The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-01-26

tSontlnueo from page one.t
candidate for the Criminal court judg-
ship. In Republican circles the only
name heard in this connection is that
Of NJ. w. Ogden.
II is conceded that Clarence Curry
will be the Democratic nominee for
Circuit court clerk. Curry belongs TO
the inner circle which has controlled
court house affairs for years. 1t is
admitted by the Democrats that he
has few attractions as candidate at
general election, but he has been in
the office since the death OF William
S. Black, the Democratic ring is I'M
der obligations to him, and there is no
way to get rid OF him that would not
arouse the resentment of his personal
following. So they probably will take
him and hope for the best. The pros
pect that Curry will be the Democratic
candidate has given this office an I'M
usual interest to Republicans and
there are two men prominently men
toned for the Republican nomination
-Hearl j. McElfresh and James G..
Lanham, both we'll known young men
who have splendid personal and bust
ness records.
One of the most interesting aspects
of the campaign lies in the Democratic
squabble over the county clerkship.
There are three candidates for this
prize. all of them we'll known and all
of them of long connection with the
Democratic county machine. A. G.
Martin, the incumbent, wants re-
nomination and reelection and his
strongest claim to it is record for
efficiency and progressiyeness in Of
flee. But the friends Of Ed Phillips,
for years Martins deputy, claim that
Martin has had all he Is entitled to
and that large part OF the Martin
record of right belongs to Phillips.
Tho really interesting figure in this po-
ntical triology, however, is Ed Slack.
: at present deputy on the staff of
| Sheriff Glover and political worker
OF many years standing. Slack is one
OF the most popular men in the Demo-
/ cratic party. He has served long and
faithfully and so far the only reward
I he has been given has consisted OF
I minor places where intelligence and
energy were essential but where the
pay and the honors were not great. A
lot of the voters who would do lot
for Slack are going to lose interest IL
he gets the cold shoulder this time,
and 1t is reported that the clerkship
situation is giving real concern in the
! Big White Building. For this nomi-
nation on the Republican ticket Ches-
tet Prichard, Warrington banker, war
worker and all around hustler and
+ popular citizen, is mentioned, and 1t
is conceded by the gossipers that IL
he announces his action practically
will close the nominations.
!, James W. Davis. present county as
SCISSOR, and one Of the best known men
I in the county, wants the Democratic;
I nomination for sheriff. What Is more
to the point the big Building" is
known to want him to have 1t. There
are Democrats, EJweyer, who do not
7 take kindly to the suggestion and in
/ spite of the fact that Davis has been
campaigning for some time move
ment in favor of ]. Y. Hamilton, the
I Fairview banker ard business man,
7 has sprung up and is making consid-
cradle Roadway. The impression pre-
!. vailed last week that If the Big Build
| ing crowd wanted to put Davis over
they would have to employ something
more than the personal popularity OF
their candidate. The only name SO far
mentioned IN Republican ranks for
this nomination is that of James b.
Charlton, OF Warrington district, an
oil operator and Republican who
stands well with the party.
The Big Building is always inter-
ested in the prosecuting attorship, and
this time it is believed that 1t is LII
favor of another term for Walter Hag-
gerty. Other names mentioned in this
( connection are Lawrence iMusgraye,
and P. NJ. Hoge. On the Republican
! side Rollo ]. Conley is the fayorlte.
| Captain Conley has taken himself out
of, politics, for the time being at least,
! by his acceptance of the command of
7 the Fred Heintzelman post of the.
American Legion, but there will be al
least one more effort to get him to
make another try for the office he so.
nearly won four years ago. If he per-
sists In his decision not to take a nom
nation this year there is likely to be
friendly contest among several well.
known young Republican lawyers.
None Of them are candidates yet, but
with Conley out of the way they vii,
be willing to give the situation the
once over.
With Davis frankly out for sheriff
Frea Haney, he Of the rotund figure
and the fog horn voice, is making a
lively contest for the assesorshiptnom-
inat.en. Paw Paw" Bill Ice, Dem
ocratic- wheel horse from Paw Paw
district, is also mentioned for this
nomination and there is feeling on
the streets that Ice stands closer to
the affections OF the crowd in whose
interest Democratic politics in this
county is run than does Haney. It is
admitted however that there is a pos.
sibility all the cards are not yet on the
table in this contest. The only name
SO far heard Of for the asessorshin,
among the Republicans Is P. B. Swear
ingen, OF Union district.
For county commissioner the Demo-
Gratis are talking about Lee N. Swish
er. Swtsher is one of the standbys
and 1t is possible one OF the reasons
the-court house ring wants to nun him
is so that theSzoters in the hack dis
tricts will know which Is the Demo
cratic ticket. Another guess. some