The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-01
of Their Party in This State
and John w. Davis Desired
as Their Moses.
t,,re,AL. ,ar...l,1LranAn,

There Is movement on, the signs Of
which have appeared above the sur
face, to lind new leadership for the
Democratic party in West Virginia
Those not being consulted about II
are the present leaders.
The trouble Of the prom oters Of this
ambitious scheme to reorganize the
party leaders Is TO find the man who
will come out in the open and issue
his def, which would, the promoters
aver, cause a scramble OF all the dis
satisfied partisans and discordant
factions not on top, to rally to his
support. Providing, Of course, that
the challenger should be one who
possessed the requisite ingredients OF
strong and popular leadership II any
one knows OF such a one, and will
whispcr his name to the reconstruct
ionfsts, he will be canonized as a
party savior. patriot and benefactor.
The promoters of this plan are
frank to say that they do not know
where such man is located Just at
this time. But they are optimistic ana
rosily confident. They say they will
find him.
They had their hearts set on Undue
ing John w. Davis, solicitor general
| OF the United States, to buckle on the
armor and battle for political right
eousness within Democratic confines.
But Mr.. Davis, while complimented,
places discretion before valor. There
Is nothing Of militancy in Mr.. Davis's
highly successful political career.
JHN11 al ova,. 40 % f1o1itino I
way was handed to him. 1t was as
easy. for him as taking candy from a
small boy. And there can be no doubt
that he will take the new leadership,
and the nomination for the United
States senate which is supposed to go
with 1t, IL 1t should come to him as
easy as all the other political honors
which have been his in the past.
Understanding 1t that way. these
patriots who would relegate Senator
Chiffon to he scrap heap and drive
Clarence w. Watson back to the
mines, are at work trying to formu-
late plan by which there will be a
large, Impressive and convincing de-
mand from the party that Mr.. Davis
will stand as candidate for the SEN
atorship. How to start this plant to
working Is what is bothering them
right now. 1t was first believed by
some of them that there should be a
formal dinner given at which the
fireworks should be touched of. But
there were numerous objections to
this, the chief one that Davis would
not stand for this method, it might
get him in too far SO that he could
not wade out II it were expedient to
do SO, and 1t would represent only
the wishes OF few politicianse who
had the price Of the meal ticket, and
would in no wise suggest the loud
and lugubrious voice Of the Demo-
cratic vox populi. Therefore, that
suggestion was tossed into the dis
card
The latest plan Is to stir up the
members Of the party throughout the
state, who are opposed to the pres
ent leadership. to write strong, in
tdividual letters to Mr.. Davis, telling
| hi mthat nov Is the. time for all
good men, to come to the aid of their
That the time is ripe for the party
to purge itself of its present disas-
trous leadership and factionalism
generally, whether 1t bears the stamp
OF AicGraw or some other leader who
considers that he has grievance
against the Gold Dust Twins, the re-
constructionists are ready to prove
to the satisfaction of any Democratic
neutrals from an analysis of the late
election results In West Virginia
They claim that II there was ever a
rebuke administered to leadership
the same was handed Senator Chiffon
and his partner, in the defeat Of ex-
Governor MacCorkle, in particular
and the other machine-made candi-
country" and that the party believes
he Is he man to save 1t, and to come
on and do It. From present indica.
tons that is the scheme that the anti
machine factions propose to put into
running order to get Davis into the
field. 1t remains to be seen whether
it can succeed. 1t has possibilities OF
succeeding, but then 1t has a very
practical, discreet and peace-loving
politician to deal with.
Why Davis, it may be asked? Be-
cause he is the only Democrat OF
great prominence, much influence
and high ability in sight. 1t is fig
ured that he would have the weight
OF the national administration behind
him, and it is also figured that, in
the light OF widespread Democratic
losses in the recent election, which
many prophets say means Republican
victory in 1915, the senatorial route
might offer a sporting chance OF get
ting hold Of soft berth in which to
fall at the end of a four-year term
as solicitor. Another reason why he
Is desired is that he has reached a
national status In his party, and that
is expected to help. And still another
reason Is that Davis is one Of the few
men available in which to base hopes
OF his being able to reunite the fight
symphonic whole. There are very few
OF the leading Democrats Of senator
ial size who have not gotten them
selves badly mixed up with either the
Watson Chiffon machine or the Nc
Graw faction. Davis is one OF the
very few.
dates in general from the eminent
Doctor Hodges right down the line to
the lowest and most trivial office
chaser who had the hallmark Of the
dual leadership stamped on him. They
interpreted the returns as meaning