The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-03-07

: WASHINGTON, u. e., 9-aFcn =
, II one is not unfamiliar with that
/ acuteIy sensitive human organism
| that is the possession Of the average
West Virginian politician 10 which
! ever party he may subscribe, one viii
/ readily understand and quickly be able
] TO quite perfectly visualize the nerv-
Gus state OF health end the condition
OF suppl essed excitement OF those OF
! the tribe habitant here. What has
happened portending changes in the
political map of West Virginia, what
is talked as likely 10 happen as we'll as
| what is feared may happen, have COM
bined to give them the jumps. II has
served also to spill q large reservoir
OF conversation and gossip. most OF
which probably isn't true at all
In the larger sense, the announce
ments from Davis Elkins and James A
Hughes OF their candidates. for the
Republican nomination for UEited
States. Senator supplied genuine sur
prise 90 the politicians, especially and
particularly hughes, which they are
still discussing and gossiping over
Speculation is rife among them as TO
what is means, more specially Hughes
candidacy, what new alignmeatS have
been formed or are in process of for
nation, and how the situation Will set
tie eventually. That all the cards
aren't yet, by any means. face up on
the taoIe. and that all the entries
aren't yet in, is the general opinion.
What effect the candidacy Of Hughes
will have on William F. Hite, also OF
Huntington, is much d!IcusScd- Equal
" as much talked ABOUT is how soon
Virgil L. Highland will burn the bridg-
es behind him. While considered as
almost sure TO enter the race, High
land has never formally said so. Then
there is II. C. ogden, OF Wheeling. He.
too, has been an active and interested
prospective. and is still listed among
the probabilities. AT the present writ
ing, Congressman Edward Cooper IS
not so seriously regarded, and there IS
still 10 be found men here and there
who are not able 70 free themselves
from the belief that DR.. Hatfield may
appear at the eleventh hour as a con-
tender A fantastic rumor which rests
on the speculation over the motif OF
the Hughes candidacy connects Hat
field with-a belated appearance in the
field. This is an exciting and highly
dramatic report, in which Hughes is
cast for the part of a foil. Likely as
not It is without truth. but nevertke-
less II is interesting 1t is greatly less
apparent on the surface than that
Hughes entrance is an embarrass-
ment to Hite, both hailing from the
same city, If he had carried along his
plans to the point of taking the i'm
portanC step. This is but one Of host
OF reports and rumors in circulation.
The only dead certainty, so far as OBJ
- 10
that the Republican senatorial situa-
ton is yet in its swaddling clothes.
and that they, the aforesaid observers,
are very much up In the air over it.
The Democratic situation is bat lit
tie less hay and mystifying- There
is lot Of Wild talk and guessing here
about it. Neither Chiffon nor Nicely
has announced taking the irrevocable
step across the dead-line- One rumor
had 1t that an effort was we'll under
way to Sidetrack Nicely for Chiffon by
promising Nicely the gubernatorial
nomination. Investigation Of that re-
port indicates that it was born IN the
Chiffon camp, and the wish appeared
to be fathering the though NSuch a
happy arrangement as thai would be
pleasing to the Chiffon faction, but the
suggestion appears TO not have daz-
lied the Nicely faction with its posi-
blities. Not wishing to be placed in
the position of depreciating the digni-
ty, Importance and emoluments of that
exalted Office, the Nelly Heutenants
aver that the governorship has no at.
fractions for their eloquent young
chief. He is neither. annoyed nor en-.
tertained by any thoughts Of It That
Job maya ppeal to others. and it does,
but not to Neely, his friends say
They also say that, barring unto
ward accidents. epidemics and abnor-
nal elemental disturbance, Nicely VIII,
IN due course Of time proclaim his