Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-01
Republican State Leaders
Name March 10 for Come
Back Meeting.
committee TO PREPARE
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE
Mix-Up in West Virginia Declared
to Be Almost Entirely Question
of Leaders-Other Gossip.

WHEELING, w. Va, February IS. 1914.
Within a month there will be a definite
outcome of the amalgams ton movement
officially projected by tho republican
state committee at Charleston this
week. March IS was set as tentative
date for a meeting of both the repub-
lican and progressive committees al
Parkersburg. If the proSressives are
not suited with this date the repub-
licans will agree to a conference OF q
date suitable.
What will the progressives do about
it? Nobody can answer with authority.
The republicans have extended the in
vitation for the joint conference. and "
is up to the progressive committee 4"
decline. to define terms to accept
Internationally. Certain it is that the
republican leaders will agree to any
thing except surrender OF the party
name.
Joseph Handlan, progressive state
chairman. and Secretary kimball are
quoted as being against the suggested
gressive leader of kanawha county.
likewise. These three were on the
ground at the republican meeting and
failed to be influenced. Indeed. follow
ing the adjournment they wired TO the
New York and Washington headquarters
of the progressive party that the repub-
lican gathering was purely an agGresa-
ton of Office holders and office seekers
and disappointing to the rank and
file of that party. They closed Their
dispatch with renewal of the senti-
ment of the late progressive conference
at Parkersburg that there should be a
distinctive bull moose ticket. without
amalgamation with any other ticket.
However, the republican leaders in
tend to go ahead with their declared
mission of winning over the bun
moosers committee was chosen to
prepare an address to the people. Gov.
Hatfield. Roy Waugh. +. +. Hood ana
Judge Ryan formulated this appeal for
harmony and support of the republican
organization. Incidentally, the Charles
ton gathering elected Thomas J. Sher-
rard of Brooke. banker and manu-
facturer. as the new state chairman.
succeeding James Lakin, but in effect
succeeding Harry Curtin, who had been
acting chairman. Gus Northcott OF
Huntington was made vice chairman for
chairmans distance from the state
capital.
The meeting was attended by only
nineteen of the thirty-three members IN
address of Gov. Hatfield. The governor
put stress on the fact that the present
progressive leaders for the most part
were factors in the Huntington con-
vention. and were accordingly obligated
by the platform there adopted. This
convention occurred prior to tho split
at Chicago Gov. Hatfield pointed out
that many of the conventions pledges
yet remained to be fulfilled and that
IL was the duty of the progressivcs to
join with the republicans for this pur-
pose.
Two Congressman Present.
Representatives Hughes and Moss
were the only two members of the ma
t.onal delegation in attendance. The at
tendance from beyond Charleston was
less than expected. State Senator Eng
land who had been a Roosevelt re-
publican and a sort of bull mooser. was
featured as a returning prodigal, but
he had declared for Hearne. the repub-
lican congressional nominee, AS against
Laughlin, progressive. last fall. and IN
the senatorial contest went to Davis
Elkins last winter after several ballots
for W. S. Edwards. the progressive.
There was an effort also to capitalize
the presence of eN-l,oy. Dawson ana
Adjutant General Elliott: two other
Roosevelt repu blicans. These gentle
men are part of the Hatfield admins
tration and have held office contnu
ously since 1897. 1t is true that Daw-
son was formerly the progressive state
chairman. and is Yet nofnnaliN 'o'--
nected with the progressive national
committee, but the progressive STATE
organization is said to no longer
recognize him. just as the Republicans
who is a bull mooser. but was chosen
as the WeS Virginia member of the
republican national committee AT tHi.. -.
In fact. the ican-prosressive
miy-up in West Virginia is almost en-
tirely a question of leaders. The rank
and file has yet to be heard from. The
rank and file of progressives is an in
definite quantity The republican rank
and file are not enthusiastic over any
thing in particular, and seem To have
suspicion that any final welding of the
two organizations Will be arranged by
division of the spoils among poll
ticians who are merely sparring now
as rivals.
pact has been arranged in Monon-
gala county between the two elements
that goes as far as it can be arranged
by the Representatives in command.
That is to say that eN-Gov. Glasscock.
Judge Sturgiss and George &. Baker.
acting in the name of the Progressive.
agree to support one ticket. But col
-. NJ. Grant. who is some shucks as
dissenter, and who is a true-blue pro
gressive as the phrase goes. viii HAY"
nothing to do with the combination
The colonel says there will be a dis
tinct bull moose ticket Hence. there
will be republicans, anal gamators and
progressives there and in other parts
Of the state if his sentiment goes for
anything.
Nicely Mum on Post Office Fight.
Representative NJ. NJ. Nicely did not let
the snow rest under his feet during his
visit to the Wheeling district the early
part of the week. He got in too lat"
from Washington to hear Secretary
Redfield boost the Wilson administra-
tion at the Washington day banquet of
the Wheeling Board OF Trade. but not
too late that night to have his hotel
stormed by applicants for the Wheelins
post office and their friends. Mr.. Neely
was non-committal in the fve-cornered
q reS
sure for q day in a visit to Wellsburr.
where he spoke at a volunteer fire.
mems banquet
The naming of c. Z. Smith for fedora
marshal a fellow-townsman. said to have
come about largely from the influence OF
ex-senator Watson. also of Fairmont.
helps to put Fairmont on the political
may in way relatively enjoyed by