Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-04
Lack Of Confidence Among Virginia
Politicians.
BOTH SIDES MAKE BIG CLAIMS,
OBJECTIONS Reported in Democratic
Ranks.
HOPES OF THE POPULISTS.
special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
RlCHMOND, Va, Nov. 4.-The clos
ing days Of the Virginia campaign
are attended by marked activity. At
the headquarters of the democrats and
populists in this city this morning an air
OF excitement and uneasness was plainly
visible. Even the imperturbsble democratic
chairman, Mr.. Ellison, moved nervously to
and fro, and opened the numerous tele-
grams, bearing tidings of battle through
out the state with an unsteady hand. His
usual placid and serene countenance sud-
denly became corrugated to disapproba-
ton when The Star man asked him for
an opinion to the outcome of the cleo
ton next Tuesday.
He again stoutly declined to give any
figures to how large or how little the
democratic majority would, in his opinion,
be, but of course thought the democrats
would win.
Inquiry among the other democratic
managers in the city this morning showed
the concensus Of opinion to be that the
majority would reach at least 15,OOo, per-
hapS 10000. Some of them were OF tne
opinion that O'Farrall and the state ticket
would have close shave. But all thought
the legislature quite safe.
well known democrat who was con-
spicuous in his opposition to O'Ferran, be-
fore the nominating convention, put VINO
day that OFerrall would run far behlr
his ticket. He said Major r. c. Kent, the
candidate for lieutenant governor, Will re,
ceive hundreds Of votes which of'errali
cannot get.
Tn,s belief was shared by quite a number
Of well-informed democrats, some OF whom
had supported O'Ferrall before the nomina-
ton News comes from the valley to the
effect that the feeling there is so bitter
against the democratic nominee for gov
ernor that his name will be scratched to
ar alarming extent
tha ct 20 NJ O q
governor, on the other hand, is stronger
than his ticket and, 1t is believed. Will run
ahead of the other nominees. A number OF
democrats, ii is said. will vote for Cooke On
personal grounds.
Capt w. H. R. Alexander of Winchester.
who made such bitter fight against Col
O'Ferrall before the state con van-ion, has
written another scathing eNcoriation, which
he will publish in the next issue of the pop
ulist organ. In the article, which is In re-
ply to an alleged interview in a southwest
ern weekly paper, Mr.. Alexander applies
to the colonel some of the harshest epithets
that can be found In the English language
One of OFerralrs friends said today that
the colonel could not afford TO ignore this
attack when it appeared.
Mr. c. n. Pierson, the populist state
chairman, says that the prospects for a
pepulist victory next Tuesday are exceed
ingly bright.
In order to understand the situation"
said he, 1T is only necessary to remember
that the people of Virginia are almost
unanimously in favor of free coinage, and
they regard the unconditional repeal Of the
purchasing clause of the Sherman act by
democratic Congress as unconditional
surrender to Wall street. Then, Col.
O'FnerraH has failed to arouse and enthu-
siasm. On the other hand, the populists
have been pushins a vigorous campaign,
aided by the populist members of Congress,
and the country districts are almost solid
for the new party.
The democrats will fall short Of polling
their full vote by one-third, and their only
hope to make good this loss is by making
inroads on the colored vote"
Mr.. Pierson figures out populst major
ity from 1900 to 1900
Judge w. ]. Kerr Of Colorado has been
on the stump for the populists since Sep
TENDER !, and at headquarters today he
gave Ii as his honest conviction that The
populists would carry the state by from
$1,000 to 5000 majority, and that they
would elect at least seventy-five members
OF the legislature, which would give them
control Of that body on joint ballot.