West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-08-06
OUR WASHINGTON Letter
HseubiIesn Factions Ia West Virgins
Fighting Each other-Ssnster Con-
Backing Taylor George for RspublI-
can Nomination for Congress In
Second oistriet-RspubIIcan Can
didstes Have Not Filed Expense
Accounts
FROM GEORGE w. SUMMERS.

"cSs 'hsiha - Oh anu III ~ Dclng largely
fought out at the present time i'm the
second district, where Republican can
didate for Congressman will be nominal
ed at Elkins on August IL. Senator Golf,
who suddenly developed an interest in
West Virginia politics and brought about
the nomination last week OF George L.
White for Congressman from the first
district, is backing Taylor George, speaker
OF the House of Delegates, for the Re.
publican nomination i'm the second dis
trict. Senator Golf is said to have ieIt
under obligations to White and George
because, as he says, George made it
possible for him to go to the Senate,
while White voted for him many times
before the final turn i'm affairs came about
which landed Judge Gofl in the Senate.
1t looks like an effort to build up Golf
machine in West Virginia, with Golf try
in to control the conventions and select
their nominees. OF course, Governor
Hatfield, who was hurt more by the
election OF Golf to the Senate than any
one else in the State does not sympathize
with the Golf program and may be count
ed on to prevent any one but himself
from becoming the Republican leader in
West Virginia. Davis Elkins, Isaac L.
Mann and William Seymour Edwards,
who were defeated for the Senatorship by
Judge Golf, have no desire to assist i'm
making him the State leader and can be
counted upon to try and prevent the
realization OF his ambitions. AS long as
he remains passive they will stand by
him, but with an apparent effort TO get
into the saddle they can be relied upon to
oppose him. The trouble with Hatfield
IS that he has no one to 20 to in the effort
to defeat Coils plan, unless he goes to
George Bowers, the Davis Elkins candi-
date, and that would mean taking orders
from Elkins. This may come about in
the strange situation which has developed
in the second district. Howard Suther-
land is understood to have made an
agreement to try and have Noah q Keim,
Progressive nominee for Congressman,
endorsed by the Second district Republi-
can convention at Elkins in consideration
for the efforts OF Keim to have Suther-
land endorsed by the Progressive State
convention at Charleston But as the
Progressive State convention ignored
Sutherland, it seems impossible that
Sutherland will try very hard to have
keim endorsed at Elkins. The nomina-
ton OF Republican candidate for Con-
gresham at Elkins August IL, and the
nomination of a Progressive candidate for
Congressman in the fourth district will
complete the nominations for Congress
men in the State.
Many OF the candidates for nomination
Tor Congressman on several tickets are
in danger of prosecution for violation of
the federal law requiring all candidates
to file with the clerk of the House of
Representatives statements of their cam
paign expenses. 1t is said District At
torneys will take the matter up with
grand juries this fall and have violations
investigated. The penalty for failure to
file such statements Is not to exceed one
year in Jail or fine not to exceed 81, 900,
or both. Not a candidate for nomination
on the Progressive, Socialist or Prohibit
ton ticket in West Virginia has filed
statement. George White and Howard
Sutherland have failed entirely to comply
with the law. Judge Moss has lied his
first statement; Congressman Avis has
filed one OF his two; Hugh Ike Scott
filed one OF his two statements; and
Edward Cooper filed both of his. All
the Democratic district candidates filed
their statements and DIR. Hodges filed his
but almost a month after his nomination.
In spite of the charges of Hugh Ike Shot
that money flowed like water in Cooper's
fight against him in the ifth district, the
statement of Mr.. Cooper shows that he
spent but $40 while Mr.. Shott reports
81, 129.71, Of which, however, 81, 6S7. so
was assessment for expenses of primary,
not inclnded in the report OF Mr.. Cooper.
There ave persistent rumors in Wash
lngton to the effect that it is the intention
OF the President to appoint Attorney
General McReynolds TO fill the vacancy
on the Supreme Court caused by the
death OF Justice Lurton, and to appoint
John w. Davis, of Clarksburg, w. Va,
to succeed the Attorney General. Mr..
Davis is now Solicitor General of the
United States and a recent statement
Issued from the Department OF Justice
gave him credit FOR the 'enviable record"
the Department made during the first
year under Attorney General McReynolds.
Mr.. Davis and Mrs. Davis were in Europe
when the war excitement started and are
now reported to be fastening home on a
British steamer due 10 arrive i'm New
York this week.
Congressman Nicely has introduced a
bill in the House OF Representatives
which is intended TO give impetus TO road
building throughout the country, and es.
Decially in West Virginia. The bill provides
that the federal prisoners sentenced 10
more than FIVE years imprisonment may
be worked on the roads in any State or
county they are imprisoned in. Il also
provides that all federal prisoners regard
less Of the length Of their sentences, may
be worked in the preparation OF road
the same to be used on the
Of roads only and not sold. This
bill, II il is passed, will give West Vir.
ginia the benefit Of the work Of federal
prisoners on any road that is used for
carrying the mail, and would start an era |
Of road building which should change the |
Of the State roads entirely.