Evening star., 1924-10-23
DAVIS NATIVE-SON
APPEAL WEAKENED
IN WEST VIRGINIA

IN WEST VIRGINIA
Continued from First Page.)
except in 1912. when Wilson received
the electoral vote with $4,000 votes
to $4,000 for Taft and 10000 for
Roosevelt. Even in 1915 Hughes car
ried the State by $4,000 over Wilson,
and Harding four years ago defeated
Cox by $4,000. The Socialist party
candidates have polled around 5000
votes in the past, and these votes will
all be cast for La Toilette. The
reds" In West Virginia frankly ad-
nit their ruddy hue and declare their
support for Bob" La Toilette. Two
years ago Senator Nicely, Democrat.
was elected over his Republican op-
ponent, Sutherland. by approximately
1S 900 votes. There was a revolt
against conditions then prevailing,
and Neely made his appeal particular
ly to the labor element in the State.
1t Is said here that at the time, and
prior thereto. there was friction be-
tween the Neely Democrats and the
Chiffon and John w. Davis Democrats,
and that Neely is more likely to be
follower of La Toilette in the Senate
than of John w. Davis should the
latter be elected President The
Democrats deny there is any present
friction in their party.
Polls and straw votes usually are
held to be meaningless-by the party
against which they register. Most of
the criticism of polls this year has
bearing on the West Virginia situa-
ton, taken by various newspapers,
show Coolidge with a substantial lead
over Davis, and La Toilette running
third. One poll in particular-taken
throughout the State by the Wheeling
News, shows the following results, to
date: Coolidge, 2,056; Davis, 1876, and
La Toilette. 259. The same poll shows
Col. Guy D. Goff Republican nominee
for the Senate. leading former Sena-
tor Chiffon. Democrat, ALL to 1.671.
and in the race for governor, the
Republican nominee. Assistant Secre-
tary of Agriculture Howard W. Gore,
leads Judge Fisher, 2,1S0 to 1885.
Farmers Not JIasl Hit.
While some Of the farmers, of West
Virginia may bolt the old parties and
vote for La Toilette, they probably will
be the exception. The farmers of West
Virginia have never been as hard hit
by the agricultural depression as were
the farmers farther west. This year
they are in fair shape. The Republi-
ticularly strong with the farming pop
ulation. His Job as Assistant Secretary
Of Agriculture is a help to him. He is
likely to run ahead, even of Coolidge.
on the Republican ticket, and there
seems little doubt about his victory
at the polls. His opponent, Judge
Fisher, is disiked by some of the
labor people because of the injunctions
he has handed down against their or
ganizations.
The senatorial race this year Is of
particular interest. Should the Demo-
Gratis win the seat which is now held
by Senator E kins. IL will mean further
danger to Republican control of the
upper house. Elkins was not a candi-
date to succeed himself. Col. Goff,
who, like John W. Davis, halls from
Clarksburg, is a son of the late Sena-
tor Goff, who was power in West
Virginia for many years. Goff is criti-
ciZed because for many years he has
lived out of the State. Both Chiffon
and Goff are conducting active cam
paigns. Chiffon will get some of the
labor votes in preference to Goff, and
some of the La Toilette supporters,
giving rise to charges that Chiffon was
engaged In deal with the La Toilette
leaders by which he would gain at the
expense of John w. Davis. This has
been fatty denied by Senator Chiffon.
Fractional strife among the Democrats
may injure Chilton's chances for cleo
tion, however.
Economy Promised.
In the State campaign the Demo-
Gratis are promising eosfIomies in gov
ernment expenditures. They charge
that the expenses Of die State govern
ment have increased from s4,50O,OO0
four years ago, when a Democratic
J,
s11.o00.oOO under Republican rule
Much of the money is expended for
appointive boards, commissions and
bureaus. The Democrats attack also
the gross sales tax now levied in the
State, promising to repeal it if placed
in power.
Democrats are making a strong bid
to increase their representation in
Congress. The present alignment is
two Republicans and four Democrats
In the first district, which includes
Wheeling, and is regarded usually as
strongly Republican, George w. Old
ham is campaigning strenuously, both
for John W. Davis and for himself
Khan Leaders Silent.
The ku Klux Klan has not officially
indorsed any of the candidates. But
the Democrats believe that the Klan
will throw It's influence to the Re-
publicans. They are using this ar
gument in an effort to line up the
negro voters, Of whom there are sew
eral thousand In this district In
fact, both the Democratic and the Re-
publican campaign managers have
thrown negro speakers of prominence
into the State, the one in the hope of
gaining votes and the other in the
hope of retaining what they have had
In the past.
The Democrats claim the State for
Davis by about 10000. The Repub-
licans go them one better and say
Coolidge will win by 10000 at least
Neutral observers put the State in the
Republican column by about $4,000.
Gen. Charles G. Dawes, the Repub-
lican nominee for Vice President, who
is popular in the State, was the prin-
cipal speaker at big Republican
rally held here last night. Thousands
of Republicans of Wheeling and
nearby places turned out to welcome
Gen. Dawes, and big parade pre-
ceded the speechmaking.
Although the. raw silk and silk
fabrics arriving at the port of San