West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-07-08
NUMEROUS CANDIDATES ARE
TOSSING HATS IN THE RING
Many Republicans Announce Their
Candidacy for Olfiees-Faetions
in Republican Party Now Engag-
cd in Trench warfare-Speaker
Johnson's Open Confession

1
the political front, and the state house
corridor patriots. when they are not
at the ball games. are devoting their
time and energies To n little guessing.
which might be digniflcd by the term
conjecture.
Each week that goes by witnesses
the political ring actually covered with
sombreros, that have been tossed into
the enclosure. Most OF the hats are
from the heads of the Republicans. and
at the present time large number of
members of the G.. O. l.. are running
about bare headed. their chapeaux be
ing left to the tender mcrcies of tho
electorate, who. IL the battle were un-
der way, would be Kicking them
around like Champ Clark's houn' dog.
During the week Speaker Vernon E.
Johnson. of Berkeley SPRINGS. mod
estly confessed while i'm Wheeling that
he was considering becoming candi-
date for Congress I'm the Second dis
trlct The seat at present is held
by William G.. Brown, Jr.. a Demo-
crat OF kingwood, who probably
would be reelected even i'm that strong
Republican district. If he decided to
make the race again. This same dis
trict is the home of George NJ. Bow
ers OF Martinsburg, who received the
Republican nomination last fall and
who, when the returns came I'm
thought the figures were those OF cas-
ualties In the European war instead
OF browns vote. In this same election
Moan G. Keim was what was listed
as an also ran" Another shadow I'm
thls district IL Howard Sutherland.
now Congressman-at-la large. but who
lives at Elkins I'm the same district
Ihere are those persons who believe
| that sutherland would like to be Gov
| crhor but I'm case his candidacy Is moi
looked upon with favor he will be "A
candidate for Congressman. and he "a
some little campaigner when he gets
started. And George Bowers also
should not be overlooked
Through some process of mind func-
ton the Republicans seem TO he en-
'ertaining an Idea that all they need
10 40 Is to get their names on the
| DalIot and the race is over. SO with
this hallucination every district has
lot OF candidates all their own.
The Hon. Thomas Parks Fleming OF
fairmont. thinks this is his year. He
mas announced that he would be a can
didate. During the past winter Mr.
Fleming has been living i'm Washing
ton as private citizen, and he seems
10 nave been infected with what some
one termed the washington habit"
There is such a virus. and an innocu-
latlon with the bacill causes high po-
Iltlcal fever, social chills. wasting
away OF bank rolls, a compound frac-
ture of hopes and slow decay But the
NashinStO:. habit can be compared IN
'he state of mind of the lotus eater
u 10 tFinrpG.Iv state OF mind. Al
the present time Mr. Fleming has that
s'atc OF mind. He has the habit"
-'" ''' N'cly represents the
district IN the lower house now lie
won from Senator George n. White of
weston, who by reason OF redistrict-
| ing is no longer i'm the First district
| SO Mr.. Fleming is first I'm tbo fold
IN tact' he is the only one who has
ofhcially announced. But Julian
hearne OF Wheeling, is going to throw
MS ruddy cap In the air and let Il light
In the ring. He built his first political
fences when in Charleston during the
winter term OF Lie legislature. when
ne Just stayed here for a few weeks
but who was busy every minute.
Up to date the Sixth district. i'm
Guiding in its confines Kanawha. Ra-
leigh Boone. Fayette. Greenbrler and
Pocahontas counties. has not been
chosen as a soft spot Who will be
the candidates in this district are not
known. Some one recently asked.
who do you think will run in this
district"
The answer came.
"The Governor hasn't decided vet"
Following the session OF the leplsla-
ture, when everything was taxed OK
cept the family Bible. conjecture was
rife as 10 what effect the Legislation
would have on the fortunes of tbo
state house administration II was re-
called that In the dire distress I'm
| which the Governor found himself he
would 90 10 almost any length 10 save
| MS political face. lie was pressed ON
one side by a bankrupt treasury on
the north by once political friends
whom he threw In the Junk heap ike
a child will a doll after the paint is
worn from It's face; and on the east
and west by dissensions within hts
party such as few Governors have
had and which IL is charged were dpo
to his political selnshness
What the legislature did is history
Now a month after. with 30 davs Of
reflection, 70 seems 10 be- the general
opinion that the coup as consummated
by the Governor, as the head Of his
coterie or ring Of the Republican par
" left him no richer I'm the high re-
gard OF the zone gallus7 fellow, added
to his enemies the thinking, small
business man, and still barking at his
! heels Is what hc refers to as the "yelp-