Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-01-29

/ gressman-at-Large Sutherland to an
nounce his candidacy for the same
Office While Hatfield might not be
able to defeat the opposition, If con
centrated on one man, his strength IS
not diminished by a multiplicity Of
candidates, while the opposition to
him is scattered and weakened by
each new candidate in the race.
other Candidates.
1t is even possible that other can.
didates may be induced to enter the
race. Col. u. Taylor Vinson, of Hunt
ington, is being discussed and would
have considerable Of the anti-HatGeld
support should he enter the race. But
each new candidate only makes the
Governors chance of nomination the
more certain. for his support is the
kind that never deserts. They are
for him for reasons that will not per.
nit their desertion, and with each de.
lection to a fresh opponent, the Hat.
field strength becomes relatively jus,
that much stronger Another candi-
date or two and the nomination of
Hatfield will be certainty.
The Governor evidently relies on
the loyalty of the different candidates
and their friends to the Republican
party to carry him through at tho
polls. if he is nominated All he
wants at present is the nomination,
believing the party members will go
to the polls. as former Senator Scott
used to urge them to do, and vote
the ticket straight if they have to
hold their noses to do it,"
Hite's Visit to Mann.
An interesting side-light on the
candidacy of w. f. Hite for the sen.
atorship is the secret visit of Hite
to the home of Isaac T. Mann, in
Washington, before he announced
his decision to enter the race Hite
and Mann have been personal, poll
teal and business friends. Mann has
announced that he would support a.
p. White for senator, but that was
before Hite entered the race. Mann
is bitterly opposed in politics to Hat
field. Yet the spectacle is presented
Of Hatfield bringing Mann's friena
Hite out for the office; Mann sup
porting White; and Hite holding Sc
cret conference with Mann before con.
senting to be, brought out by Hat,
field.
1t is pretty generally understood
that Howard Sutherland will enter
the race for the Republican nomina.
ton for senator very soon. He may
regard himself as compromise can
didate, intended to prevent a party
split and to draw from both sides, and
he may have been led into this belief
by persons who are anxious to have
the opposition candidates Hatfield
increase in number. At any rate, he
is regarded in Washington as almost
a certain senatorial candidate. About
the time White, Hite and Sutherland
and perhaps others get the opposi-
ton to Hatfield all split up, it is the
belief here that Hatfield will an
nounce his candidacy and that his
supporters will start out on a whirl-
wind campaign that will result in his
receiving the nomination, by plural.
ty over the next highest man, but
without majority of the votes cast
III the Republican primary election.
Democrats and Republicans who dis
cuss the matter here seem to be I'M
animous in the belief that the Gov
ernor is not out of the race, but Is
playing his game shrewdly, as he az.
ways does, without regard to the fate
of friends or foes, as long as he gets
what he goes after