The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-08-23
Nicely J 4 PEl;;lE:D
TO DISCARD HIS
PRIMARY. STAND I. n |.
Major Now Showing Signs Of
Gold Feet on Wilson,
ism and League
sy CHARLES BROOKS SMITH

BY CHARLES BROOKS SMITH
WASHINGTON, ID. c. Aug. %.
1T has been long time since
West Virginia politicians evldenc'
ed as much curious interest IN
what course the speeches OF can,
didate for office would be steerea
as they are showing right now IN
the campaign speeches to be oe-
ltvered from one end OF the STATE
to the other by Candidate NJ NJ.
Neely, the Democratic NOMINEES
opposing Senator Howard Suthef-
land.
The keen and widespread inter
est in this matter is accounted Tor
by the circumstance of Major
Nicely basing his candidacy for the
nomination on the sole and para
mount appeal that he favored,
heart and soul. the League of Ma
tions, the restoration Of woodrow
Wilson's "policies,'' and would, If
elected bend his every energy 10
put the United States into the
League. and restore wisconsin"
in triumph in Washington.
While this appeal proved effective
with Democrats in sufficient num-
her to enable Nelly to capture MS
party's nomination. the interest.
ing question of the hour is. WIN
it prove as successful when maze
to the voters of all parties in the
state? There is no assurance tina.
the appeal will be made, II there
is anything in the gossip heard
here today in state political cir
cles, which is to the effect that
the ardent League and Wilson
champion of the primary is much
less feyerish along those lines now
that he stands at the threshold OF
the regular campaign
1t is the current rumor that
older heads and more experienced
veterans in his party have volun-
teered the advice to the former
congressman from the first district
that he not only cannot make in
roads on the big vote Of the dom
inant party in West Virginia by
waging his battle on his primary
campaign platform, but have told
him that he cannot get the solid
support of his own party by feat
uring it. They have that assert
League of Nations and Wilson
policies" which was held in
west Virginia two years ago next
November, and on the more re-
cent and less clearly-defined test
from which, while he emerged
with the nomination, his oppon-
emit, Izetta Jewell Brown. received
more than 10000 votes OF her
party. It was well understood that.
Mrs Brown, who had the support
of the Watson organization enter
tanned somewhat opposite views 10
those So wildly portrayed to the
public by Major Nicely on the
League and the ex-President.
1t was frequently discussed and
generally believed during the pri-
mary campaign that Neely's, cleo
ton Of the League and the Wilson
"policies" as his paramount issue.
UPON which he planned to make
his race both for the nomination
and election, was largely influence
ed by former Senator w. E. Chill
ton. and that the Nicely platform
con stituted the price paid for the
support of the Chiffon faction
which is in undisputed control OF
the Democratic party organization.
This reported arrangement has
never been denied although 1t was
published and reiterated in the
newspapers of the state during the
tendency of the primary campaign.
the altar of Wilson and the League
is too well known to need dwell
= May Back out
Discussion Of what course Nicely
is to take in his campaign speeches.
disc1oses that there is doubt,
and a very large one, in the mlnds
Of trained observers whether ne
will Ego through with it. There
are all sorts OF reports about It.
but they are very probably largely
speculative. They are to the erect
that Major Nelly is showing signs
of cold feet"-that he now plans
to put a silencer on the League. on
Wilson, on the latter's "poi1c1es
that he is to turn his back on his
primary platform pledges and in
stead of preaching to West Wiz
ginians to vote for him so that he
can vote the United States into
the League OF Nation and vote to
restore wisconsin and its poll
cies" to power. that they vote for
him on account of what he is 10
tell them on the subject OF The
Mistakes of Harding'-that is to
be the title of his lecture and MS
preachment, it is said now by poll
ticians who claim to have correct
Information .TS
II there is any truth in all OF
this rumor and report. and shouio
it come to pass that Candidate
Nicely actually does demolish or
discard his platform of the prt-
mary, then the eyes of the politi-
clans will turn toward Chiffon to
see what he will do, and hear
what he will say. For, they regard
it as a dead certainty that II
Nicely bitches the League. and VIII.
son. Chiffon will ditch Nelly.
What effect the victories OF REED
in Missouri and Vardaman In
Mississippi over Wilson and his
"policies" including his main one
the League-has had on the Fair
mont candidate is not definitely
known, but the speculative discus
sion of that phase develops that
there is very general belief that