Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-11
Virginia Democrats Have to Fight
Hard in Some Districts.
FARMERS WHO WANT A CHANGE MADE
Many Voters Who Are Dissatisfied
and Restless.
THROUG H THE DISTRICTS



interesting circumstances. 1t has been
many years since there has been so many
nominations. In some districts there will
be four candidates in the field, while in
many triangular fights are in progress. The
democrats have less reason for feeling
jubilaDt at this stage of the canvass than
they have had for a number of years. Some
of the shrewdest, but at the same time
conservative, politicians say that it is
matter of absolute impossibiity for Vir-
ginia to have a solid democratic delegation
in Congress again for some time to come.
The voters Of Virginia, especially those of
the rural districts. are dissatisfied and rest
less, and their bearings indicate political
revolution. They are dissatisfied with Pres
:dent Cleveland, to whom they attribute the
cause of the hard times. The farmers of
Virginia are in peculiarly Strengthened cir
cunstances; their products have never been
lower and they have never been deeper in
debt AL this is of course, attributed to
legislation, and the federal authorities get
the greater portion Of the blame. The farm
ers have arrived at the conclusion that a
change must be made in party representa-
ton, and they seem to care not who is
elected, SO he be not democrat.
There are three congressional districts in
virginia where the democrats have espe-
cially grave fears as to the result this fall.
These are the fourth, fifth and sixth: the
second, also, may be added to the doubtful
list, but as no nominations have as yet
been made there 1t is difficult to arrive at
the status Of affairs. In the fourth district
the only nomination so far made Is that of
Mr.. X. T. Thorpe of Mecklenburg county,
who is the nominee Of the republican party.
This district was represented in the last
Congress by Representative James F. Epes,
who declined a denomination long before
Congress adjourned. The indications are
that Mr.. w. X. Mckinney of Petersburg
will be the choice Of the democrats. Popu-
vol hnx nf r,sa6 I.afr-
date, but Ii Is said that they will again
select Col. Thos. F. Goode, who was Mr..
Epes opponent two years ago. If Col.
Goode is nominated he will divide the OPP
position to the democratic party with Mr..
Thorpe.
In the fifth district the condition of af-
fairS is very dangerous to democratic sue
cess. Representative Paul c. Edmunds hav-
Ing declined a denomination Mai. Peter j.
Otey of Lyncbburg was nominated by the
democratic convention. Besides the strong
opposition in this district there seems to be
great diSamectiOn within the ranks of the
democratic party; especially is this the case
In Halifax and Bedford counties, where
John Goode seemed to have been the choice
OF the democrats for the nomination. The
GoOde men in Halifax county claim that a
majority Of the democrats Of that county
were for Goode and that they were cheated
In favor of Otey. Maj. Otey's opponents in
this district are Mr.. o. c. Rucker of Bed
ford, the prohibitionist- populist fusion can
didate. and Col j. Hampton Hoge of Roam
oke, the nominee Of the republican party
The man that the democrats seem to fear
Is Mr.. Rucker, who has developed unex-
pected strength. The popuiists in this dis
trtct are very numerous, and a fusion on
this candidate having been effected with
the prohibitionists, Rucker is confident of
election.
Col. Hoge is making a hard fight. While
Maj. Otey does not claim to be much of a
speaker, he is a good organizer and indie
1atisabie worker whenever he undertakes
a fight. The Star correspondent learned
from inside sources that the democrats
have great fear as to the chances for DEM
ocratic success in this district
Representative Claude A. Swanson, in
the nth district. Is being vigorously OPP
posed by ex-Judge G. w. Cornett of Grayson
county. Mr.. Swanson has a large farming
and they are clamoring for
recognition in Congress. They claim that
elected, and that they are suffering from
the effects of maladministration. Mr.
swanson Is, however, with them on the sill
yer question. and is Familiarity known
among the free silverites as More Money
Swanson" The democrats could not have
named man who could poll more votes in
the fifth district than Mr.. Swanson. Judge
Cornett. who is the republican nominee,
and Is making a determined tight. He meets
Mr.. Swanson in joint discussion whenever
he has an opportunity. and goes for the
with gloves Off.
A.
Jones. the democratic candidate. is opposed
by ex-State Senator j. j. Mcdonald of
Westmoreland, who has recently resided in
city. Mr.. Jones Is very much
hampered In his canvass this year by a Sc
rious throat affection, which makes 1t i'm
possible for him to speak any length of
time. and he is seriously thinking of giving
up the speaking part of his canvass and
been to Washington several times recently
to consult a physician in reference to his
throat, who advises him to refrain as
much as possible from speaking.
A Hard Fight for Nomination.
In the second district hard fight is
going on for the democratic nomination.
D Gardiner Tyler is op-
posed by Col. J. Fenton Day of Isle of
Wight county. Col Day is the father Of the
bride Of United States Senator
elect Thos s. Martin, and II Is conceded
that Mr. Martin is lending his powerful aid
to Col. Day. Mr. Tyler, however, Is max
Ing hard fight for the denomination. The
democratic nominating convention will be
held at Virginia Beach next Wednesday,
the 18TH after which the canvass in this
district will be opened in earnest. Neither
the populst or the republicans have made
any nominations In this district, but 1t Is
said that both will have candidates In the
field
In the third or Richmond city district Col.
Tazewell Elicit, the democratic nominee,
Is opposed by ex-Judge j. NJ. Gregory of
the populist candidate. and
ex-Congressman Edmund Waddill Of Hen
rico county, the republican nominee. There
seems to be at prs sent little doubt about
the election of Col. Elicit. irasmuch as the
opposition is split by two candidates. Judge
Gregory, il Is said will certainly carry
and probably Goochland, but
his vote in Richmond city will undoubtedly
be very small, nearly all of the opposition
force going to ex-Judge Waddill, who will
be supported largely by the negroes.
Representative Meredith's District.
In the eighth district a triangular fight is
also in progress. Representative E. E.
Meredith is opposed by ]. Stephen Mason of
Fauquier on the part of the populists. and
by p. H. Mccall on the part of the repub-
licans. The eighth district is largely demo-
cratic, and the leaders of the democratic
party are giving themselves no uneasiness
about it.
A very different state of affairs exists in
the ninth district, where there are only two
candidates in the field. and either Of them
nave fighting chances OF success. The DEM
ocratic nominee is Judge H. 8. X. Morrison
of Scott county. who was recently nominal
ed. Judge Morrison is strongly opposed ty
Gen. James A. Walker of Wythe the repub-
lican nominee. 1t is said that Judge Morri-
son will poll the full democratic strength of
the district, Notwithstanding the fact that
there was considerable trouble In the nom
ina ton, there having been two conventions.
ha GrSf -