The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-14


Letters and kilograms OF congratula-
tons from all parts Of the county. but
largely from Democrats and personal
friends in West Virginia outside OF
that party, are pouring in on Col G.
w Watson al his office and his hotel
ere since his nomination has become
confirmed fact. The pleasing part Of
it Is, according 20 Private Secretary,
Capt. Buckingham, that a large mum
Der OF the Congratulatory messages
are from Democrats who, for one rea-
son and another, opposed the uomina-
tion OF Col Watson and voted for his
opponent. former Senator W. +. Chill
ton.
The same shower OF messages Is
falling al the Elk.ns mansion on h
street, but not so many because Of the
fac that the Republican nominee, Ma
jor Elklns, IS in France or nearing the
French coast, and because j large
number OF these CongratulatOry mis-
sives have been sent TO Col. Jos. X
MCDecmOtt, the successful manager
Of the Elkius primary campaign, al
| Morgan,own. However many OF the
messages are for the mother OF Major
| Elkins. whose active interest IN her
sons candidacy was well known 70
/ her many friends. and 20 Private Sec
rotary John 3. Fenton, who was Chair.
man McDermo,ts right hand man in
! the management 0f tine victorious Elk
l ms campaign
Interest of the states politicians
here is now focused on who will be
/ the state committee Chairmen. and
consequently the campaign managers.
! Of the respective parties, and IN what
! cities the main headuartt.s Will be To-
Gated. A reorganization Of both com
mittees is confidently expected
When asked about that today. Col.
I Watson replied. u have made no
plans for my campaign" c. !. Shaver,
Of Fairmont, is al present chairman OF
the state committee. but there is lot
Of talk among the Democrats here
( that there will probably be change
made and that George J. Neal, Of
/ Huntington. is likely to succeed 10 the
Craftsmanship if all party factions can
be persuaded 10 unite on him 1t Is
said that Col Watson would be pleased
if this could be brought about
Neal has missed being state chair
man three times, although once he was
, selected as viCe.state chairman. That
was in the campaign Of 1905. He is
regarded by the shrewdest politicians
as being one of the ablest campaign
managers in West Virginia. A great
many Democrats have declared time
and again that had he ever been given
full sway in the management Of their
party's campaign, it might have been
credited with several important vic
tories which are now listed as most
/ important defeats.
I 1t is presumed pretty largely here
Z that Col. MCDermOtt will want to be
statae cairman OF his party That
pac els vacant. It was held by J. II.
Gaines, who resigned when he became
! a ser" toTiai aspirant, and It was not
filled by the committee at the time
/ There is asO some talk OF Ex-Governor
A. B. White in that connection. He
was most active in bringing about the
nomination Of Major Elkins.
, There is also some talk that the
Elkins people may deem it advisable
to enlist one OF the party leaders who
opposed their man at the primary.
This, it is claimed. would be playing
good politics. In that connection, the
name OF Hon. Virgil l.. Highland, OF
C,arksburg, figures The Republican
/ headuarters have been located at
Clarksburg in the last three campaigns
and although. he held no particular
office, Mr. Highland in two Of those
campaigns was, as a matter of fact,
virtually state chairman. The eXcep-
tiOn was in 1912 when James S. La
kin was state chairman. Highland
worked with Lakin that year with
great success for both of them and
the party. While neither was an Off
Ger Of the committee in the campaign
of two years ago, yet they ran the
/ headuarters and the campaign that
year as they did in 1912. The loss Of
these two men TO committee work this
year would, it is stated by some, be
a serious handicap to the party
4 His visit TO Secretary Of War Baker
being suggested by letters OF inquiry
from constituents, Congressman Wood
yard today called upon that official to
ascertain il any arrangements had