The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-06-26
NJ GRAW FACTION IS
TO SCRATCH Chiffon
And Senator Watson May Have
MCGraW DiSlodged as Nat
ional Committeeman.

John T. McGraw. for twenty odd years
the West Virginia member Of the ma
tiOnal Democratic committee Is to con-
tlnue to hold that commission n meet
ing OF the state committee Of that
party to be held at Parkeraburg We'd
nesday will decide. There is much
gossip Of negative kind as to that
going on here among the Democrats
i, fr""' West Virginia.
From what can be learned ex-Sen-
atOr {, W. Watson can succeed Nc
Graw on the committee II he insists on
1t. II Is conceded that nu can CUun,
absolutely on a majority OF the votes.
But there Is gOOd-Blzed opinion that
he will not insist on II because he is
anxious not to stir up the McGraw
faction. The fact Is. according to much
OF the talk going tho rounds. one OF
! the principal efforts of the leaders in
| the forthcoming campaign is going to
be in the nature Of trying TO smooth
up the McGraw wing OF the party to
keep II In line. The detection Of that
element OF the party was manifested
| in every election succeeding tho Wat
son-ChlltOn coup" in the legislature
Of 1911, showing itself particularly In
the vote for candidates for the loglR-
lature In 1912 and In 1914. This year
will, however. be the first opportunity
that the McGraw faction will have the
chance to register what they think OF
Senator Chiffon by the individual and
secret ballot. II is common knowledge
that Senator Chilton's friends view
that with alarm.
WatsOn's paramount concern in the
present situation is by no means on
Chilton's account. II that was all.
Democrats here say. he would walk
up and relieve Col. McGraw OF his
membership on the national committee
and let II go at that. II Is known that
he would like TO be a member OF that
body. II is a political position with
lots Of class" to II. and in both parties
| there Is quite an elaborate assortment
Of milllonaires and near-milllonaires
on the committee. MFR. Watson, II Ia
said, would feel at home there. and he
would consider It bit Of good for
tune II Col. McGraw would, after his
long service conclude that he had had
the honor as long as any one man
should have II and step down and out,
| leaving the party free to elect Watson
without stirring up any bad feeling.
That has been suggested to McGraw,
but he hasn't given any sign nor
| spoken any word that might lead to
/ the belief that he thinks we'll Of the
suggestion.
Mr.. Watson's prime interest In the
| Democratic ticket is conferred on John
]. COrnwell. the party's candidate for
! governor Watson and CoTnwell have
been political and personal intimates
for good many years. They have
played the game together. and Watson
thinks great deal Of COrnwell, and
II Is common knowledge among poll
ticians OF both parties that Watson is
expected to finance the Cornwcll candi-
dacy. and In doing that TO carry along
the rest OF the ticket in n proportion
ately generous manner. including SEN
ator Chiffon. II is because he does not
want to do anything TO rub up the
wounds OF the unhappy McGraw con-
tingent OF the party that deters &C. w"
from passing the word to Parkersburg
Wednesday to come across with the
national committeemanship. That is
tho story as Washington hears It.
For the same reasons OF finance
there are goodiy number OF state
leaders OF Democracy who are spread
ing broadcast the sentiment that Wat
son should be made the committeeman
because tho party is expecting 20
much valuable help from him and his
associates in waging It's campaign this
year; and that McGraw. whose party
loyalty Is unquestioned, should get out
OF the way as gracefully as possible
''for the good OF the party" And these
same men add that McGraw has had
the honor for many years and ought
70 quit satisfied.
There may or may not be a contest
at Parkersburg. and the committee
may elect McGraw or Il may elect Wat
son. Party leaders here admit very
frankly that they do not know, but
they are buzzingly interested Just now
in discussing the probabilities.
John ]. Cornwell. the Eubernatorial
candidate. will be At the meeting. and
4 Is expected that he viii innuers1
the committee in naming the state