The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-08-02
Should and Will Prevail in the
Coming SPECIAL Congress
sionaI Election.
TCharles Brooks Smlth.l

kGAeAAaDo i0AWNA9 GAAAtMa4
WASHINGTON. Aug. AT the
1912 election held for congressional
representative in the First West yir-
ginia district, he vote was:
John W. Davis cd .......,... PATTI
Geo. A. Laughlin C1) .......... 24,61S
l. E. Peters (P) ........ 1,4s2
The advantages In that campaign
we're virtually all one-sided. They
we're on the side Of the Democratic
party. 1t was Democratic year from
coast to coast and no spot was en-
tirely immune from feeling the
ground-swelI-the tidal wave. Yet in
the district in question with one of
the most popular men ever nominated
by the Democratic party in the First
district; it's able representative in
that section; possessed OF the advant-
age of the two years congressional
service and the backing Of q close
knit and substantial working organ
/ ization: endowed with the talent to-
speak effectively in public; backed up
by a committee that was both sleep
less and tireless in its efforts; riding
/ the crest of the wave that was sweep
/ ing the government in all departments
into the control of his party:-with
all these principal advantages, and
many more OF lesser degree John w.
Davis emerged from that contest with
a skinny little old lead Of 164 votes.
/ In view of these figures and the con-
! dItions which prevailed at the time,
there appears to be strong substan-
tiation of the declaration Of observ-
ing politicians that the First district
! is, under normal conditions, strongly
Republican; and it is upon these facts
that many openly prophecy, Judge
| John w. Mason, of F'airmont, for one,
that under normal conditions that dis
trlct will, when the special election
! is held to fill tn evacancy created by
Davis's resignation, send Republic
can to the House to represent it.
Under normal conditions means at
: this time a clean cut square-out fight
between the Democrats on one side
! and the Republicans on the other.
without fractional efforts, sailing I'M
der the flag OF a third party ticket, to
4 divide the strength Of either. The
phrase would seem to include, too so
far as that particular district is con-
cerned. that the battle should be
waged with The tariff as the para
mount issue, for in that district the
tariR is more direct and personal
matter to more of the voters than in
any other OF the districts in that state
JJp till the Republican split of recent
date, it has never failed to send to
Washington a representative who was
staunch. fearless and above board in
/ his advocacy of protection for the
manufacturing interests OF that dis
! trlct, and the men and their families
dependent upon the full-time opera
ton and general prosperity of those
interests.
The tenableness OF the Republican
opinion that this district can easily
be redeemed without untoward inter
ference appears to be borne out by
the more or less frenzied efforts of
the Democrats, even at this early
], date, to muddy the political waters in
that district and seek to fan into ex-
istence a flame of party discard that
might tend to bring about a disas-
trous division in the ranks OF the OPP
posing party. Their efforts, it is the
consensus of Republicans congregated
in this city, can be rendered nil by the
Il Exercise Of calm judgment, discretion
and unselfsh patriotism on the part
of those leaders OF political action
and thought who honestly desire at
heart the districts unmistakable re-
affirmation of It's firm belief in the
4 protective theory of tariff making;
otherwise, definite triumph of the
Republican party's candidate at the
polls.
with unity of action on the part
Of all who believe that the present
pending tariff bill is a mistake; that
it has in its very prospect untavorably
affected the industrials of the First
district and is destined to work havoc
when it gets to working, there is little
doubt in the minds OF well-informed
politicians that, at the forthcoming
special election, the first positive step
to reduce West virginia's Democratic
representation in the House will be
taken
COURT HOUSE SERVICE.