West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-05-11
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
lFrom Geo. w Summersl

WASHINGTON. May 9.-That Hen
~ D. Hatfield is still boss OF the Re
publican party in West Virginia was
made evident at the State convention
held at Wheeling last Thursday. lie
has not spent three years building up
a powerful political machine for moth
ing and the success OF his work was
made apparent upon the first occasion
| when test of the relative strength of
the Hatfield AID the anti-Hatfeld
forces could hc made i'm the state.
Isaac T. Man was not made dele
gate to the gauoual convention be-
cause the auti-Hatheld forces were
| strong enough 10 elect him hut he
was permitted by the Hatfield forces.
| in absolute control OF the State con
vcntion, to 20 as delegate. Davis
| Elkins. nominally an anti-HatReld
man, was permitted to 20 TO the con
! vention because he is working with
! the Hatfield crowd for Ira Robinson
for Governor. Whether he has actual
| ly Joined forces with Hatfield i'm earn
est remains 60 he seen. but ne is
working for the Hatfield candidate and
The Hatfield convention permitted him
90 ro as delegate to the national CON
ycHuou Possibly the Governor was
aotuated by rcmorse m couscutiug to
letting Mann and Elbius bc delegates
aud is trying TO rocompcnse them for
not giving them the expected supper,
Cor the Scnatorship I'm 1913 with
Mann and Elkms eating out of his
hand and with the Lilly faction i'm
tho state convention so small 10 was
useless to fight, the Governor seems
10 be pretty well established not only
as "titular head" of the party but as
it's actual boss. II would seem that
The end OF tie Hatfield administration
viii not mean the end of Hatholdism
in West Virginia politics. nor of Hat
field, the party boss
An candidates who can be voted for
az the Statewide primary election ON
June have now certified their candi-
dacy TO the Secretary OF State texcept
officers of counties. cities and dis
tricts) The lists closed Saturday at
midnight and there is no way now for
candidate to get on the primary
election ticket The name OF "A person
not on the ballot may OF course, be
written ON IT, but there is no proba-
hiltfNr nf
for any Office in that way. After the
nominations are made no one else can
be placed on the official ballot at the
general election unless petitions that
he be placed on the ticket are signed
by per cent OF the total vote of the
state and each petitioner must make
cath. If rcquied. that he has not al
ready participated in the primary
election OF any party This practi-
cally prohibits any person not nomi-
mated at the June primary from be
coming a candidate and therefore the
next state officers, Senator and Con
gressmen will come from the list now
on file with the Secretary of State to
Dc voted ON June at the general pri-
mary election
-1
Returns from the Second district
special election are anxiously awaited
In Washington. not only by West Vir-
giuians but by others as well, as this
ls the first special election for some
time and may be the last one before
the general election next fall, and po-
liucal parts are always Interested i'm
the sentiment Of the people as shown
at special elections While a special
election in the midst OF national
campaign does not always indicate
how the general election following
viii result it is taken as an index 10
the prevailing sentiment and gives
basis TO both parties for conducting
their campaigns The Democrats made
q very active campaign in the Second
district Speakers visited every Sec
tiou OF The district. newspapers print
cd able editorials and personal SER
vices worc enlisted iu getting out the
vote. Senator Chiffon wrote per
oual letter To- every Second district
Democrat Zoo thc city of Washington.
asking him to go home to vote and
headquarters we're opened in the Na
tioual Hotel where they were asked
to- register Congressman Nicely and
! Litlopago spent several days each iu
.ho district making speeches for
woods while Senator Chiffon spoke
often as hr could and sout cor.
grrssman IIcnn. of Georgia. 90 Gu his
other dates Solicitor General John
Vs. Davis did very effective work 600
behalf of the Democratic candidate.
prakiug "A several places in the dis
irict Albert ~ Bolcher. Of Charles
/ tom. counsel for the United Mine
Workers. addressed several meetings
| of Second district miners. while Con
| grcssmen kincheloo, Gambler and 9th
cra from outside the state assisted iu
the campaign It was short fight
but lively one and at the close
Democrats generally expressed the be-.
lief that they had won.
r.
Senator Chiffon decided 20 take mo-
chances on the imperfecuons of The
ncw primary election law and went in
person 90 Charleston 20 file the an
oouncemont OF his candidacy for me
nomination for Senator 90 succeed