The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-02-15
WASHINGTON NEWS )
GOSSIP [sz a51zlEs ss29zs SMITH

still is the interest in what may de.
velop there among the leaders in the
way OF sentiment touching upon and
appertaining to- the governorship
nomination.
There are two men, both OF them
members of the lower branch OF con.
gress, whose interest along this line
Is both direct and intense, although
suppressed by them in a measure as
to the intensity Of their feelings. They
are Representative Mansfield M. Nicely
OF the Fairmont district, and Repre-
sentative Adam B. Littlepage of the
Charleston district. The latter, II he
can make his arrangements to leave
the House military committee without
his services for a day, expects to be
present at the Petersburg meeting
and mingle with the party faithful.
There is reason fos the feeling of
concern that those two have in any.
developments the ,Parkersburg meet
ing may bring forth in relation to the
gubernatorial nomination. Both are
decidedly receptive, and not entirely
inactive The hopes and lightning
rods OF both are lifted high. Neither
thinks or believes for minute that
anybody has the nomination sewed
up Not even John j. Cornwell. The
size and vigor OF, their daily corre-
spondence from many OF the rank and
file supports that opinion. 1t shows
that there are many members of the
party who are far from satisfied with
any OF the candidates that have been
mentioned, and who would be entirely
satisfied with either Nicely or Little
page as the case may be.
1t is the talk among members OF the
party here that all Is not going as
well as expected or hoped with the
candidacy Of Cornwell. While it has
been welcomed by many OF the lead
ers, and many OF the leaders who lead
the party newspapers, 1t is said that
1t has, encountered cold wave In 9TH
er party sectors of Importance. This
is notably tie case In the union labor
camp and among those Democrats
who are standing by the President"
and insist that men who want to be
on the ticket with Wilson shall not
only do as they are doing, but whose
past record shall totup like that. All
applicants must haye,a RECORD of rigid
regularity and consistent support,
wherein President Wilson Is con-
cerned. This, the critics of the Corn
well candidacy, say that he cannot
produce. The fact that, since he has
become candidate, he has halfway
apologized for having been against
Wilson'S nomination at Baltimore, and
a frequent Pathfinder with the Prest'
dent and his policies, doesn't excuse
the Hampshire editor in the eyes OF
those who are now finding fault with
him as q gubernatorlal possibility.
The criticism from the labor ele-
ment in the party Is based on the fact
that MIR. Cornwell acted as one OF the
leading attorneys for Judge Dayton
when the United Mine Workers un.
attempted to impeach
that iurist. But, what Is more import
ant is. that the criticism goes further
than that, the labor element charging
that they did not get square deal
In that case, and, whether true or not,
they nevertheless charge Mr.. Corn
well with being responsible for some.
thing happening" in that case at the
hour" which defeated the
case OF the prosecution.
1t is on both these criticisms OF
that the boosters for Con-
gressmen Nicely and Littlepage de.
clare that their favorites are strong.
The friends of Littlepage point to
the fact that his record is the record
OF a friend OF labor while, at the same
time, showing him to be fair toward
the other side. They refer to the fact I
that he was at one time chief counsel
for the United Mine Workers In West
Virginia, and he, himself, displays
with pride q costly gold watch: set
with Jewels, presented to him. as the
Inscription discloses, by the
union miners IN! the Kanawha district.
II am prouder of thatwatch, t" said Mr..
Littlepage, than any thing else touch
ing my life."
T His friends say that LittlepaSe can
carry the support OF: the laboring ele-
ment and common people of his party,
and intimate that CornTell may have
very serious trouble III doing that.
Also, they say, that Ltttlepage has
been, and Is today.Sas loyal TO the
head OF his party IN the nation as any;
Democrat IN public life in West Wiz.
ginia.
The Nelly pluggers say the same
about their fayorite. They also say
that Nicely stands aces high With the
element. because they ass (
swag Il not gSeely who arose II the|l