Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-20
VIRGINIA POLITICS.
1t VIII BE Lively Year In the Old Do
miDion.

/ Cc.1espon dence OF The Evening Star
RrcHMoSD, Va, Jan ls, 1923.
Virginia politicians are BY 10 means in Q
lethargic state ut present In fact, there IL q
decided air OF activity prevalent, which smacks
! Of a big battle ahead. This year will witness
one Of the most ex citing state contests Virginia
/ has ever known
| While there will be fight between the DEM
ocFa's aud popuIists FOR the governorship, the
biggest battle will be confined solely In the
democratic ranks. The chief bone of conten-
tion will be the United States senatorship, Q
successor to Senator Eppa Hunton. who was
appointed by Gov. Mckinney to fill the unex-
| pied term caused bv the death Of Senator
John 5. Barbour. This will unques.ionably be
\ one o! the titterest tights that has ever oc-
! CURED in the democratic party in the state.
| Tie principal candidates now before the peo-
pie are Thomas Martin Of Albemarle, e1-Gov.
Fitzhugh Lee, Maj. Holmes Conrad Of VIM
/ chester, sx-Judge Walter X. Staples Of Rich
mond and Representative John A. Buchanan
| OF the ninth district
! If John Randolph Tucker is given Q place In
/ NJ. Clove.and's cabinet that will, OF course.
take him out Of the race; IL not. he will be u
I most formidable candidate. The announce
men. of Col Charles 7. OFerrall that he will
enter the Cubornatorial race takes him out of
the senatorial contest. All Of the senatorial
candidates are yirginis's most favored sons
and the aght for the prize will undoubtedly be
one OF the closest In Virginia for years.
The candidacy of Mr.. Martin is the most re-
| m,rkable Of all. He has never held public
Office Of any consequence in his life. Ex-Gov.
Lee and Maj. Conrad should certainly poll a
good vote, as both have defined claims upon the
Virginia democracy. Mr.. Buchanans name
was only recently mentioned and his strength
has not as yet made itself manifest He ia,
however, very popular in the southwest and is
an able lawyer anda sagacious and wise legis-
lator.
THE NEXT GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Tie next general assembly will be the most
important that shall have convened for years in
this state. Besides the election Of a United
States Senator, the election of judges of the
supreme court and the eighteen circuit judges
are to be chosen and candidates are .'bobbing
up numerously." The present members OF the
supreme court bench were all chosen under the
Mahone-readjuster regime, and are in conse-
quence Of that faith and will have to step down
for democrats. Some of them have recently
Hoped back on the democratic side of the
fence. but they will have to 60 just the same,
the present state administration is not disposed
to give any quarter to Office holders who arc in
the slightest degree akin to tho readjuster
family.
Other important matters which are to come
before this legislature are: For q modified Aus
trallan ballo. system, measures for the restric-
tion of the liquor traffic to medicine only,
general law for the protection Of game and the
advisability of establishing railway COM
mission.
The populists are preparing to make a des-
rerate EFFORT to control this legislature by
means of a combination with the republicans.
Already it Is said negotiations are in progress
between the leaders of the two parties looking
to this end. Last week a prominent populist
had long conference with General Malone,
and while absolute secrecy is maintained as to
M NJ he ffasIn annh has
trarspired to warrant the assertion that the
fusion plan between the republicans and the
pcpulists has been virtually agreed upon. 1t is
said that the recent defeat suffered by the pop
ulists in this state has not in the least degree
cooled their ardor and that they will enter the
next campaign with renewed vigor.
GEN. FIELD NOT CAST powS.
Gen. James G. Field Of Abe-marle county,
who ran with Weaver on the populist pres-
Dental ticket, was in the city few DAYS since.
The general did not appear to be in the least
discouraged. the contrary to THE STAR
correspondent expressed himself as being en-
tirey satisfied at the result of the recent cleo
ton. saying the populists had succeeded in
getting twenty-four votes in the electoral col
lege, electing about twenty-five Congressman
and securing i've seats III the Senate. He said
he did not expect that Gen. Weaver and HIM
self could be elected Presiden. and Vice Presi-
dent and attributed the falling off Of the vote
tor the third party in Virginia from what was
expected two months prior to election day to
the lack of means to properly conduct the can
vass.
said he: "No political organization ever
made such rapid progress as the peoples party
since its formation. and look forward to great
things from IL in the future. l believe the re-
publican party is literally dead and its power
viii never again De felt in this country
In reply 20 questions Gen. Field said that he
W nf hp 1r,lrnifr hat h. focr hat H. H.
rison secured his nomination through the in
fuence of those connected with the aClministra-
ton hurt him worse than anything else.
When asked what woylld he the effect Of the
third party upon the Farmers Alliance he re-
piled that he had never been a member of the
alliance and knew nothing about 1t.
Continuing the general said he had seen arti-
cles IN the newspapers TO the effect that his
name was being urged for some Office under the
incoming democratic administration and de-
MED that he was an aspirant for any place or
even cared for it.
Gen Field, 1t is thought. will now retire from
public lfe and will spend the rest of his DAYS at
his home following the practice OF his pro-
fess;on-
PoPULIsr PLANS.
The populist leaders in this state are also
making preparations to contest with all their
strength the gubernatorial election next fall.
1t is pretty well settled that Maj. Morris S.
Page Of Fauquier. president Of the Farmers
Alliance state organization will be the populist
candidate. Maj. Page belongs to one OF the
best and largest families in the state and is very
popular. II the democrats do not put up their
strongest man or if there is any disafection
caused IN the ranks the selection of a
candidate Maj. Page will have q good fighting
chance OF success. provided. of course, the re-
publcans pretty generally support him.
On the other hand If the democrats are saga
cioUs IL their selection of a candidate the cleo
ton of democrat Is assured. At any rate the
contest viii not be as onesided as was the
last one.
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR
The most prominent candidates for the gov
ernorship among the democrats are Col Chas
t. O'Ferrall Lient Gov. j. Hoge Tyler OF Pu-
lsski. State Chairman Basil L. Gordon and
probably eX-Gov. Fitzhugh Lee and Representa-
tive Paul c. Edmunds OF Halifax. Col. O'Ferrall
is decidedly in the lead in the race unless FIT
Lee wants it. which is very doubtful. The
southwest is demanding a hearing this time
Col OFerrall Is exceedingly popular through
out that section IL Is conceded BY all that if
the ''fight.ng colonel" wants the nomination he
Will get il, and il he gets it he will win. He is
[ not one OF the beaten" kind, in the language
/ of an arcant admirer, and has yet to be intro
I duced to hollow-eyed defeat.
Next 20 Col. O'Ferrall comes Lieut.. Gov
/ Tyler. Maj Tyler is exceedingly popular with
| the farmers. and in loud tones thew are de-
| mandiug his nomination. He is one of the
I best stump speakers in the state is a capital