The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-02-19

among Lne pOSSIUlllllSS GohASSSSu
with the Republican national conven-
ton at Chicago next June, there Is one
that West Virginia may for the sec
ond time in her history supply the vice
presidential nominee. It Is entirely
possible, albeit however improbable 1t
might appear at this distance from the
convention, for, in the myriad uncer-
tainties with that Forthcoming history
making event, almost anything might
happen, and the most unexpected
things likely will happen.
The suggestion that West Virginia,
If she so elects, might play most I'M
portant and conscious part IN tas'
tening the tail to the presidential tick
ct, has come from sources high up IN
the national councils of the party,
from leaders of countrywide reputa-
ton whose records as nomination ma
kers in national conventions are as
firmly established as they are Wei
known 1t has been suggested by them
to several West Vtrginians OF high
party standing, that the party In the
state has a man who In every way,
excepting talent for public speaking,
would be deserving the most thought
full scrutiny Of the convention leaders
and the most serious consideration Of
the convention delegates. They re-
ferred, Of course, to Hon. Isaac T..
Mann, OF Bramwell. 5.
Mr.. Mann is well known to the ma
tfonal leaders and, in the administra-
ton Of President Taft especially. ne
was associated with them In the inner
councils Of national party leadership.
The source of the suggestion made to
&xa observe
carefully the conventions trend and
to avail themselves OF an opportunity
such as has been intimated. is such
as to warrant the most serious atten-
ton upon the part of the party mem
bers in the state. Stranger things
than this have happened, equally as
strange, at any rate, as the memory
Of Henry G. Davis nomination In
1904 on the ticket with Alton B. Par
iker goes to prove. It is recalled that,
preceding the convention which put
the Parker and Davis ticket In the
field, there wasn't the faintest intima-
ton that Davis was even thought OF
in connection with that high honor.
It was one of those things which some.
times happen at political conventions
as unexpectedly as a bolt from the
blue. So, tits pointed out that, under
certain conditions which might result
from the presidential nomination. the
occasion might be ripe for West Viz
ginia again, and should such occasion
arise the state has a man to offer in
the person of Mann of Mercer, accord
ing to the judgment of certain nations
al leaders who are entirely respons1-
BILE for this suggestion.
OF course, such a suggestion could
not we'll be made and kept hidden
from the ears OF Mr.. Mann himself.
II should be said for him that, when
he heard it, it did not jar his well
known dignity and poise. The recep-
ton he accorded 1t was sphinx1tke,
with this exception-he smiled broad
ly. u
Congressman Sutherland expects to
get off train at Wheeling tomorrow,
and he plans to remain a couple OF
days in that ambitious city. The ex-
cuse for his visit is an invitation he
received from a lumberman's conyen.
ton or coming together OF merchants
OF builders materials, or something
like that, he couldn't Just recall which,
he has so many invitations. But he
will be on hand all right to perform up
to the expectations OF his hosts. After
that. he is going TO do little public
pulse feeling in and around Wheeling,
which same pulse taking he plans to
continue down the state, coming back
east through the Norfolk aud Western
section to this city. When he gets
back he expects to know more about
his prospects as prospective sena-
torial candidate than he contesses he
now knows.
The discussion among group of
West Virginia visitors turned on the,
subject OF the influence OF employers
over their employees at elections In
the old days and now, and naturally
the far southern section OF the state,
where such things are supposed to
have prevailed to a great extent here
ltofore, and to a more or less degree.
now, was referred to H. d. Straley,
presidenttot the Princeton Banking
and Trust Co., gave his testimony.
"Nos employer of labor controls his.
men at election in our section OF the
state as successfully as Congr essmanl
Ed Cooper does and he doesn't con-
troll them at al y said Mr.. Straley..
The faces OF his aud tors registered
l6spuszled Look Z note that the par