Evening star., 1914-02-01
SPECIAL SESSION
SENTIMENT LACKING
Speaker George of West Vir-
ginia Assembly Fails in
Circular Appeal.
GOVERNOR MAY ACT
IN THE EARLY FUTURE
Defeat Charged to Suggestion of Tax
on Natural Gas to Meet Prob
able Revenue Shortage.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

WHEELING. W. Va, January 81. 1914.
The special session of the West Vir-
ginia legislature for the near future. as
suggested by Speaker W. T. George,
falled to survive the January frests. The
speakers circular-letter campaign in it's
oehaif did not find a favorable sentiment
among the necessary three-fifths of the
membership Hence the much -talked-of
extraordinary gathering of the solons to
consider the fiscal policy necessary after
prohibition takes effect will not come
now unless summoned by Gov. Hatfield.
II Is said he contemplates such a call
some time in May or June.
Speaker George set out to test the SEN
timent of the members, and had the
responses indicated sufficient willing
ness for a special session it could have
been called by the members themselves,
providing there was the required consti-
tutional three-ifths in each house. The
obstacle was in the senate. as expected.
The incidental suggestion of the speaker
that a prospective shortage in revenues
might be supplied by an export and pro-
duction tax on natural gas naturally
threw the weight of a powerful influence
against Speaker Georges move.
In discussing his unsatisfactory move,
Mr.. George takes pains to reply to some
criticisms. For instance. certain repub-
lican editors asserted he was showing
dtscourtesy to a governor of his political
faith by attempting to summon the legis-.
lature together by a round-robin plan.
To this the speaker replies that instead
of endeavoring to embarrass the gov
ernor he was trying to aid him. Further
more. Speaker George says the special
suggestion might have helped the repub-
ncan organization instead of hurting il.
He explains this by reference to his
suggestion that the special session should
include the passage of state primary
bill
State Primary Urged.
A little reflection will show the logic
of this point. Gov. Hatfield and other
republican leaders are very anxious to
amalgamate the standpat and bull moose
elements and a state primary would do
much to eliminate the bull moose if the
contention Of the republicans is correct,
namely, that in test of popular voting
distressingly small. 1t Is argued that the
Roosevelt personality gave the bull
moose its vitality. and that left to work
out their own destinies the progressive
party could not muster many votes as
distinctive outfit. Allusion is made to
the fact that the progressive leaders
have confined themselves to conventions
and committee nominations.
There has been absolutely but one real
test of strength between the two organ
izations since the election in Novem-
Der. 1912, and that was in the special
congressional election in the first district
last October, when the progressive candi
date pOlled approximately 1900 votes, as
against 11OOO for the republican and
I 14.OOO for the democratic candidate.
1t Is true that the progressive candi-
dates for city commissioners were sue
ceSSful in the Fairmont city election q
fey he Hit he
democratic organization In the division
| under q bipartisan charter arrangement,
the republican candidates running third.
1t is true also that at Moundsville the
progressive candidate for mayor dis
tanced both the candidates on the old
party tickets. But the underlying causes
for the results at Fairmont and Mounds
vile were purely local.
With all due respect to the optimism
of the bull moose leaders. 1t does not
seem that they desire a primary law re-
! auiring all parties to nominate their
| tickets on the same day. Most of them
| have been long in the political game and
| they are largely conscious of their ap-
proximate voting strength They do not
desire a test in a primary battle with
| the republican organizations except. pos
sfbly, in kanawha, and possibly Marion
| county.
! They have hopes in the future of de-
veloping an organization that will COM
mand more strength. but at present it
l
| boiling over with so-called progressive
ism. The rank and file Of those who
| followed Roosevelt are republican at
heart The boys who have desire for
! the loaves and fishes do not see an I'M
mediate prospect. Even the dreamers
| have not been encouraged. Here and
! there the republican organization con-
| tinues to win back former bull mooser.
Gov. Hatfield has in the little patronage
! he has dispensed since his Inauguration
dealt literally with bull moosers or
Roosevelt republicans. Much publicity is
being given by the republican press to
an open letter to Joseph Handlan. pro-
! gressive state chairman, by Harry
Holmes, a Writ county member of the
| progressive state committee. who tenders
. his resignation. saying he never intended
to cut loose finally from the republican
| party.
Suggestion to Settle Issue.
On the other hand. J. W. Dawson. who
was Roosevelt republican. and who is
an influential coal operator at Charles
| ton, says he is no longer with the re-
publican party. But the step in his case
is not significant Going back to the
point raised by Speaker George that a
republican politics., it is interesting to
kinson, son Of former governor of West
/ Virginia George Wesley Atkinson, a
nudge of the Court of Claims at Washing
ton. Maj. Atkinson suggests that both
party organizations be maintained and
that they hold a dual primary. and that
which gets the most votes. as the case
NAV be, In the respective counties. This
of course. Is suggestion for the state
committees and not the state legislature
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