The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-02-12
GIRL 0R CONTEST
OF SUTHERLAND'S
SEAT IS DROPPED
Never Did Have Ghost of a
Show and is Now
Withdrawn.
HBRT HIS POPULARITY
Charleston Man Wants it
Out of Way Preparatory
to New Elec-
ton
CURT HIS POPULARITY
- cHARLEs BROOKS SMITH.

CHARLES BROOKS SMITH,
WASHINGTON. D. c., Feb 12.-W.
chiffon has withdrawn his contest
AGAINST the legality of Senator Howard
sntherland's election over him in 1916
bv approximately 5000 plurality. A
letter to that effect has been sent by
him to the Senate committee on priv
neges and elections, and that commit
tee viii hold meeting this week, II 1t
can secure a quorum, and formally
close the case.
AZ a matter of real fact this contest
election case has never been con-
test election case at all. at no time
has it ever had any standing In tne
estimation of the voters OF West Viz
Sfnia. without regard to partisan az
f9ltatiOns, and, within Few months
time after it was brought to the al
tention Of members of the Senate IN
dividuslly and informally, 1t never mao
any standing as a contest OF any merit
in the opinion OF the members OF taat
BODY. Some of the most outspoken
a9ainst the utter folly and injustice OF
it were Democratic senators who hao
served with the contestant.
The case in brief, consisted Of several
pages of generalities, opinions of Mt
Chiffon to the effect that he lost his
seat in the upper branch OF Congress
through fraud and that his successful
opponent had knowledge OF the perpe'
ration of it. There was nothing that
could, by the longest stretch OF the I'M
aRination, be considered specific eVl-
dence and convincing proof presented
to the committee by Chiffon to bolter
M his grievance and soothe his bitter
disaopeintment by being repudiated by
a substantial majority Of the voters OF
the state at the polls. Every oppof-
t1nity was afforded him by the COM
mitfee, dominated by his own party
to present It with, at least a SclntlIIss
Of evidence to back up his general con-
tentions, but there was nothing OF the
kind forthcoming. Not only opportunl-
ties, but time in great suffte1ency was
allotted to him to make good. Inc
long postooaement Of this case was
due to him and not TO Senator 9otner-
land. who insisted and demanded from
the earliest time that the commttee
pass upon the case.
The letter that the committee has
from Chiffon withdrawing his so-c2lled
contest, has not been made public. II
& said that the reasons given by him
for his refusal to prosecute the
.8raud" he so flippantly and unspecIfl-
caiIy charged, are "high-sounding'
high-falutin ones OF pyrotechnical pa
trfotis7n,' as one man, a member Oh
the dominant party, discussing 1t de-
scribed the letter. "At this war crisis,
this seif-eftacing patriot says that he
does not desire to take the time OF
the committee for business so person
al, when they are so busy with bust
ness Of such important and high pa
triotism," continued the same author
what shape the report OF the com
nittee Will take when it closes this po-
Iftical farce. no one is to be found VINO
Is able to forecast with accuracy. II
is believed, however, that it probably
win tend to satisfy some OF the party
influences that are at work to have
4he report go as far as it can with
fairness and justice, with the aim in
view OF Saving the face" OF the con-
testant. Party pressure is being
brought to bear, it is rumored on good
authority, to have this done. The ar
Rument being used is in the nature OF
an appeal not to embarraSs Chilton'S
candidacy for nomination this year,
and the claim of his record of invaria-
bic and consistent pliableness to the
administration. That line OF appeal IS
expected to have its eject, and to
show In the report. It is expected to
sIet him down easy" as one politician
IN intimate touch with the affair said
today.
This camanouged. contest, generally
accepted in West Virginia as a plum
from the time of its inception, and the
unsportsmanlike complaint OF a very
poor loser. hasn't served to foTter any
personal friendship between Senator
Sutherland and the man from whom ne
so easily wrestled the senatorial can
dy.stick. Quite the contrary. Any
body who knows Senator Sutherland
very well, knows that he is decidedly
sensitive and unforgiving when his
personal integrity and conduct are
questioned or assafled. This case is
one of the occasions. But his close
friends say that in this case he has the
consolation Of knowing that the voters
OF the state, OF all parties, clearly un-
derstood the absurdity OF the contest
and the Injustice OF the charge, ana
at no time have they given the com
plant OF his unsuccessful opponent
serious consideration.
1t IS interesting, too, and stgn1ncant'
that one Of the elements that has en-
tered into the opposition to Chtlton's
present candidacy within the ranks OF
his5oWn party, is the fact that he took
the action he did, and which now. in
humiliation to the party organization
evan II not to himself, he is forced to
retract. That phase OF it is now re-
Tfved In the discussion by the politi-
clans OF the rapidly warming up con-
test between Chiffon and Congress-