Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-26
VIRGINIA CHANCES
I'D
The Democrats to Have a Hard
Fight in Four Districts.
AN ACTIVE, CAMPAIGN OPENED
Senator Daniel Battling in the
Sixth District.
f r E E SILVER POPU LA r
FREE SILVER POPULAR
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

The democrats have completed their con-
gressional ticket in Virginia, the last NOM
ination having been made last week In the
fourth district where, as was predicted IN
this correspondence, Mr.. w. r. Mcken-
ney Of Petersburg was named to succeed
Representative James F. Epes OF Nottoway.
While the democrats have named all OF
their candidates, the other parties have by
no means completed their tickets, and a
fair estimate Of the situation In the doubt
full districts is still a matter of conjecture.
Enough is known, however, to justify the
assertion that the democrats have an up
hill fight in at least three of the districts.
and probably four. The selection Of Mr..
McKenney by the democrats in the fourth
district is considered as especially fortu-
nate for that party. Mr.. Mckinney, while
he has never held public position Of prom
inence, Is a splendid worker, and generally
wins his fights. He has large practice, rs
a man Of recognized abilities. and Is said
to be a good organizer, which Is perhaps
the most essential attribute in his qual1h-
cations. The deciination of Col. J. Thomas
Goode, the populist nominee In this DIS
trict. Is source of some surprise to the
democrats, as well as considerable dfsap-
pointment. If no one Is nominated In Col
Goodies stead, the democrats fear that the
opposition will center upon Mr.. Il. l.
Thorpe, the republican nominee. It Is re-
ported in some quarters, however, that Mr..
j. Haskins Hobson, the chairman OF the
populst party in Virginia, will be named
by the populists for Congress In the
fourth district. The reasons assigned by
after he had been ren0minated In the lght
of a vindication is not at all satisfactory
to some Of the populists. They claim that
he had a good fighting chance OF success,
which fact is conceded by the democrats.
They say further II he was elected before
and the democrats cheated him out or mis-
returns he had just as good show OF win,
ming this time when 1t could be assured
that he would have a fair count. In his
letter of declination Col. Goode says:
while l feel the most profound gratitude
to my party for the compliment paid me
In renominating me for Congress, after hav-
ing been denied my seat In the Third Con-
gress. / am compelled to decline the nomi-
nation In the first place, am too poor to
make the canvass. and, in the second place.
have fever in my family, which makes it
impossible for me to leave home at present.
The democrats claim that Col. Goode feels
hopeless OF the success of the third party.
and would, II possible, throw the votes of
his friends to the republican candidate. If
Mr. Hobson Is nominated 1t seems probable
that he win poll the full vote Of the populist
party, which will SO split the opposition to
the democratic candidate, Mr.. McKeuney,
as to almost insure the latter's election. II,
however, the populists tacitly indorse the
republican nominee 1t seems almost impos-
sible for Mr.: McKenney to win. The fourth
in Virginia for the democrats to control.
The fact Is, undeniable that the democrats
are in the minority, and 1t Is only through
the disaffection of the opposition that 1t
ever has been carried by the democrats
1t comprises q large black belt, and beside
nearly all OF the counties composing the
district represent a dissatisfied element.
The farmers are very poor and greatly in
debt. and wherever in Virginia the farmers
are not prospecting political disaffection and
dissatisfaction are found. In nearly every
case they attribute their adversely to fed
erai legislation, and in turn desire a change
In party representation. Chairman Ellyson
Of the democratic party is very hopeful Of
success in this district. He is, however a
gives up until after the victory Is either won
or lost. In his speech in Petersburg when
Mr.. Mckinney was nominated, Mayor Ely
son said that many who were against US
only requisite for democratic success was
hard work and good organization.
The Second District.
In the second district, where Representa-
tive Tyler has been renominated, the situa-
ton has materially changed during the past
week. The republicans are getting together
and will name candidate. who. they de-
clare, will win with a fair count. They say
that the second district, ordinarily, is a re-
publican district. and that with the disaf-
lection existing there in the democratic
VI.
disafrection referred to in this declaration
Is the reform movement in Norfolk city
which overthrow the democratic municipali-
ty last spring. The republicans Will meet
in Newport News tomorrow. 1t Is q fore
gone conclusion that Mr.. Thos. r. Boor-
land, who was President Harrisons United
States district attorney for the eastern dis
trict, will be the choice Of the republicans.
He seems to be almost unanimously the
favorite Of the republicans in that section.
This very fact is the cause of some alarm
to the democratic leaders. Heretofore there
has been a great deal Of wrangling over the
choice among the republicans. Now, II the
republicans can secure the aid of the pro-
hibition reform element in Norfolk city in
the coming election, Mr. Tylers chances Of
success will be very slim. The democrats
stronghold all along has been Norfolk city,
where they have been piling up an Immense
majority which overcame the losses in the
country, consequently, If they fail to Sc
cure this large majority in Norfolk city,
estimating the republican strength in the
counties to be that of the past elections, it
can be readily seen that the republican can
didate will win. There is some talk, how
ever of a prohibition candidate in this dis
trict, which will, Of course, secure the pro-
hibition reform votes, and thus again the
opposition to the democrats will be divided
insuring the latters success. The prohibit
ton chairman has not. as yet, called a con-
vention to name a candidate, and the indi-
cations are, at this time, that they will sup
port Mr.. Boorland.
Mr.. Meredith's Fight.
A very prominent state official, whose
home is in that district, said to The Star
correspondent today that the democrats had
stronger reasons fer claiming the district
this time than they had two years ago. He
said that he had rather be democratic can
didate in the second district than in the
eighth (Nfr. Merediths). which is saying a
great deal, for no one here entertalns the
alarming reports from Washington to the
effect that Mr., Meredith is in danger CT
defeat. These reports concerning the eighth
district seera toIbe based almost entirely up
on that Culpeper meeting, where Mr.. Nc
Caull, the republican nominee, received much
applause of bis speech. A well-known
democrat who ATTENDED this meeting told
the correspondent few days ago that a
great many icfthe men who were applaud
ing and laughing at Mr.. McCauli's sallies of
wit were some Of the best democrats in the
county, and would not entertain for a mo-
ment the thduQht of voting any other than