The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-05-22
[AIE WASHINGTON
NEWS GOSSIP
West Virginia Contingent
Leaving Capital for the
Primaries.

WASHINGTON, D. C., May e
Sundays trains from the National
Capital will mark the peak Of the EXC
dus OF West Virginia residents to thelt
homes to vote at the primary election
on Tuesday. There will be an over
flow OF eleyelth.hour departures on
Monday, but It will not be large. Many
have already gone, planning TO arrive
In time to take part in the final cnap,
ter Of the campaign which is expected
to close generally throughout the state
Saturday night. In consequence o!
this hegira many church pews In
Washington will be vacant Of Noun
tain State politicians Sunday-they
are a devout lotto say nothing OF
golf links, fayorite roads for motor
lists, hotel Hobbies, and :0ld Fox Grill
fith's baseball park.
There is no interest to speak Of
centered on or about the mlld.man-
nered contest between Arthur D.
Koontz and Adam B. Littlepage, both
OF Charleston, who are candidates LOT
the Democratic nomination for gov.
erpor. According to the sentiment CT
the most expert politicians Koontz
wouldn't have chance In the world
10 defeat Littlepage il the party or
garization wasn't lined up for koontz:
il is lined up for him on the basis OF
q hope, that has recently become con-
fident expectation, that the heavy
conservative vote Of the Republican
party will be so evenly split between
Morgan and GroSscup. that Moatgom'
cry, the labor candidate and adver'
tised radical, will nose in between
them q winner. In that wished ior
event, the Democratic organization
hopes to be able to present the con-
sentative Of their party'S two candi.
dates, Woontz. This little dream will
20 up in smoke should Littlepage con-
found their dope by winning, for Lit
tlepage, they assert, is tarred with
the same stick Of radicalism with
which the pitch has been applied TO the
body political Of Montgomery.
The members Of the state colony
had their attention during the past
week attracted 10 the fact that the gu
bernaorial contest is not the only one
Of sensational interest going on In the
Republican camp. They are all spirit
ed, but two very pretty ones they o.
served had developed as the racers
romped round the turn into the home:
stretch. These two are for the nomi'
nation for Secretary OF State and Al
torpey General. A sensational turn
was given the former affair when Sen.
ator Davis Elkins took j hand ana
caused to be published throughout the
state the strongest kind Of an endorse
mept OF the candidacy Of N. H. CMikel
King, who now has strong hopes Of
defeating Houston G. Young this time.
The other contest referred to is be-,
tween Young John W. Cummlns, OF
Wheeling, and the veteran and more
experienced politician, Edward 7. Eng.
land, the present Attorney General OF
The state. FROM a modest and incon-
cDicuous beginning, an eRlisted man
in the air service during the war, mas
come into possession OF support SO
strong and widespread that It has
s2urred Mr.. England TO extend HIM
sell lest he be lett at the post. In the!
closing days OF the primary campaign 4;
three things have figured in this con-
test 10 give the Wheeling ex'soidiers !
candidacy . biz squirt. They are (!Jl
the American Leg:on's participation IN
behalf Of Cummins, (2) charges BY
supporters that England belongs to
the state House Gang" and ~
charges that England has sought to re
fleet upon Cummins' war services IN
his newspaper advertising, which
Cunmins' supporters resent, at the
same time defending their fayorites
record as one OF sacrifice and as good
as any mans who I'D not get the OPP
portunity to go to the front. The view
taken OF this contest in Washington
now Is that this is a close contest, with
chances about even. which is precise. /
" tie reverse Of the view Of 1t held
several weeks ago. Should young
Cummins put it all over" Attorney
General England It will be one Of the
BIG surprises Of the primary, no mat
ter what other surprises may ensue
and how big surprises they may be.
The other contests for state Offices
have not aroused any great interest
here. moi even that for Auditor which
has come to the front out in the state
in the final week. with Alva B. Moore
and John Bond bringing up their heayt |
est publicity artillery. There has been
much more interest in the outcome OF
the contest for the delegation between
Senator Sutherland and General Wood,