The Washington herald., 1913-10-30
With the Political Procession.
% =. D. c.

BY y. u. C.
With Maj. Mansfield NJ. Neeley, Of
Fairmont, taking his seat in Congress
this week. West Virginia viii again have
full delegation OF six members
There is hardly room enough In the
state for an additional district. so one
member. Howard Sutherland, OF Elkins,
comes at large.
The coming OF Neeley, after q short
and strenuous two weeks campaign.
gives the Democrats two members OF the
House, as W. w. Brown, of the old
William l. Wilson district barely got
through last November. with fourtesn
votes TO the good. Davis, who resigned
IN the Neeley district 10 become Solicitor
General OF the United states, with an
advance OF $500 year in salary. also
had close scratching last year, with 1sl
majority. Considering the general smash
ing Of things Republican the country over
last year. the West Virginia Republicans
did remarkably well in electing a Gov
ernor and State ticket along with Sena-
tor and four out OF six House members.
IL was recalled. too. that the 1910 election
gave the Democrats the Legislature and
two, United States Senators along with
four out OF FIVE Representatives, James
Hughes, of Huntington, being the only
Republican member in either branch Of
Congress for two years The shift back
to the Republican faith last year was
partly due to the fact that there was no
third or Progressive party nominations
In West Virginia except for electors, and
the result indicated that the Republicans
OF the State are very much In a ma
Jorfty under normal conditions. The COM
ing OF Neeley TO Washington as the DEM
ocratic member from a district usually
firm and fervid in the Republican faith
is not viewed with much worry or appre-
hension by Republican leaders in the
State.
They point out that there were three
tickets this time. and, worse than all, a
disposition on-fhe part of voters to stay
at home, as not 50 per cent Of the vote
was out This state of things Is fully
appreciated by the new member, Maj.
Neeley. and he Is not inclined to any
parade or flourish in taking hold of an
honor that may not long demand his
attention or delight his soul. He is a
young man from the upper or Baltimore
and Ohio region of the State. very much
dominated at present by that long-headed.
resourceful coal magnate. Former Senator
Clarence w. Watson, who served a trife
over two yeaIH in the Senate following the
Democratic victory of 1910. watson's firm
grip on things even when out OF Office
was Indicated when he designated Maj.
Neeley for the Congressional vacancy,
and then in a quiet way for which Wat
son is noted pushed the young lawyer to
success.
Some Democrats who thought they were
through with Watson when the RepubIi-
cans won the Legislature last year have
reversed their opinion since the Neeley
election, and possibly there is just a bit
of nervousness among the Senator Chill
ton admirers in the southern half of the
State. Chiffon has nearly four years TO
go with his first term. but he cannot hope
for the organization that Watson. with
his millions, can accomplish even In the
land Of political foe. The Neeley cleo
tion was striking evidence OF the Watson
methods, and looking ahead. and while
next year may see Neeley less fortunate
when up for full term, it will see Wat
son as watchful and resourceful as ever
and not making any fuss about it.
In many ways the sudden rise OF Wat
son in political affairs has been a mar
vel, and especially when his big business
manipulations are considered. He has
organized the greatest coal corporation
IN West Virginia, taking in big coal
areas In Kentucky and old Virginia,
along with John C. scokhoren Mayo. OF
keptucky, and Bascen Slemp. the lone
Republican member nom the Old Do
minion. There are millions invested in
the Watson Mayo -Siemp combination,
and millions promised ir profit, let alone
a great development of wild mountain
development which makes the
three distinguished citizens benefactors.
Mayo has long desired to be Senate.
from Kentucky and has figured much on
the Democratic national committee and
in the home organizat ton. Slemp has no
hope OF Senatorial honors in Virginia,
but he does mighty well In keeping on
the Congressional roll, so remains polit- |
ically content This is hardly true Of
Watson and Mayo, who are under fifty, |
and with millions Of money. not to men,
ton ample sagacity, expect a try at the |
Senatorial game later on.
Col. Leonor F. Loree, the head of the |
Delaware and Hudson Railroad, and |
once president of the Baltimore and !
Ohio and other big railroad corporations. |
came TO Washington yesterday intent |
mainly on a hearing before the Inter- |
state Commerce Commission. but mani |
Tested his usual interest IN affairs poll |
-ical and Congressional Apart from his |
nigh high place as i railroad magnate, |
col Loree has kept in close touch with |
public affairs without stopping over or |
getting mixed up the wrong way as |
,ther railroad presidents have done in |
he Roosevelt days II is recalled it's |
here in Washington that Col. Loree in
ss7 had charge OF the train bringing |
William Mckinley from Canton to WASH
ngton for his first Inauguration. Col. |
Loree was then the general manager
II the Pennsylvania lines west Of Pitts