The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-24

The trouble. It appears. grew out Of
thp practical dismissal Of. One Wilt
lam Ross as an assistant district attor.
ney IN the Southern District. Mr.
Ross is a lawyer OF prominence and
popularity in and about Bluefield, and
cuts an influential figure in the local
Democratic Organization. When the
new district attorney was appointed
recently, Mr.. Ross was offered his old
position providing that he would re-
move to Huntington. He and his
friends claim that the offer was made
to him knowing that he could not &C.
cept 1t, and that 1t was "a frame up,
OF very familiar type in politics. by
the way, for which Senator Chiffon
was responsible. Leeswsys, he could
have forestalled 1t, but did not when
appealed TO by Mr. Ross and his friends
and was, therefore. party to 1t. That
Is the charge made by Ross and his
associates against the Charleston pol
itician and former Senator, and that IS
the transaction which. politicians OF
both parties who have been here from
Mercer county this week, give as their
opinion will most certainly lose the
Democratic vote in that county for
Chiffon to Nicely.
On the Republican side OF the inter.
esting senatorial matter there Ia most
pronounced and outspoken sentiment
for avoiding contest for the nomina-
ton II it is possible to get by without
one. The men who are listed In the
public mind as the rank and file Of
the reason for this heartfelt desire.
| The lest decade of the party's exist
ence has been one OF factioDal turmoil
and fight to the hilt. The party has
had enough war within itself and the
party's leaders for the most part, have
had, too. Those who still have an ap-
petite whetted for blood and carnage,
! remembering that John Cornwell Is
! Governor and whose votes made him
such, are incliniug to the opinion that
discreation Ia the better part OF pol
tics. With such a universal demand
! for party peace end unity, it should be
no surprise to anybody IL the Repub-
iican candidate wouldn't be some wor'
( thy party man selected by agreement.
| In the list OF men mentioned as avail
able, not one but has said that he
! would make no contest within the
party for nomination, II they all
stand by that. then there would seem
nothing else to do but for the mer re-
sponsible for the party's Leadership
| and organization, to meet and discuss
the matter, and act as they think best
| to insure party harmony and victory.
And that is what is likely to happeD
soon after the Christmas holidays.
| Things have been quietly working TO
| that end, mhich seems to be entirely
| in accord with the sentiment OF tho
party SO far as Is has been able to be
ascertained from men who are trust
worthy, intelligent and active members
in their respective localities,
An effort is now on foot to have a
meeting of party organization leaders
from all parts of the State for the pur'
nose Of exchanging views on this mat
ter. and upon other matters the proper
determination OF which should put the
/ party in condition for next years i'm
portant contests in the State 1t is
realized that the time is about here
| when some effort of this kind should
be made for the party's welfare, and
that the party should not be left to
! drift simlcssly along into the 1918
campaign without some systematic and
intelligent endeavors being put forth
get it into state of preparedness
a harmonious and energetic organiza'
ton competent!y differed and run on
| efficient lines.
The Republican leaders in West Vir-
| ginia firmly believe that they have
the play in their own hands and can
win with it if they make no foolish
mistakes. They are eager for sweep
ing vistory all along the line next
year, not alone for the prizes Of 1918
but for the bigger and more numer-
Gus trophies of 1920.
Sang Hymns At