Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-04
Nicely Easy Winner
In Senatorial Race
In West Virginia
BY the Associated Pres.

CHARLESTON, w. Va, Aug.
Matthew M. Nicely, a leader
in West Virginia politics for
more than 40 of his 70 years,
was renominated by the Demo-
Gratis yesterday to a fifth term
in the United States Senate.
The veteran of nearly "a years
in Congress easily outdistanced
three opponents in a tame pri-
mary election. Senator Nicely
didn't make a campaign speech.
With 2,528 of 1925 precincts
reporting. Senator Nicely had
152,479 votes. Then came Sam
B. Chiffon of Charleston with
31,849; Homer H. May, st. Marys.
1906. and Roy A. Warder of War,
9,426.
Sweeney Wins G. o. p. Race.
Thomas B. Sweeney, former
Wheeling insurance executive,
stepped forward as the Repub-
lican who will meet Senator Nicely
in November. Mr.. Sweeney,
seeking his third nomination,
defeated Latelle M. LaFollette,
Charleston attorney and BUSH
I1essman, in the G. o. P. pri-
mary.
Returns from 2,537 precincts
gave Mr.. Sweeney 1881 and Mr..
LaFollette $4,000.
The incomplete returns bore
out predictions that 20-30 per
cent of the States 695,875 reg
istered Democrats and 448,689
Republicans would show up at
the polls. Except for a few scat
tered showers the weather was
no factor in the light vote.
Representative Will E. Neal,
only Republican of the Six-mem-
Der delegation to the House, was
renominated in the 18th dis
trict without a fight. So was
Democrat Harley o. Staggers in
the I'd district.
Others Win Handily.
The other Democrats-Repre-
sentatives Robert B. Mollohan
OF the LIST district, Cleveland M.
Bailey of the Sd, Mrs. Elizabeth
Kee of the 5th and Robert C..
Byrd OF the 9Th won handily.
Former Representative M. G.
Burnside of Huntington was
named by the Democrats to
challenge Mr.. Neal in November.
Besides Mr.. Neal the Repub-
licans nominated Arch A. Moore,
jr., of Moundsviile in the 1st
district and Fred o. Blue of
Princeton in the 5th without OPP
position.
In G. o. P. congressional con-
tests, Albert M. Morgan, son
OF a former Governor, led Mrs.
Davis Elkins, wife of a former
United States Senator, in the
End district; Joseph B. Light
burn held slim lead over Myron
r. Renick and two others in
the Sd, and Pat B. Withrow, jr.,
OF Charleston was comfortably
ahead of John M. Orth of Dun
bar.
Close to Scoring Upset.
Mr.. Lightburn, political new
conner from Jane Lew, was close
to scoring an upset over Mr..
Renick. Fayetteville lawyer and
former vice chairman of the
State Republican Committee.
Unoft1cial results from 429 of
the districts SOB precincts gave
Mrs Lightburn 1882 and Mr..
Renick $3.50. Frank T. Amos of
Elizabeth was running third with
4.424 and M. A. Holiday, ST..
OF Garten trailed with 1882.
In the I'd district race, unoffi-
cial returns from 1874 of the 1859
polling places gave Mr.. Morgan
1858 to 1866 for Mrs. Elkins. a
resident of Washington who
votes in Morgantown.
False Report of Violence.
There was one report of vio-
lence, but it proved false. Au-
thorities at WEIGH, in the south
ern section of the State, had
said a man was fatally wounded
in an election argument. State
police who investigated said the
death was not connected with
the election.
With Senator Neelys renomi-
nation generally taken for
granted beforehand, most inter-
est in the primary was centered
on reports that Democratic Gov.
William c. Marland sought the
defeat of eight State Senators
within his party. Gov. Marland.