The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-09-27
BREAKS AGAINST
Nelly IN STATE
ELEJIl0NIS0 FAR
fairnont Candidates Failure
70 Announce Position Still
Creating Comment.
BY cHARLEs BROOKS SMITH.

IIri1lI
BY cHAHLEs BROOKS SMITH.
WAHHINGro on, -. g., Sept. 27.-I
Republican party leaders from West
Virginia visiting the Capital those
days TO consult about campaign
matters are IDENTIFY not displeased
with the situation in the state as
Il Affects the contest between Sen.
ator Howard Sutherland and Mai.
N. Mansfield Nicely. They seem
rather 70 be enjoying what they de.
scribe as an embarrassing and puz.
ziing predicament in which the
Democratic candidate finds himself
by reason Of his choice OF an issue
on which 70 wage his campaign.
They refer, OF course, to Major
NeelysA strong espousal OF the
League Of Nations; OF everything
carrying the political trademark OF
Woodrow Wilson, and the Nicely
pledge 70 vote imemb ership Of Uncle
Sam into the League and to restore
Wilsonian policies of government
at Washington II elected. AS well
known, this espousal OF the man
from Marion was up to and includ.
ing the August primary. After
that event, with the nomination
tucked safely away by reason OF
the support Of a large majority OF
his party attending the primary who
we're undoubtedly as strongly VIII.
SON men as he claimed to them to
be, the gift Of a great silence fell
upon the nominee in regard to his
platform that Is still more or less
Of an inexplicable mystery.
Because of 81, "a correspondingiy
great talkatiyeness and cocksure.
ness has taken possession OF his
Republ Lean opponents. They are
making much Of Major Neely's ap.
parent Abandonment Of the issues
he no doubt thoughtfully selected
to put him into the United States
Senate They seem determined to
force him to q public avowal Of
what his position on these issues
are noW-either to affirm or to
deny them before the electorate
whose facors and support he is ask
ing. Should his be a reaffirmationi
OF his announced position prior to
August I; observers say that he
Will have the inspiration of former
Associate Justice Clark's recent
act IN resigning to take up the task
Of converting the American people
into supporters Of the League of
Nations. Should It be a denial, Ma.
jor Nelly may also avail himself
Of the example Of Samuel Inter
myer who, up to the first OF this
month, was a distinguished and
most Influential supporter and ad.
gocate Of the United States joining
the League, but who, shortly after
the date mentioned, issued state
ment tost the American people frank.
" confesing that he had become
convinced that his position was
wrong and that now and hence.
forth he would oppose this govern.
ment joining the League.
In the meantime, ths Republican
campaign managers In West Vir-
ginia are inviting the Democratic
senatorial candidate to say where
he stands, whether on his platform
Of issues made by his own selec-
tion or whether or not he has aban.
doned 1t. They do not charge
against him the latter, but they do
charge that his silence on the sub.
ject gives them ample grounds to
aIlege that he is trying to dodge
his platform and keep the issues 1t
contains buried as deep in the back.
ground Of this years campaign as
Silence as to 1t can keep it.
The position of >the Republican
campaigners is that such a course
rs they charge Major Nicely with
adhertng to might be unimportant
and e2cusaAle II he were candl.
date for some minor office, but
that the office he Is now the nom.
lnee for isn't by any means a minor
Office, but an exceedingly major
one. 1t is al position that settles
International questions such, for
instance, as this government be-
coming member Of the League Of
Nations. Major Nicely recognized
II as such in mis- platform, when
dealt almost entirely with the for
eign issue. The question Of join
ing the League Is still a live one,
and will continue to be so long as
there are men, like Major Nicely.
Governor Cox, ex.Justice Clark and
. European propaganda organiza.
ton working for It in this country.
Events haven't been breaking
favorable to the League and men
& like those named who espouse It.
Republican leaders say, and the
bad breaks Of the game" have Ger.
family gone counter to Candidate
Neely's selection OF issues on which
70 wage his battle to realize his
ambition for membership in the
United States Senate. Happenings
IN the Far East have served to
chill the American people toward
any alliance with or ENHANCEMENT
In Europe politics, and to thrill
them with thanksgiving that this
government Is in no wise fixed up
In the mess. These happenings
nave affected Candidate Neely.s sill.
nation and prospects quite consid.
seably, according to the West Wiz.
ginia Republican leaders, serving
70 make his platform a subject OF
greater paramountcy in this years
campaign than he could have ex.
pected or hoped for. 1t pasKs in a
very intense, white light, they say,
With all eyes upon It, and all in
West Virginia discussing It; that d,
simost all-Maior Nicely has had no
comment to make on It since he
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