West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-12-17
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
Number Of Prominent West Virginia
Republicans After United States
Senatorship I'm Case Senator Con
Resigns-Prohibition Question Be-
fore House, Beneficial Effects of the
War Felt I'm West Virginia.
(From Geo. w. summers.l

(From Geo. w. Summers) =
Washington. Dec. 15-Political news
which reaches Washington from West
Virginia indicates that the old game
OF promising support for the Senator
ship to numerous candidates and CIV
ing 1t to none. which worked so well
two years ago. is being played again.
and that even one of the same candi-
dates who was double-crossed before
is again In the game. accepting an
other promise OF support, although he
probably lost the Senatorship two
years ago because the promise made
prior to that time was not fulfilled.
Unmindful OF the fact that the laws
have been changed and that the Gov
ernor has no right even to fill a va
cancy In the Senate by appointment.
II Is being promisd to each of several
prominent Republicans that Senator
Con will resign and each one is told
that he will be appointed by the Gov
ernor to fill the vacancy. provided he
gives his support to the administra-
ton in organizing and running the
legislature as the administration de-
sires 1t to be organized and run. III.
c. Ogden. OF Wheeling. and A. B.
White, of Parkersburg. are said to
have fallen for the promise. Isaac T.
Mann, who was promised support two
years ago and failed to get It, is said
to be biting at the hook, on which the
Senatorial bait Is hung, and Virgil l..
Highland, OF Clarksburg. is said 10 be
playing around the hook, almost ready
to take a nibble. DAVIS Elkins, who
was another of the famous double
cross trio OF 1912, has even hac the
bait before his eyes, but he Is a wary
son OF father whom no one could
'ool and apparently he is not attract.
ed by the bait, because he sees the
hook protruding. The strangest part
OF the affair is that Isaac r. Mann, af-
ter being fooled two years ago. should
II
again, when put out in the same man
ner and from the same sources. The
fact is that under the recently adopt
ed amendment to the Federal consti-
tuition. all Senators have to be elected
and a vacancy can only b filled by
special election except in cases where
Il a State 10 It,n., f.- 4,
filling of a vacancy by appointment
OF the Governor, when II may be done
West Virginia has passed no such law
and an appointment from the Cover.
nor would not be recognized by the
Senate. unless the legislature should
provide for the filling of a vacancy in
such a way. Possibly the control oil
the legislature is sought SO that su,
a law may be passed, giving the Gov.
ernor power to fill vacancy by ap-
pointment. Should such a law be pass
ed by the West Virginia legislature II
is safe to say that not one OF the per-
sons to whom promises may have becn
made would be. appointed Senator In
case OF Senator COTS resignation
With friend as president of the Sen-
ate, the program following the resig.
nation OF Judge Goff, should 1t occul
and should the law be passed prov;d-
ing for the appointment of his succc s.
sor, the Governor would resign with
out filling the vacancy, the President
OF the Senate would become Governor
and would appoint the man who re-
signed to make him Governor How.
ever. from present indications. there
Is no possibility of Senator Col. r.
signing. He 8 said to be In better
health than ever before, he ha, little
work here and .!raHs two 3a.aries. SC
rat unless h entered inLo an agree
ment to resign III case OF his election
t. The Senate. 50 that the man who
engineered his election could succeed
him there Is little chance that he will
quit his present very acceptable and
lucrative position. However, the suck
ers are biting on the same old bait
and are likely to assist in organizing
and running the legislature to suit the
administration.