National Republican., 1886-08-30
TO COMBINE ON BARBOUR.
Thus Politicians of the Eighth virginit

Thus Politicians of the Eighth virginia
District VIII Prevent More Dead
locks.
The latest report in regard to the contest
for the congressional nomination in the
Alexandria district is that the four leading
candidates are to enter into q compact by
which 1t is stipulated that in case none of
them succeeds in getting two-thirds Of the
delegates at the primaries all will combine
on Hon. John l.. Barbour, and have him
nominated by acclamation. There is no
doubt that the friends Of Hume, Meredith,
and Foster will consent to this arrangement,
or any other by which harmony can be
restored and a nomination effected. 1t is
said that Lee, foo, has given an intimatlon
that he will nohobject, since he knows that
unless he succeeds at the primaries there is
no use in entering the convention. More.
over, Barbour Il Lees favorite--after him
self, Of course. If such compact is made,
Mr.. Barbour is pretty sure to be the nomi.
nee OF the convention. The bitterness felt
toward one another by the candidates who
have been fighting for the prize during the
past three or four weeks will prevent com
binations of any kind between them, and
they will likely came back to Alexandria
at the time designated by the state com
mittee without all material change in their
forces, except in tbe case OF Lee. The gen.
eral has been hotly denounced on all sides
for his persistent refusal last Wedues-
day Of all propositions looking toward
harmony. The people are weary of the
political excitement, and they know that
nomination could have been effected and
all strife ended had Lee shown the same
unselfsh devotion to party interests which
characterized the course OF the other candi
dates. They know, too, that 1t was by the
vote Of Lees supporters that the convention
was adjourned sine die and new primaries
rendered necessary. This seltlshness had
disgusted even those who had adhered to
him till the last on account OF their in
structlons from home. There is no doubt
that the generals seliishness will cause a
considerable diminution In his vote at the
next convention. Far from gaining the
requisite two thirds at the primaries 1t is
expected that he will not approximate the
slight majority he had last Wednesday.
The Fauquier men, who are the sharpest
political managers in the district and always
on the side of the winning man, propose to
transfer their affections to some one who
has chance of winning. In nearly every
convention during the past sixteen years
they have so directed their influence that
they always come out in the end as the
champions Of the successful one no matter
how they start in This year 1t looked at
hiob 10 IL pShs i-SC NOutu sbCuIb
the nomination, as the Fauquier politicians
were all for him. Now, since II has be.
come evident that he has no chance,
they intend to desert him, watch
the direction Of popular sentiment,
and eventually be on the side Of the candi-
date. The loss Of Fauquier, and the proba-
Bile detection of some Of the Culpeper and
Louisa delegates, while leaving Gen. Lee
still in the lead, will remove any doubt that
may exist about his inability to pull through
Of the other candidates Meredith Is likely
TO gain from Fauquler, Hume from Cul-
| peper, and Foster will still retain his
strength, So, II present conditions con-
tinue to exist, there will be no material
| change when ballotlng begins again.
The report OF the combination on Barbour
is therefore likely to prove true. He is the
only man who would please all the contest
ants. He is close personal friend of Lees,
| as both are old negbbors and members OF
the L. F. V. Meredith would never have
| entered the field at all II Barbour had not
retired, and II he cannot be nominated him
self, will gladly give his influence to the
| present member. Hume and Barbour have
always been on friendly terms. When the
latter was the candidate for Congress the
first time Hume did as much as any other
man In the district TO secure his election,
contributing freely to the campaign fund,
and otherwise working for the nominee.
The outlook at present is, then, quite favor
able TO the denomination OF Mr.. Barbour.