Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-31
The Last Week Of the Campaign in
Virginia.
POPULISFS PROFESS CONFIDENCE.
Democrats Count on a Majority Of
10000.
ISSUES OF THE CONTEST.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
RICHMOND, Va, Oct. 31.-The election
in Virginia is only seven days Off and the
contending parties are now making the
fnal squirt to win. From all outward fndi-
cations It is safe to say that neither the
democrats nor populists will have a walk
over. The fight has not been as one-sided
as in former years. and the outcome is, to
say the least, in doubt.
most unique feature of the campaign is
that 1t is being fought almost entirely upon
national issues. The democrats started out
to make the fight on the record of the party
in Virginia for the past two administra-
lions. but the populist speakers forced the
silver and tariff questions upon the demo-
cratic champions on the stump.
The democratic speakers however, unless
they are in joint debate with the populists,
stick to the record of the democratic party
in the state dwelling at length upon the
administration Of Gov. Mckinney, which is
notable for several important accomplish
ments. mainly the settling Of the state debt
and the passing Of a law by which the state
Is deriving, for the first time since the war,
handsome revenue from the oyster in
dustry.
II the populists do not win in this cam
will be greatly increased over that Of two
years ago. They have gained control of
some OF the political machinery Of the state
and will no doubt carry several counties
The populist cause is especially strong in
the fifth congressional district comprising
the counties of Pittsylvania, Franklin
Floyd, Patrick Henry and the city of DAN
vile. In all Of these counties tobacco is the
staple product. and the price OF the leaf Is
lower now than it has been for thirty years.
The growers of this weed are very much
disturbed at Netherlands alleged attitude
In respect to the taxing of manufactured
tobacco. They are afraid that Congress
VIII raise the tax upon 1t, and the populists
are making big political capital out Of this
issue. The farmers believe that IL the tax IS
increased on manufactured tobacco the
price Of leaf will decrease This theory,
however. Is In direct variance with the
records for the past twenty-five years.
men the tax was five times as much as II
Is now, the price Of leaf tobacco was at
least hve times higher than the present
rate The democratic champions are using
this for all 1t Is worth, but the leaders Of
the democratic party are very uneasy over
the result In this district
A significant feature Of the Roadway of
the popullsts is the absence of sanguine pre-
dictions on the part of the democratic man.
ayers and leaders. They do not claim over
twenty thousand majority for O'Ferran It
VIII be remembered that four years ago
Gov. Mckinney defeated Gen. Malone by
over forty thousand votes.
II Is conceded that the democrats will
retain the legislature. but the gubernatorial
ucket Is certainly in doubt. Edmund R.
Cooke, the populist nominee for governor
Is man against whom not q word Of re-
proach can be uttered and Is at least as
strong as his cause. He and the populist
managers have made hard fight and pro-
~
In Augusta county, the largest in the
state according to population and hitherto
a democratic stronghold, an interesting
n ngn5 is going on, It is not between the
the democrats and prohibitionists Mr..
Bodley. rich wagon manufacturer.
Is the prohibition candidate for the
state senate and says he is willing to spend
s2o0oo to win. The populist nominee has
Withdrawn in Bodleys favor and IT is said
he will be elected unless there is a radical
change In sentiment before election day.
November Z. He is northern man by
Of one of his followers in Angus
ia, "all that the democrats can say against
him is that he is one Of them darned Yam
kee soldiers
Sam Jones and Sam Small the noted
revivalists are still in Augusta in the in
terest of Bodley
The republicans, as an organization. are
taking absolutely no part whatever in the
had his way and no candidates whatever
have been brought forward by the republic
can machinery. The general report that
Malone has secretly instructed his fol-
lowers to support the populist nominees is
injuring the latter's cause to some extent
Both republicans and populists, however,
deny the report.
State Chairman Ellyson of the democratic
party is still working In his quiet and me-
thodical way in the interest of his party.
AS one OF the men under him said today. he
Is saving nothing. but saws wood ali the
same" He stoutly declines to give out any
positive figures as to how large the demo-
cratic majority will be. but of course SAYS
they will win.
A well-posted democrat said to The Star
correspondent today that the democrats
may be thankful If they win by ten thou
sand majority, and secure two-thirds of
the legislature" The majority Of the lead
ers, however, say 1t will be at least twice
that large and that the democrats will CAP
ture three-fouths of the members of the
house and senate. In the last legislatures
there were no populists and but three re-
publicans-two in the house and one in the
senate.