Evening star., 1915-04-02
State Probable Scene of Bitter
Struggle in 1916 for Po-
IiticaI Supremacy.
STORM LIKELY TO CENTER
ABOUT THE SENATORSHIP
Republicans Disturbed by Failure Of
the Legislature to Provide
New Tax System.


Virginia will be the scene Of one Of the
bitterest and hardest fought political
struggles in the country In the next ma
tional campaign, and the battle lines are
already forming. Both the old political
parties are looking forward to fight for
this states electoral votes in the presiden-
tial election, each Is seeking to capture
the United States senatorship and there
will be the usual close, hard contest for
seats in the national House Of Repre-
sentatives.
The United States senatorship will be
the storm center Of the political struggle.
The republicans are fairly confident OF
the state for the national ticket.
for reasons which can be set forth later.
The national managers are more con-
cerned over the senatorship. for the rea-
son that one more republican in the
United States Senate is to them consid-
cred OF more importance than the cleo
toral vote Of the state for the presidency
The national managers think they
could elect q republican president with
out West Virginia, but they need that
powerful bad" as one re-
publican put 1t. Hence. the present
chaotic financial condition of West Vir
ginia. which it is feared may be re-
fleoted in political action later, is at
tracing close attention.
Always = Close State.
West Virginia is the closest of all the
border states. the political pendulum
swinging from democratic to repub
ncan control with frequency and with
violence. Since the state was won by
the republicans on the Wilson German
tariff bill, 1t has huctuated in its party
allegiance. local and national.
That victory was won on the tariff,
this inland empire with its fabulous
mineral wealth and natural resources
Of water power and raw material being
claimed by the republicans as the log
ical home Of protection. The state
under protection and waxed
fat and Indifferent, the republicans
claim, until the younger voters forgot
the lessons of 1893 and the democrats
began to gain.
In 1911 the democrats elected two
United States senators. In 1912 Presi-
dent Wilson carried the state, on ac-
count Of the bull moose detection, and
elected two Of the six representatives
In Congress. In 1913 the republicans
elected senator, and in 1914 the dele
cation In tho House was evenly d.
vided between the democrats and re-
publicans. At this time the legisla-
luTC 10 tcpuutS0H dHu thdt poi as SSAA-
trolls the entire state administration.
Senator by Popular Vote.
But the next United States senator is
to be elected by popular vote. and Sem
ator Chiffon, the democratic incumbent.
who will come up for reelection. is a
mighty popular man. He was born in
the community in which he lives. has
been identified with politics during his
manhood and knows personally about
as many men in West Virginia as any
other politician of the state. He is
preparing to give the republicans a
taste of real fighting.
The republican candidate for United
States senator is not yet selected. Gov.
Hatfield has filed on the candidacy. but
several very active aapirants are pre-
pairing to contest his claim. The gov
ernor's position. while 1t has its ad-
vantages. also is attended with draw
backs. AS an acknowledged asset. and
ono he is charged with using to the
limit. is his session of the state or
ganization. which, the democrats
charge. he is systematically converting
into a Hatfield political machine.
The liability Of his position as head
of the state administration grows out
of the responsibility attached thereto
His democratic adversaries will charge
him, 1t Is said, with the present plight
of the state. He, in turn, will lay 1t in
part to recalcitrant republicans of the
legislature. whereupon the democrats
are getting ready to step in and say.
"a plague upon both your houses, turn
all the jobs over to U.s."
So Gov. Hatfield. it Is said here, un-
questionably has hts work cut out for
him to get the primary nomination.
and, II he wins 1t, harder night there
after at tho polls.
Wilson in the Minority.
1t will be remembered that West vir-
ginia went for President Wilson In the
presidential campaign The President
received l13.197 votes, Mr.. Taft re-
ceived 5e.754 and Mr. Roosevelt 1912.
II the republican vote had not >been
thus divided 1t would have exceeded
President Wilson's by $4,000 This
arithmetical calculation is the basis Of
republican hope for the next election,
although they think the republican
vote will be greatly increased by the
tariff question.
Assuming that those $4,000 Roosevelt
votes in 1912 represented the strength
Of the bull moose party In the state,
asked politicians here what had become
OF those bull mosers. since in the con-
gressional election of 1914. only about
O,OUu VOteS Hdu. DcSu pOliGu LOT pro-
gressive candidates for Congress In
the five apportioned districts.
1t was explained that the 10000 votes
for Roosevelt in 1912 We're not bull
moosers bolting from the republican
party. but Roosevelt mon bolting Taft.
This was proved. 1t was added, by the
fact that in 1912 the bull moosers in
dorsed and voted for the republican
candidates for Congress.
Not a Permanent Division.
Tho natural inference, therefore. is
that the slump Of 1912 was not a per-
manent division Of the republican
party; that the negligible progressive
vote in the last congressional election
was merely to maintain the skeleton
Of an organization, and that in the next
election, II Roosevelt Is not a candidate
the republicans Of the state will again
unite.
But here comes this mix up over the
state administration, which the repub-
licans admit looks ugly for them The
governor charges that corporation in
fiuence caused a portion Of the repub-
lican senate to defeat vital legislation
That charge Is mama from a political
heaven to democrats. Rest assured they
are not losing any time in giving ii
full currency.
1t is certain that the legislature ell
ther in regular or extraordinary ses-
sion must raise the taxes and the whole
subject will be reopened for discussion
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