Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-01
CLOSE HOUSE FIGHT
IN WEST VIRGINIA
Outlook Is That Four Republic
ans and Two Democrats
Will Succeed.
BULL MOOSE VOTE
MAY DECIDE RATIO
G. O. P. Using Tariff and War Tax
Arguments Cry
Stand by the President"
Special Dispa tch to The Star.

Special Dspa tch to The Star.
WHEELING, W. Va, October 81
West Virginia chooses six members of
the House of Representatives next
Tuesday. five by districts and one at
large and the safest bet is that there
will be no change in the present politi-
cal division of four republicans and
two democrats. But it is fight all
along the line, with only the fifth dis
trict, now represented by Representa-
tive James A. Hughes, considered safe
ly republican.
Opinion prevails that Representatives
Nelly and Brown, democrats. will be
returned from the first and second dis
tricts; that Representative Moss will
be given hard run for his money in
the fourth by Democratic Nominee
John NJ. Hamilton, who carried the dis
trict in the 1910 landslide, and that
Adam B. Littlepage, who carried the
third district over Joseph H. Gaines in
the same landslide, has a fighting
chance to come back by displacing
Representative S. B. Avis. There is so
much general satisfaction among re-
publicans with Howard Sutherland that
his reelection over Thomas E. Hodges,
unless the third aspirant for the office
of repreSentative-at-1ar Charles j.
Schuck, bull mooser, should attract
enough votes to make republican sue
cess impossible.
If Sutherland is defeated there will
be no republicans in the West Virginia
delegation, unless possibly Edward
Cooper, the party candidate in the
fifth district, and his plurality over
George l. Neal, democrat, is not ex-
Cd fn he "a hi
circumstances, or about half the nor
NAL republican margin in that over
whelmingly republican section.
Neal Looks for Victory.
The democrats are Enthusiastically
the more confident. Even Neal looks
for victory, and he has waged a can
vass nothing short of admirable in the
face of the usual results attending
democratic effort In the extreme south
ern part of West Virginia, where re-
publican strength has been incident to
the opening of coal mines. Neal relies
on party disaffection following the pri-
mary contest between Edward Cooper
and Hugh i. Shott, plus such progress
sive support as may exist, a doubtful
factor there as elsewhere.
Summarized the prospects are bright
er for an Increase in the democratic
representation. The states delegation
may stand three and three, with Moss
the more likely to be the republican
victim, and there would be little sur
prise if Sutherland and Cooper were
the only republican lucky ones. which
would mean a complete reversal of the
four to-two partition at present in the
democrats favor.
Republican Expectations.
On the other hand, optimistic repub-
lican leaders hope to hold the congress-
man at large and the third, fourth and
fifth districts, with a chance to win
back the first, thus removing Repre-
sentative Neely. who went to Washing
ton by reason of special election a
year ago this month as a successor to
John W. Davis, who resigned to become
solicitor general. But their hopes as
to beating Nicely are not shared in, not
withstanding the. effectiveness of their
appeal in his industrial district.
The republican national campaign
has been waged with the tariff as an
issue and criticism of the war tax.
They have lavishly pointed to disturb
ed economic conditions as resultant
of the Underwood tariff. With condi-
lions as at present they consider sue
cess more than probable.
actments of the democratic admins
tration, and uphold the President"
has been their slogan. They rely on
the progressive vote as an ally. conced-
ing, of course, that West Virginia is
normally republican.
The campaign has been conducted eX-
cluSively nv home talent. with speak