The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-07-05
INGRAM SEA[[
INTERESTS THE
POLITICIANS !
Corporations Now in Con-
troll ofsWeest Virginia
Democracy.
VI !! S1ITA.D0UBLE CROSS
At All Events Grafton Man
Put Watson Into Pol
itics.

WASHINGTON. D. G., July 81
Among the West Virginia politicians
here, especially among that numerous
element OF Democratic hue who. are
sleek and fat and prosperous from fat.
tening at the patronage crib, the ov-
erthrow OF Colonel John T. McGraw
by Clarence w. Watson, Is all the
talk. Ever since It happened, there
is no subject of greater interest to
them. 1t is discussed from all an,
giles. ~
1t Is conceded now that Watson
has a firm grip on the party organi.
zation and II he can put across John
7. Cornwell, which Is his fondest de.
sire and greatest ambition in this
years campaign, It Is conceded that
his grip on the party will be render.
ed all the firmed and stronger.
Watson's candidacy to active lead.
ership is hailed here by the Democrat.
ic office holders not because Of any
great personal popularity on his part,
but because the hopes run high tina;
he will bust in the bung Of his bar
rel. and other corporate barrels TO
which 1t Is imagined he has access,
and his party's campaign to the limits
OF e generosity that the party has new.
er experienced, but which 1t has Of,
ten dreamed Of and hoped for.
These men are not shedding any
tears nor expressing any tender sen.
timents because John T. McGraw has
been thrown out OF party leadership,
Notwithstanding the fact that there
Isn't one among them who hasn't
played the game with McGraw; who
hasn't In former years been pround
to call himself his friend and his lieu.
tenant; and there are few among them
who have not prohted In one way Or
another by their association with him
"The king Is dead, long live the king"
is an idion they exempllfy and enact
with cruel and ruthless realism
Watson now has the call from them.
The new leadership Is Watson and
Cornwell, with Senator Chiffon hold
Ing few shares Of stock. and holding
them only so long as he plays up
square with the plans and machina-
tions of Watson and Cornwell. Ac-
cording TO the talk OF the polite
ians here, Chiffon has been placed on
q sort of probation by his ertwhile
colleague.
McGraw's overthrow was no sur.
prise to Washington. It was discuss.
ed as likely to happen before 1t did
happen, and a week before his fatal
day It was discussed as most prob.
able in these dispatches. 1t had been
kept very quiet up till then. In fact,
the preliminaries were handed with
the utmost secrecy, and seldom has
political change succeeded In being
kept away from the knowledge OF the
public as this was. The report here Is
that 1t was as much of surprise and
shock to McGraw as It was to the
little band of party leaders who arc
still loyal to him In these times which
are troublous to him in many ways.
II that be true. how great must have
been their disappointment when the
scepter Of leadership was wrested
away from him in secret session by
secret ballot, In which were number.
ed friends who had turned traitor to
him in the crisis of his direct neeo.
1t was q kiss on the cheek and i
knife in the back, to state It meta
phorically, according to the accounts
brought back to Washington by men
who attended the Parkersburg meet.
ing.
Charles c. Lewis election as chair.
man Of the state committee, is re.
garded here as much OF bid for cor.
poration support Of Cornwell as Wat.
sons election TO the national commit.
tee. 1t Is also looked on as an effort
to put tho Cornwell campaign on Il
high plano Of pre-eminent respect
ability by going outside the ranks OF
the professional and experienced poll.
ticians and campaign managers, and
putting man up as the nominal cam.
paign who Is none Of these things.
Mr.. Lewis is regarded as q repre-.
sentative Of big business and highly
respectable citizen. but isn't counted
in It at any stage of the game as u
manager Of political campaign.
However, politicians expect him to
be mangaer who will not manage,
not so much as to be noticed. The
real work will BIO done by the true
and the tried; the boys who have play.
ed the game for years and have beer
educated to know a bluff hand from
I -. AG-t a a.