The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-06-26
Machine Bosses Pull the Wool
over the Eyes of Rank and
File Proper.
(By Charles Brooks snlith.)

W! Cnarles Brooks Smith,
WASHINGTON, d. c., June 26.-
It must be apparent now to a very
considerable proportion OF the politics.
Interested public IL West Virginia, by
which we mean to include also al
most unanimous number Of erudite
editors whose usually penetrating dis
cernment got lost in wilderness OF
skepticism and incredulity in this
matter-it must now be apparent to
all these and many more who fiouted
II when the cooked-up scheme to nom
mate Thomas E. Hodges was served
up steaming and piping hot to the
followers OF these veracious chron-
icles, and they turned aside from the
refreshment offered them with their
lips pursuing and unspoken word
DOPE" and their eyes showing
cold and expresslonIess with unbelief
1T must, as we have said, be now APP
parent to them that there was some
thing to that Hodges yarn, after all.
For, is not Hodges the nominee for
congressman-at-large, and did It not
come around as we stated in this cor
respondence as early as June 8, and
reiterated 1t frequently thereafter,
precisely as Senatorial Boss Chiffon
was planning to bring 1t around?
Sure and it did.
dawning on the incredulous afore-
mentioned tincluding those doubling
quill-driving friends back home) and
that is that there is something wrong
very seriously wrong-between the
far-famed Twins of the Gold Dust, to-
wit: Clarence Wayland Watson and
William Fleetwood Chiffon, the Baron
of Bituminous and the Grand Duke Of
Gold Hill North Carolina) respective
ly. In the case Of French VS.. Neal
tried at Huntington few days since,
and that Of Beall VS.. Hodges at Park
ersburg does not tend to prove It,
then we will cheerfully admit that
these almost invariably impeccable
impressions set down in this highly
valuable medium Of information from
time to time, were in serious and care
less error when they told of a breach
between the bosses.
The Democratic doings pulled of in
West Virginia this week were but a
public exhibition OF an estrangemant
between Watson and Chiffon, which
has been known and talked of among
the politicians here for many weeks.
From the most reliable sources the
GOODNESS between the Twins began
when Watson returned from lengthy
European trip to find that Chiffon had
had w. g. Barnhart appointed district
attorney for the Southern district. 1t
was Watson's understanding when he
sailed away that George /. Neal would
receive the appointment, thereby
burying the Ratchet between them
which had been brandished since the
Denver national convention Of the
party. That implement is still doing
business as the congressional conven-
ton held at Huntington Tuesday dem
onstrated most conclustvely.
Thence on a coldness grew and, the
breach widened Soon the long dis
lance telephone became the only con-
Meeting link between a once closely
confding and intimate partnership.
First signs that were visible to
the discerning on the outside Of the
trouble within was when Watson
took over the state committee for his
very own with the astute assistance
and expert advice of George Ingraham
Neal. When that stunt was pulled of
eyes flew wide open and ears went
a-cock. There was something doing"
their owners said And they were
right. There was.
Mr.. Neal was first a-held in pursuit
of the nomination for Congress in the
Fifth district. 1t looked rosy for him
for many days. Nobody seemed to
care about 1t. That nomination has
had to be forced on a Democratic re-
cruit for many years. 1t was not con-
stdered worth having. Then, sudden
ly, there became rumors that Senator
French was making stir like sure
enough candidate. At first 1t wasn't
believed. Neal didn't believe 1t, for he
and French had been very close
friends-very close, indeed. But SO
were Senator Chiffon and French, and
they still are. At the present time,
1t is safe wager to lay that Neal
and French are not. Not now But
soon the rumor was confirmed. French
was in the race. Then the line up
began, and the lines were drawn very
plainly so that all could see. The
Chiffon MacCorkle- Holly Stephenson
clan lined up with French. Those
who preferred to stake their future
political fortunes with the Fairmont
Gold Dust Twin lined up with Neal,
whose political skill and large per-
sonal following more than equaled
the weight OF the Watson influence in
that particular locality. For that is
a Chiffon zone.
Then they went to 1t, and a contest
followed which for bitterness out
stripped anything that the Hunting
ton region has seen in'the Democratic
camp since those never to be forgot
ten years when, ever and anon; the
Marcum clans marched out of Wayne
and the surrounding mountain
counties on to the plains Of Cabell
and gave battle to the Tom Harveys.
Having made the federal appoint
ment with the consent of Boss Wat
son and at the behest OF General
Holley and Sam Stephenson. who.
after all is said and done, dictated
the appointments down-state, Chill
ton commanded these office holders
to get out for French and help put
the Indian sign on George, the erst-
while .'Penniless Wonder" Of the old
Fourth district In 1898. And they
got out. District Attorney Barn
hart was among them. He not only
pnf 0it hYft he rnf In 10 II A.