Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-07-28

TO-mOrrOw's Convention at Richmond
The Soldier Element Solid for Lee
Elements Of Weakness I'm His Candt-


dacy.
Special Dispatch TO THE EVENING STAR
RICHMoND, VA, July 2S.-The delegates 10
the democratic state convention are reaching
the city in scores, and are met with cordially
Richmond sees nothing in present Virginia re,
publicanlSm but Malone and the negroes, anu
II feels that il the republican ticket shali ne
beaten and Malone disposed OF there Will be
little trouble I'm getting along amcably with the
negroes hereafter Perhaps there is observable
among the delegates TO the convention to meet
tomorrow less pronounced taste Tor llnen-
busters and soft felt hats as street aprarei than
was noticed a fortnight ago. Virginia delnoc-
racy, having its chief strength and leverage in
the cities and the neighborhoods OF cities, there
Is noticeable in the gatherings Of delegates
larger sprinking OF 'style' in dress than at the
republican convention, where the farmers OF the
figures.
The cities are active. and in the main con-
current for Gen. Fitz Lees nomination for gov
ernor. The soldier element is enthusiastic for
Lee. There is possibly little danger ahead tor
Gen. Lee in the excessive ardor which counts
his victory as already won.
APRoBABLE TWO DAYS SESSION.
Lees friends to-day are anxious at prospects
of delay in the choice OF candidates, and are
afraid OF tactics which may postpone balloting
until the second day. Confident of sufficient
strength to nominate him on early ballot,
they are apprehensive of the effect OF argu-
ments of "eXpediency" upon the country dele
gates, which the Older politicians are urging
against Gen. Lee Mr. Barbours friends offer
no objections to these arguments, and Speaker
Stuarts friends are active i'm arguments against
Gen. Lee AS AN unavaiiabie candidate, while
they point out the remarkable strength of
Stuart candidate for attorney general.
Certainly Alexandria county and city cannot
have Lee for governor and Stuart for attorney
general. But 1t may have Stuart for attorney
general now and Barbour for United states
Senator next winter, IL il will look elsewhere
than at home for a candidate for govean3r
friends in such incidents as the presence OF
Parson Massey in the city claiming the nomi-
nation for governor as the author of the big
-Four" combination of three years ago, by which
the readjuster hold on the state was first
shaken. From the southwest. too, are friends
of Newberry, one OF the big Four senator's
and the author Of the appeal. This way, free
men, when he Withdrew from the rcadjuster
legislative caucus-words that have figured
largely in subsequent democratic canvaSses,
and are now the basis of Il plea for the rccognl-
tion OF Newberry. John L. Harris. one of the
most dextrous politicians i'm the state, comes
with fourteen of the eighteen delegates from
Rockingham county. and Lees friends know
they also know that he did not secure those
delegates without purpose. such demonstra-
tions of strength by experienced politicians are
not agreeable To Lees friends, who have eNpec-
ted to carry their candidate through the con-
venton with few distractions.
NO SIGNS OF AN ANTI-LEE CONVERSATION YET
And Yet all these attempts at securing the
materials for combinations against Lee may
tail. Unquestionabiy. to-day there are no
proofs visible of the basis of n combination
against Lee upon any other candidate. If such
a combination should Yet be made, Congress
man George c. Cabell, OF the Danvil1e district,
is probable beneficiary any of tine
merous candidates who have been mentioned.
THE PLATFORM,
1t is already given out that the platform of
the democratic convention will rival the repub-
1ican platform as a. .vote-catching contriyance
A plain course of anxiety to the democratic
leaders is their enforced acquieScence in all
that Malone and his followers have done as To
the debt question. They are also embarrassed
with the necessity of paying a reluctant tribute
to the achievements of the republicans in other
matters OF domestic concern, especially the pub
lie schools. Superadded to these difficulties
growing out of an enforced endorsement oi the
work of their enemies, democratic leaders
now here believe that what should, under the
active favor of the administration. he an easily
wen fight in Virginia. promises to be one OF SER
ious effort under different conditions. This
suggested element of weakness in the demo
cratic outlook has already been discounted in
the calculations of the republicans, who say
that the thing most needed 10 make Virginia "A
sale republican state was a democratic federal
administration. Republicans here look with
more interest To the tariff plank OF the demo-
cratic platform than to its treatment OF any
ath harf tom il,pIy tn mo pla