The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-07-17
AND
COIN FIGURE IN
CAMP PA|GN PLAN
Democrats of West Virgin
ia to Be Long on
Both.
Especial to The West virglnIanl

Especial to The West yirginian)
Z WASHINGTON, D. c., July 17.-
Who the e,,underlings of Democratic
State Chairman Lewis, will be In his
organization to elect John j. Corn
well principally and other candidates
Of his party secondarily, will be set
tied on at meeting OF the commit
tee to be held in Parkersburg tomor-
row. There are reasons why the pol
ltlcians her are more interested in
who will be selected than they have
been in any organization that the
Democratic party in West Virginia
has effected at the outset OF q COM
paign in many, many years.
The principal reason that the par
ty is cocky is over cash. 1t has the
assurance OF ample funds with which
to set up the best organization head
quarters II can command, and suffi-
Client currency ammunition with
which TO wage such n battle as it
plans to make this year. This is q
condition Of affairs that it hasn't en-
joyed since the second Cleveland
,ampaign In 1888, and that was so
long ago that most OF the party lead
srs now in control can remember 1t
only iudistinctly, II at all.
In that memorable year the party
had, as 1t has now, a national admin
Istration to call on, as we'll as an en-
trenched official organization In the
State. The latter resource 1t now
has only partly-so much as is en-
braced in the federal patronage. In
cidentally, II may be well to insert
here. that the outcome OF the 1888
campaign was disastrous to the DEM
ocratic party.
Another cause for the present
cockiness Is the fact that the West
Virginia branch OF the party lies in
the lap OF Clarence Wayland Watson
blouse and breeches. It has turn
ed itself over to him on the implied
promise that 1t Is to be kept" 1t
has transferred its affections from
such old-time suitors and steady pro-
vlders as Col. John T. McGraw and
thrown its wanton arms about the
heavy treasure chest Of the Baron of
Bituminous. Even Senator William
Equanimous Chiffon, who. by virtue
OF the loftiness OF his official position
should be q leader second to none, is
tossing In the waves OF the c. Way
lands wake with. 1t may be, none to
succor him with life line should he
need one-none II 1t would interfere
with their own selfish business, 1t is
said.
Still another reason for the inten-
sity Of interest here in the outcome
OF the. meeting to appoint the crew
for headquarters is Charles Cameron
Lewis. Jr.. himself" Charles CAM
eron Is novelty, and the capital con-
tingent, having just had the oppor-
tunity to give him the once over, is
undecided Just how to appraise him
and fix his worth as q directing head
Of a campaign which Everybody ex-
poets is going to be humdinger. He
is a raw recruit in the game of poll
tics, as raw in his inexperience in
that respect as politics is claimed by
lot of people to be raw in all other
respects. He is business man and
accused of being an efficiency expert.
On the strength OF that reputation
which has been given him 1t Is ex-
pected that he will undertake to ap-
ply efficiency methods to bis party's
campaign. That will be a new thing
for that party, and q dread thing
doubtless to the leisurely personnel
which as characterized the Demo-
cratic headquarters. in, West Virginia
for many. years up to and including
the outstanding campaign adminIs-
|. 'fCont,n,,ed an IA =. sEi,hti,