The Washington herald., 1914-06-09
Political Proc-essieal.,
ny r. b. G.

And now they talk Of the Hon. George
NJ Bowers, late United States Fish Com
missioner. a. a Republican candidate for
| Congress in the Second West Virginia
district OF which Martinsburg Is the
metropolis. and proud of Bowers as one
of its highly esteemed public spirited
citizens
Away back in 1894 when the Republican
national organization was Interested
In defeating William L. Wilson. following
the passage of his tariff bill the Second
district was spoiled The kopecks for
campaign purposes came easily and law
ishly. The protective tariff people, corpo-
rations, and the mighty organization Of
a great party combined to make an ex-
ample. Of Wilson and simply beat him
Expense was nothing Orators. literature,
money. promises. threats. and general
boosting OF Republican doctrine did the
work thoroughly. II Bowers goes into
the contest this year he will hardly have
the financial aid and backing given Day
ton, who defeated Wilson twenty years
ago, but II Is not overlooked by Bowers
or his party associates up Martinsburg
way that Junior Brown, the Democratic
incumbent VINO has won denomination as
he deserved, came through two years
ago with only fourteen votes to the good.
When 1t Is recalled that 1872 was not a
very good year for Republicans In any
State the near election Of Conley, the
Republican nominee. was notable, even
II he lost. and II is evident that West
Virginia Republicans are in much better
shape than two years ago Senator Davis
Elkins is a voter In the Second district
and will give Bowers or any other Re-
publican candidate a powerful backing
that no other nominee has had in the
district for years. II is evident that the
younger Elkins is keeping his grip on
things in the State and especially in the
Second district
The Pennsylvania primary figures con-
tinue to disconcert the Democrats ard
dismay the Progressives, and make Re-
publicans rejoice, especially the Republi-
cans who hold to Penrose and the old
fashioned faith of the fathers.
Both Democrats and Progressives have
been remarkably reticent regarding the
recent primary returns. and the small
showing made by Pinchot, the Roose-
welt choice for Senator. is especially dis
tressing to the Progressive contingent
now in Congress. Please recall that
Roosevelt, Progressive candidate for
President in 1912. had 49, .sS4 votes in Penn
sylvanIa. A year and a half later. Pin
chot, his designated apostle of Progress
sivism, running for the Senatorial nomf-
nation, had 114.61l votes-a slump of $685.
s44. No such startling figures showing a
falling of or change of political sentiment
have ever been recorded in American
political history. Pennsylvania Democrats
are as much discouraged by the primary
showing as the Progressives, but are used
to It. especially in Pennsylvania The
Democratic primary vote Of this year
shows a falling OF of 15s,os. and it is
also significant that the real Republican
vote showed a gain of $3.50.
The result in Pennsylvania was follow
ed by the Iowa primary which Endorsed
Senator Cummins By a large majority
and indicated that further flirting with
Progressives would be unfavorable TO the
Cummins cause in November. In all
States where primaries have been held
recently the Progressives made a poor
showing In spirit of the great aid ex-
pected by the return of their chief apostle
and few inspiring words from his splen-
did vocabulary.