The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-12-09
Of
STATE LINING UP
FOR PRIMARIES
Washington Hears There
Will Be But Two Can
didates fer Governor.
WHERE LEADERS STAND
Believed Now That Mont
gomery Will Try for
Secretary of State.
lsnecial TO me west Ylrginian. J

(SpeClal 10 Inc west SlTSlnlau.J
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.-There are
Republican party leaders of promi-
nenCe and influence here from every
locality in West Virginia. The excuse
for their presence in Washington is
the meeting of the Republican Ma
tional committee, but the real reason
that they are here is next years state
ticket. They came expecting to hear
lot of state politics discussed and
to witness lot of comforting. They
are not disappointed.
Interest centers on the guberna-
torlal contest. Fred Paul Grosscup
was the first candidate for the high
est office to arrive, Judge 3. F. Nor
gan, who according to the talk Of the
visitors will be the principal If not the
only other candidate, is expected at
any time, and will probably be here
by the time this dispatch is read. S.
B. Montgomery, who, also according
to the talk, is the last to stick Of the
Others who were discussed as prospec-
tives, came in on a late train today.
Former Congressman Edw. Cooper is
also here.
Following is a brief statement of
the Concenssu Of the opinion Of the
assembled state leaders:
The contest for the governorship
nomination will be between two men
Judge Ephriham F. Morgan, of
Fairmont, and Col, Fred Paul Cross
cup, Of Charleston.
The others talked Of in connection
with the head of. the ticket have drop
ned out Of Il or soon win. ...All 9TH
rersp include, a. Engtands ]. s.,
EDarst, NJ. T. Shawl key, s.. B. Montg
cry and Edward Cooper.
OF those named the opinion Is that,
with the exception Of Montgomery,
they are virtually out Of 1t now.
England is expected to run again to
succeed himself as attorney general.
Darst, Cooper and Shawkey will not
be candidates for any nomination.
Montgomery may seek the nominal
tion for secretary Of state. Whether
he does or not, 1t is believed that he
willnot stay in the gubernatortal con-
test much longer.
There is practically no dissent to
the above brief summary of the stu
alton. 1t is almost unanimously
"okehed" as the correct statement
of the "dope."
So generally and universally ac-
cepted is it that the real interest has
shifted to the lineup of the leaders,
who's for Morgan and who's for
Grosscup. A large number of the lead
ers have already lined themselves up
for one or the other, but a number of
them haven't. Then there are the
usual number among the latter who
are waiting to see how the cats hop
ping,
Grant P. Hall, Of Charleston, is to
manage the campaign Of Judge Nor
gan for the nomination. AS Hall and
Grosscup are fellow townsmen this
fact, OF course, is interesting and is
being much discussed. Other leaders
classed as cast for active roles In the
Morgan candidacy are Elliott North
colt, 2. Taylor Vlnson, William F.
Hite and James A, Hughes, Of Hunt
ingtOn; VIM. McKell, of Fayette; T.
Ed. Houston, of Mcdowell; Isaac T.
Mann and Hugh l, Shott, of Mercer;
J. F. Bradley, Of Raleigh.
Among those Classed as leading
supporters of Grosscup, outside of
Kanawha county, are Ex-Governor II.
D. Hatfield, Walter Hallanan, ex-Con-
cyrassrooy, Eduy Cnnnor McEIIinnaSS
Hatfield, H. c. Ogden.
This is by no means full or COM
plete list Of the party leaders who
are said to have pledged Themselves
to one or the other-Grosscup or
Morgan. They are just a few Of the
.''big ones" taken haphazard.
A majority of the candidates for
the other places on the state ticket
are here, but thereis no particular in
terest in these lesser contests. The
governorship is the whole thing"