The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-02-22
WASHINGTON NEWS =
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WASHINGTON, d. c.. Feb. 22.--
The case of an original Wilson man"
from West Virginia was before a Ger.
tain Cabinet member this week. The
papers in the case lay on his desk
when the caller came TO say a good
word for and III behalf of the original
party. who seeks something better than
his present connection with the gov
eminent, was ushered in. The dOcu-
ments in the case were strong ones.
Another member of the cabinet had
added a written commendatiOn which
made them all the stronger. They are
honestly looking for a better place to
fit friend "Original Wilson man" in.
But the incident of the interview of
more general interest to West Vtr-
GINA politicians is that I'VE are en-
tirely familiar with the fact that the
Presidents friends in West Virginia,
when he needed friends, have not been
as we'll treated as they should have
been, and we have decided to accord
them the just recognition to which
they are entitled" Thus spake the
cabinet member
This tends to support the rumors in
circulation recently that in the sec.
ond Wilson administration there will
be a considerable change in the per.
sonnet of Federal officeholders in
West Virginia. The report is persist
ent and 1t appears to have founda-
ton. The interview with the cabinet
member referred to indicates that.
And it shows another thing, which is
that the politicians at the head of the
administration, including the Presi-
dent himself, are not unfamiliar with
party conditions in West Virginia, and
arc in frame of mind to confess that
the patronage was given to representa-
tives of faction which bitterly and
stubbornly fought the first nomina-
ton OF Wilson, thereby amounting to
a punishment OF those relatively fey
Democratic leaders who did espouse
his cause from the earliest time. II
was probably not the intention TO DO
that, but it amounted to the same
thing. The original Wilson men IN
West Virginia were, in large meas
ure, shorn of their influence as party
leaders in consequence.
That a reparation long delayed is go
ing to be made them in the second VIII
son administration not only now seems
most probable, but there Is other evil
dence' beside this statement OF a
member of the cabinet, that 1t has al.
ready been determined on, and VIII
most assuredly be carried out. 1t Is
explaied nby those observing the Sit
nation that the President will be free
10 act pretty much as he pleases with
patronage in his second and no doubt
final term, in West Virginia and all
other states. AS to the plum distrtbu'
ton In West Virginia. he will be re-
Iieyed of the necessity of having to con-
sult with a Democratic Senator from
that state, for there will be no Demo
cratic Senator from West Virginia to
consult There Is not the same pina-
ing reason for consulting the party
national committeeman from West Vlr-
ginia as there is in the case OF men,
her of the Senate. The President can
do as he pleases about that. That de-
pends, too, on the attitude of the COM
mitteeman. If National Committeeman
Watson, as some of his friends pre-
dict. with Senator Chiffon out of the
way proceeds to make himself friends
and supporter of Wilson, as Chiffon
did after he came to the Senate, VIII
son viii forgive the past in Watson's
case as he did in Chiffon, and the Fair
mont man might be able to hold con-
ferences with the President over the
distribution of West Virginia patron
The commissions of the present in
cumbents begin to expire not a great