Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-05
FIGHT FOR SENATOR.
This Contest 0vershadOws All Others
Before ihe General Assembly.
THE CANDIDATES CONFIDENT.
Friends of Lee and Martin Both Claim
Enough Votes to Nominate-interest
in other Struggles.

The lobby of the Exchange Hotel was
astlr last night. Candidates for the posi-
tions within the gift OF the Legislature
the friends of the candidates. senator's
and delegates were mixed up In con-
stantly-shifting mass. through which at
times Il was difficult for one to make
his way.
As each train emptied its quota into the
crowd such Of the arrivals as were men,
bers OF the General Assembly were but
tonholed by either candidate or friend
OF candidate. and were fortunate II
they reached their room within an hour.
The enterprlsing harper who furnishes
music nightly for the loungers in the
lobby dropped in as usual, but only played
one tune. He soon discovered that unless
he could harp on the senatorial contest
he was out OF tune and out Of time.
THE SENATORSHIP FIGHT.
Although there was considerable excite
ment over the House and Senate positions
and Capitol offices for which there will
be contests, the United States senatorship
was the main topic of discussion.
The three most prominent candidates in
this fight are Senator Hunton. ex-Gover-
nor Fitzhugh Lee, and Mr.. Thomas S.
Martin. and all have headquarters at the
Exchange. Senator Huntons rooms are
Nos. 1l2 and 113 on the second floor of
the Exchange building; those of ex-Gov-
ernor Lee, Nos. 90 and 100 on the same
floor, and those OF Mr.. Martin, Nos. l3O.
132 and l2S on the parlor floor.
Senator Hunton is represented by his
son, MIR. Eppa Hunton, Jr. Mr.. John
Ryan, Mr. Pitcher, Mr.. Carter Scott, and
others. The Lee headquarters are in
charge Of Mr. c. V. Meredith, Mr. Miles
Martin, and Hon. Rufus A. Ayers. and
among the eX-Governor's other prominent
workers are l.. II. Shields and II. l..
Smith, of Norfolk. Leading representa-
tives OF Mr. Martin are Hon. John y.
Moore, of Albemarle; Senator James Hay.
of Madison; Senator II. D. Flood. OF
Appomattox, and Mr. Alfred F. Thorn, Of
Norfolk.
ALL SEEM CONFIDENT.
The representatives of the three candi-
dates are confident.
If some of their confidence could have
been spared to the public during the last
Few months there would have been no
financial depression.
The suggestion that the nomination for
the long term be made before that for the
uneXpired term did not seem to meet
with much favor, but it is apparent that
efforts will be made TO play more COM
binations than there are in safe-deposit
Tault time-lOck. There was talk of all
sorts of trading, but here and there would
crop out a disposition to discountenance
swapping so far as the judgeships OF the
Supreme Court of Appeals are concerned.
GOVERNOR MKINNEY'S POSITION.
Governor Mckinney was at the hotel
last night paying his respects to the MEM
bers Of the General Assembly. Referring
yesterday morning to his candidacy for
the long-term senatorship (he is no sense
a candidate for the uneXpired term) the
Governor said lie had no organization.
and had made no canvass, and did not
propose TO make one. lie did not think
that II was proper for him while holding
the office OF Governor TO have an organi-
zatiOn or make an effort 10 secure the
position. The record of his adminstra-
tion was before the General Assembly
fnti &c they should elect him upon IL he
would feel highly complimented. He had
taken no steps in the matter except 10
answer the letters OF friends who had
written 10 him on the subject. In conver-
sation with many members last night ii
developed that in case of a deadlock Gov
ernor Mckinney would show a very strong
| backing. So far Hon. Holmes Conrad
Hon. John Goode, and Colonel II. G. Mar
shall do not appear 10 have organizations
| bit all are spoken Of as likely TO develop
strength in the event Of a deadlock.
| SECRETARY OF THE COMMON
WEALTH.
The fight between Judge Flournoy. the
| incumbent, and ex-senator Joseph T.
| I.awless. OF Portsmouth, for the office OF
Secretary of the Commonwealth, IS going
| TO be warm The Lawess contingent
| from Norfolk and Portsmouth-we beg
pardon. the Norfolk and Portsmouth
| Iawless contingent; no. that's not 1.-THE
contingent from Norfolk and Portsmouth
I'm favor Of Lawless arrived about T.
/ NJ, and came into the lobby with a rush
| They were i'm high feather, and Senator
| Maynard. who Is Mr.. Lawless's principal
| representative, spoke confidently Of the
prospects OF his man. The friends OF
| Judge Flournoy are equally confident
| indeed. they express no fear Of the result
| His headquarters are No. 40, on the par
| lor floor of the Exchange, and those OF
| Mr.. Lawless are No. lOi. on the second
floor.
SECOND AUDITOR.
| Mr.. Sidney Epes, of Nottoway, who Is
| running for the position of Second Audi
tor against Mr. Josiah Ryland, Jr, tht
| incumbent. is making an earnest tight
and Captain x. T.. Frayser was conduct
| ing his canvass in the lobby last night
| Mr.. Rylands friends are basing his can
| yass upon the record of his long service
| i'm the Second Auditors office. They
| claim that 1t is now one OF the most I'M
| portant Offices i'm the Commonwealth
| that to conduct 1t efficiently requires eX
| perience and a thorough knowledge o.
the debt question, and that the contes
must be looked at from the standpoint
! of the business interests OF the Common
| wealth.
THE OTHER CONTESTS.
Senator Southau, of Amelia. is opposinl
| Hon. John f.. Massey for the office o
| Superintendent Of Public Instruction, an'
his friends are very active and express
themselves perfectly satisfied with th'
situation. Mr. Massey was not about tn
! hotel, but his supporters say he Is In NJ
| danger.
Mr.. Mlcou said yesterday that he wa
| not a candidate for Superintendent o
Public Printing, thus leaving the incum
bent. Captain O'Bannon, without opposi
| ton.
For Superintendent of the Penitentiar!
| there are six candidates-W. Il. Lynn. tn
incumbent; S. w. Marshall. OF Shenan
| doah: j. G. Mitchell. OF Henrico; 5. 5
| wilkins, of Accomac: r. n. Woolling, o
| Lynchburg, and ex-senator Scott. of Hall
| fax.
To-NIGHTS CAUCUSES.
The members of both branches of tn
| General Assembly will hold caucuses Il
their respective chambers tonight for tn
purpose OF nominating officers. The can
didates for the Senate offices are: Clerk
DIR. ]. ID. Pendleton. the incumbent, an
Joseph Button, OF Appomattox; Sergeant
at-Arms-Z. 7. Weaver, the incumbent
r. Il. Hail, OF Buckingham; Major VII
son, OF Roanoke: N. Il. Smith. OF Clarke
and j. NJ. Price, OF Rockingham.
Doorkeeper-L J. Gunter. the incum
bent: A. y. Monteiro, OF Goochland, an
j. w. Daniel, OF Henry.
The Senate caucus will also nominal
four pages. Senator Hurt has no opposi
ton for the presidency pro TEN. OF tn
Senate.
Hon. r. II. Cardwell has no opponen