Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1916-02-22
Washington Letter.

Washington, D. c.. Feb l6-The
holding of the Republican national con-
vention the day after the general pri-
mary election in West Virginia at
which delegates to the national con-
vention must be selected, under the
provisions of the new primary law.
means either the disfranchisement of
the West Virginia Republicans in that
convention or tbs naming of their del
egates by party bosses, as in the good
old days before the people were sup
posed to have voice in their selection.
A suggestion that the Governor call an
extra session of the legislature to
amend the primary law so delegates
could be selected at an early date, met
with no favor because if an extra ses-
sion of the legislature is called and the
debt case is not included in the pur-
poses for which 1t is called the Supreme
Court probably would become active in
enforcing its opinion as to the amount
of the debt due by West Virginia, and
insist on it's payment, which the Gov
ernor does not want done till after the
election or at least till after the nomi-
nations are made. The conflict of
dates for the national convention and
the West Virginia primary election
prevents the holding of a presidential
preference vote by the Republicans.
for by the time the vote is counted the
nomination for president probably will
have been made. 1t is limited that as
this will leave an uninstructed delega-
ton from West Virginia. friends of
Governor Hatfield may present his
name for the presidency and count on
solid vote from West Virginia to sup.
port him as a compromise candidate.
This is said by some to be the rqason
why the Governor has not announced
his candidacy for the Senate.
Senator Chiffon and IKE Democratic
members of the House from West Vir.
ginia have gone to Parkersburg to at.
tend the meeting of the State commit
tee which is expected to draw as many
State as State conventions used to
draw. 1t is understood to be meet
ing for general conference for the
good of the party and to get the views
of as many party men as possible on
present day conditions.
Former Senator William Campbell,
of Charles Town, editor of the Virginia
Free Press, and one of the original
Wilson men in West Virginia, has been
appointed to a position with the FEEDER
al Trade Commission, upen the recon-
mendation of Senator Chiffon. The
position is understood to be very de-
sirable one and one requiring especial
fitness along certain lines which MIR.
Campbell is said to possess.
The Shackelford good roads bill, sup
ported in the House by every Demo-
cratic member from West Virginia,
has received the approval of State
Road Engineer Williams who has been
here to urge Senator'S Chiffon and Golf
to support it in the Senate in prefer
ence to the bill which has been under
consideration there.
After making his Washington home
at the Congress Hall hotel for the five
years he has been in Washington, Con-
gresham Brown has taken a house on
Connecticut avenue near Du Pont Cir
Gle and will bring his family here in a
few days. Congress Hall where Mr..
Brown made his home for five years
was the old Washington home of Judge
Dayton and Geo. c. Sturgiss, both pre-
decessors of Mr.. Brown when they
were in Congress. Congressman Nicely
lives there now and Congressman Lit
tlepage made it his home.for two years
duaing his former term in Congress.
Congressman Brown was caller at
the White House and had chat with
the President few days ago.
The President has sent to the Senate
the nomination of T. Nj. Conner to be
postmaster at Harpers Ferry. The
nomination was made upon the recon-
unendation of CONGRESSMAN Brown.