Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-05
The Hottest Battle Fought in Many
Years.
BOTH SIDES ARE READY FOR THE FRAY
Col. j. Hampton Hoge Confident
of Success.
REVIEW OF THE SITUATION
ecial CORRESPONDENCE of The Evening Star.


RICHMOND, Va, November 5.-The cleo
ton tomorrow promises to be one of the
hottest battles Of the ballots which Virginia
has seen for many years. The apathy
among the masses which was so apparent
during the early part of the campaign has
been to a great extent removed. This was
accomplished chiefly by the energetic efforts
OF the democratic leaders, aided greatly by
the unusual activity on the part of the re-
publcans. The rank and file of the repub-
lican voters have not been aroused to such
a state of enthusiasm since the Malone
REGIME. Their candidates for Congress have
large and attentive audiences whenever they
speak, and the republican nominees all over
the state are developing great strength
One of the most surprising features OF the
campaign is the splendid organization which
the republicans have effected in so short
time. The Star correspondent was informed
by well-known democratic leader few
days ago that in almost every congressional
district in the state the republicans were
thoroughly organized. They are using inns
organiZa ton to educate the negroes up TO
the new Motion ballot law. republican
leader in this city told The Star correspond
ent today that by election day mot one
negro voter in Virginia could be found VINO
would not know which name on the pallol
to leave unmarked"
Thus it will be seen that the chief hope
OF the democratic leaders, 10 lne eileCl lldt
the negroes could not vote intelllsently
under the new law, is to a great degree
removed. The democrats do not deny that
their hope of success in the negro counties
based on this very claim. Now that
the republicans have headed them of 1t Is
no wonder that the leaders OF the demo-
cratic party are manifesting great uneasi-
ness as to the outcome in several districts.
Where There IL Doubt.
The doubtful districts from a democratic
standpoint are second, fourth, sixth, ninth
and tenth. The fifth also is by no means
safe for the democrats but is not consid-
cred doubtful those above named.
In the sixth the democrats have almost
surrendered the fight The leaders concede
the fact that either of the opposition candi-
dates has better show than Peter j. Otey,
the democratic nominee. The man who has
the best show of winning, according to eSti-
mates of well-informed politicians, is Col.
J. Hampton Hoge, the republican nominee,
who is receiving the loyal and energetic sup
port of Gen. William Malone. Hoge will
certainly poll every republican vote in the
district while his opposition is terribly split
up. Mr.. o. c. Rucker the populst-prohi-
bition fusion candidate, is drawing nearly all
of his strength from the democratic ranks,
which, of course, weakens Otey, but does not
hurt Hoge. The latter's canvass has been a
most effective one, and his conduct since
mis- trans-continental tour en- route to Annoy,
China, but which terminated at San Fran
claring in his speeches that he split off
from John BarleycOrn when he bolted the
democracy" 1t is readily understood why
Manone is active in Hoge's behalf. The
willy general sees in Hoge an admirable &C
QUESTION 10 the republican party. He is a
splendid speaker, a shrewd politician and
can tell many unpleasant things about the
democrats, which he has been doing with a
vengeance all during the campaign.
Next to the sixth district the democratic
leaders are evincing more concern over the
second and fourth. The former. commonly
known as the Norfolk district, is doubtful,
from democratic standpoint, at best, but
the situation at present, is far worse than
usual Norfolk city, democracyS strong
hold in past campaigns, cannot be absolute
ly relied upon this year, owing to the demo-
cratic split caused by an overthrow of the
municipal government last spring. The
democratic leaders here claim that the dis
sensions hive all been healed, and the
democrats who voted the reform ticket last
spring will vote for Representative ID. Gar
diner Tyler now. This belief, however, is
not shared by the republican leaders in this
city, who claim that Borland will carry the
city as we'll as Princess Anne county.
In the Petersburg District.
The situation in the fourth district also
furnishes the democrats grave fears. This
district is concededly republican one, but
was wrested from that party when they
ceased to fight" When the democrats
elected their solid delegation two years ago
the election in the fourth proved to be so
close that Col. Goode, the populist candi-
date, contested Representative Epes' cleo
ton before the Fifty-third Congress. The
democratic nominee this year, Mr.. w. r.
McKenney of Petersburg, is a young man
unknown to fame, but has made good
fight, and WILL no doubt, poll as many votes
as ii is possible for any man of his political
faith to do. To say the least, he has GER
tainly an uphill fight, and to a casual OBJ
server has n poor show of success.
In the ninth Gen. James A. Walker of
confederate war fame, who is the standard
bearer of the republican party, has made a
winning fight, and, according to his party
leaders, nothing but 'stupendous frauds"
can beat him. II. s. *. Morrison, his dem
ocratic opponent, has been in the field early
and late, but has proven match for
Walker on the stump. Reports from that
district today show that the fight is q close
one, with the odds in favor of Walker
The republicans are claiming the tenth
whore Representative H. ste. Tucker is
opposed by eX-Congressman Yost. Both of
these men are worthy sons of distinguished
sires, and The contest, from an oratorical
standI oirt, has been most brilliant one
No