The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-24
WASHINGTON NEWS GOSSIP

justified by every report. In West
Virginia the crop seems to be further
advanced than in other states, but in
all it seems to be doing fairly well,
and predicates lively summer among
planters and hopeful harvesters. The
sudden bursting into bloom of con-
gressional ambitions in the Fourth
congressional district was to be ex-
pected when it was first announced in
this correspondence a week ago, that
ex-Congressman H. c.. woodward was
getting his friends and admirers lined
up and intended to make the race.
Swift in the wake of this announce
ment he made hurried trip through
the district touching at main points,
comforting with friends and feeling
out how the news of his intention
had been received. He is back in
Washington again for few days,
wearing smile and expressing salts
faction over how he found conditions
affecting his proposed candidacy in
the district. Swifth in the wake of
his announcement, too. was the men,
tioning of other men of sizeable ma
terial and availability. j. Mentor
Caldwell and II. o. Hiteshew, both of
Parkersburg, were names quickly
brought to the fore by their local
local friends, and the former confessed
frankly to taking the suggestion seri-
ously. Others will probably be men,
toned also, some of them. no doubt,
already locally, as the season is early
and the Onion seems to be revalent
that the water is fine.
For the First district a new name
was suggested by party OF Repub-
licans from that balliwick, who are
visitors here. The name is that OF
Thomas w. Fleming, of Fairmont.
The originator OF it backed up his
suggestion with a staunch and detail
ed specification OF Mr.. Fleming's avail
ability. In the first place, he pointed
out. his choice is the type Of sound,
safe, sane, successful business men to
which the sentiment of the country
seems to have turned of late as the
kind of men who should be called on
to fill the Offices next year and to give
their experience and talent to restor-
ing the country to the prosperous en-
joyment OF normal business conditions.
In the second place, 1t was argued
in behalf OF Mr.. Fleming, that as a
party man he was sound and orthodox
on party principles. and that there is
strong party demand for nominees
who possessed the courage of those
convictions and could be relied on to
stand for them without webbing and
seas became rough. Other fine and
undoubtedly truthful recommends
tons were voiced by the eulogist, who
became more fluent and forceful as he
perceived that he had already won
his auditors to full symathy with his
argument. Mr.. Fleming, he said, had
never been politician of the profess
sional type; he had held one office,
a member of the house of delegates
some ten years ago, and then he sacri-
feed his own inclinations to a party
sentiment that was Enthusiastically pre-
ponderating for it. He was a man of
large affairs and broad experience
among men. personally he was likable
and was able to present the issues of
the campaign in a convincingly busi-
ness-like way to the public. Another
point cited in favor of the suggestion
was geographical: Mr.. Fleming's
home was centrally located in the dis
trict. and in the very town and county
from which the opposite party's candi-
date halls.
In the new Third district, 1t is ac-
cepted by the politicians here as an
assured fact that Secretary of State
Reed will be one OF the aspirants.
Whether State Senator George White
will be another remains to be seen.
He has been mentioned in that con-
nection, and probably have others for
all that is known here. But Reed can
be counted on, and is being, to make
a try for the nomination. He will
probably rely largely on public speak
ing for his campaign. and his personal
acquaintance with the people of that
district, which years of campaigning
in 1t has made him SO familiar with.