
one Roosevelt through marriage and
is a close friend of former Governor
Dawson. the third party state chair
man. Governor. Glasscock also is
classed as an Edwards supporter.
Davis Elkins. who can be counted
on 20 put up a hard fight, is a son of
the late Senator Stephen =. Elki1s.
Following the death OF his father the
Younger Elkins served for a short
time in the senate by appointment
ana he has q strong desire to return
to that body. He is making a bid for
the votes Of the northern counties on
geographical lines. His candidacy Is
supported ty the wealth and influence
of his grandfather, the venerable Hen
nv G. Davis, who in his time held
about every important Office within
the gift Of the state Of West Virginia.