The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-03-16
DEATH CAUSES
GREAT CHANGES 4
Passing Of Political Leaders
May Mean Much invest
Virginia.

Aloysius Coll, West Virginia
staff correspondent of the Pitts
burgh Dispatch, this morning
prints the following:
The death angel has laid heavy
finger on the political tablets of West
Virginia during the past few days,
and erased names which meant much
to the political history OF the state
and to the present campaign.
Official gaps have been left IN the
wake of Congressman William G.
Brown and ex.Gov. William NJ: Q. Daw-
son. And while Democratic and Re
publican leaders are striving for the
advantage position in the preliminar-
les for the special election which VIII
be held in the Second district to elect
Representative to serve for the nu"
expired term of Congressman Brown'
attention is also directed to the posi-
BILE successor Of Governor Dawson, VINO
was member OF Public Service COM
mission. This vacancy VIII be filled
by Governor Hatfield.
Both Republicans and Democrats are
the most interested in the special elem
ton in the Second district, because
it Is the general impression that the
man elected to Congress now will have
the best chance for denomination by
his party for the full term, beginning
March A.
In fact. the newly elected Represent
tative will be a tentative candidate
from the moment his election is as
sured. And by the same token the de-
feated nominee of the opposition par
ty will be in line to make the sec
Il III 20 An
is believed that Governor Hatfield,
when he calls the special election,
recognizing that at the utmost the
newly elected Representative will
have only few months to serve, will
set the date for the epecial election
we'll within the time limit OF 70 days
The law Is that the election shall
be held not less than 80 nor more than
70 days from the date OF the call, This
cali is expected at any hour.
A membership on the Public Ser
vice commission is considered an ap'
pointment Of distinct honor in West
virginia. Since the commission is liza
BILE to be called to act upon important
matters relating to the public utili-
ties OF the Commonwealth at any hour,
1t Is probable that Governor Hatfield
will name a successor of ex.Gover-
nor Dawson at any early date. Who
this man may be is matter Of dis
cussion now. i,'
A first glance over the available tim.
her brings into prominent view the
Hon. SamuelB. Avis, former Congress.
man in the Third district, and now
doing important legal work in con.
nection with the commission. The i'm
preston is rather general that Avis
work has been well done, and IL he
were named member of the commits.
sion it is more than probable that the
appointment would meet with favor.
The former Congressman, it is said,
however, likes his legal work, and he
might not care to accept q berth on
the big board.
Republicans have about closed up
all the gaps for State and Congression-
al candidates. The Hon. NJ. P. Shaw:
key, State superintendent OF schools,
has formally entered the race for re-
election, as has been predicted in The
Dispatch. and H. e. Williams, Commits.
sioner OF Agriculture, will be a candt-
date for reelection also. Both these
men may be unopposed in the prim-
aries. siS3
a feature Of West Virginia politics
at this time is the lack Of Democratic
candidates for several state Offices.
No man has come into the open for
Attorney General, Secretary OF State,
State Superinten of Schools, State
Auditor State Treasurer, nor for Con-
gress in the Third or Second districts,
and while it Is taken for granted that
Mai. M. M. Nelly win be the unoppos--
ed Democratic nominee for re-electiony
las Representative lnp the First Com
gfessional district, he has made no
announcement,