New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-25
Governor Hatfield Shear
ing Successor of Power
Through Legislature
PLOT TO UNSEAT
CORNWELL FEARED
State Excited Over Acts Of
Extra SeSSion-Some
Fear of BloodShed

frron 4 s,sT Co1sspo1deai o. TIE Tr'hersl
Charleston, W. Va. Nov. 24.-The
dying Republican Legislature Of West
Virginia tonight was approaching the
conclusion OF q programme 60 remark
able as 20 be worthy Of notice in the
country at large, and so in-advised that
Il may contain the seeds OF future scri-
Gus trouble Il is the attempt OF the
Gins" who are about 20 become "outs'
10 shear The incoming "outs" Of most
o. their privileges and powers.
The government Of the state is now
Republican in all branches-eXecutive,
legislative and judicial. According 20
the verdict Of the voters registered on
November the present Governor
Henry D. Hatfield, will be succeeded on
March Z by Democrat, John j. Corn
we'll. and the present Republican lower
house Of the State Legislature, the
term Of which expires in six days, VIII
be succeeded by a body Of Democratic
complexion.
Under laws which have been on the
Of West Virginia has Czar-llkc powers.
lie may remove appointive officials az
will. and even elected officials. such as
Attorney General, arc subject 20 re-
moval unless the Legislature by the
separate vote OF both houses, disap-
proves. As the Legislature meets bien-
u.sly. 10 might be Two years before
such disapproval could be secured
What Hatfield Planned
When IL became certain that tho
state had elected q Democratic Gov
crnor and a Democratic House Of Dele
gates beyond hope of successful con
test. the present Chief Executive,
Henry D. Hatfield determined ON n
bold course.
advisers. Governor Hatfield called an
extra session of the Leg stature. Inc
most important part Of the programme
ps al first planned, according TO prom
iuent Republicans here, was AS iol-
lows:
To take from the Governor ali
powcr Of appointment and 20 lodge
such power in the Board OF FuoIc
Works, which Us made up Of state OIL
cials below Governor Gail Republican j.
There was precedent for TINS hlgh,
handed proposal. The Democrats had
D
TO amend the election contest law
;n such n way that the majority Of the
deciding court would be surely Ropuo
Third To protect the tenure Of the
present appointed State officials by re-
duiring for their removal, the sus-
tanning OF written charges, and making
sucb cases renewable By the Supreme
Court Of Appeals.
Fourth-To protect elected state OH
cials by changing the law concerning
their removal so that the courts might
be appealed 10 as q check on the Chlet
Executive.
When the Legislature convened here
last Monday the State had been reused
10 feverish excitement. There were
threats of bloodshed. The newspapers
screamed the news in big type. Proml-
uent Republicans were quoted in Ge-
uunciation Of the Governors act and
few Republican journals, especially
THE Charleston Mall owned by Wal.
ter r. Clark former Governor OF
Alaska, were unsparing in their criu-
Forced to Modify Plan
Before the Governors message rec
ommendug legislation was sent II be-
came apparent TO the managers OF the
crammo could not go through the Sen
ate. Taking the power Of appointment
away from the man chosen by the pco-
pie was too much.
The modified programme. most OF
which was completed tonight, had
many elements Of merit ln lt he four
or five independent member Of the
Senate. notably Senator Rosenbloom, OF
Wheeling. announced that they would
be glad Of the opportunity, conceived
IN iniouity though 10 was, 20 remove
from the Governor Of West Virginia
some of his czarlike powers.
Defenders of the Governor course,
rnd especially the Governor himself,
make out q very plausible defence for
she present remarkable situation. They
point 20 the speeches Of the Governor
elect, in which he is reported TO have
said that be intended 90 make "a clean
sweep 40 the State House as soon as
hc took the chair
10 is regularity OF the West \ir-
rirla law which made these elected
state officials fear for their positions
under "a Democratic Governor 1t lo
that same law now amended by The
special session which mikes the Demo
Gratis fear that the Republicans are
actually plotting 10 dispute the title
Of Governor-clcct COrnwcN when the
proper time comes.
H. is pointed out by the Democrats
that the Hatfield machine may attempt
TO change sufficient number Of mem
bees Of the new House of Delegates, by
means of easily successful contests. so
that the new Legislature would be Re
publican boz both branches and so might
bc able 20 refuse 20 declare tho cleo
ton OF Conwell This is possible. J..
actually was done once before IN West
Virginia. 10 is. however, extremely
unlikely. II 10 were attempted sue
cessfu.ly bloodshed might follow