Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-26
Leaders Uneasy Because of the Lack
of Enthusiasm.
HARD TO GET THE VOTERS OUT
Congressional Candidates Endan-
gered by Prevailing Apathy.
NOTES OF THE CAMP AIGN
Correspondence of The Evening Star.

causing undisguised anxiety on the part of
the leaders Of that party here. 1t seems a
matter of impossibility to arouse the masses
up to the pitch of enthusiasm so notice
able In past campaigns. This cannot be
attributed to a lack of activity on the part
of the leaders, for the hastings have been
crowded ever since the opening of the cam
paign. There never was time in Virginia
when the democratic leaders have shown as
much activity as during this canvass.
Nearly every public man in Virginia has
taken the stump, and every court green on
county court days is filled with speakers of
the various parties IN Virginia. Notwith-
standing all this. the masses. especially in
the rural districts. do not seem to take any
interest whatever In the contest. The
speakers say they have the greatest diff
Guilty In getting them out to attend the
meetings. Unless farmers, they say, live
very near the court house OF the place Of
speaking, they VIII make no effort to at
tend. ana they seem to discuss the situation
very little among themselves. There Is a
striking contrast to this within the towns
IN the state. Inc merchants and manufac-
tprers have been aroused to the highest
pitch OF enthusiasm, and they are working
hard for their respective parties. The sit
uation as II stood week ago has not ma
teriaily changed. The republicans. except
In one district, are composing the opposi-
ulists, especially the leaders, are very apa-
thetic and, in fact, do not even boast,
which heretofore was their most prominent
weakness.
Mr.. J. Haskins Hobson, chairman of the
state populist committee, when seen by The
Star correspondent today said: I'VE are
claiming nothing this year Heretofore we
have been making some predictions, but in
ing no boasting." Mr.. Hobson has been
selected by the committee as the candidate
OF the party in the fourth district, and
when asked II he was making any can
vass replied: mo; i am not. My duties
here as chairman OF the state committee Of
my party and the management of the Vtr-
gfnia Sun keep me pretty closely confined
When asked II he thought he would be
elected he replied that he was not claiming
anything, and would say nothing more.
The time in which candidates for office
to be voted for at the November elections
should be named, under the new Walton
election law, has expired. All of the can
didates complied with the law, and a re-
course to the records shows that there are
democrats, republicans and populists run
ming IN every congressional district, and
prohibitionists In every district exceot the
ninth. Among the last of the populist
aspirants TO send in his name was
MIR. Hobson in the fourth. A great
many Of the democrats in Virginia
boast that a solid democratic delegation
will be sent to Congress again this fall, and
profess to believe that the new Walton
election law will materially aid them in Sc
curing the return OF the democratic cam
didates. The state chairman, Mr.. j. Taylor
Ellyson, says the elections Will be con-
Quoted honestly under IT.
Fitz Lee on the Stump.
The feature of the contest during the
past week was the appearance, for the irst
time during the campaign, upon the stump,
OF ex-Gov. Fitzhugh Lee, who, 1t will be
remembered, was defeated for the United
States Senate by Thomas S. Martin last
fall. Gen. Lee in his speech came out in
favor OF free trade. to the surprise of many
of his friends, but the feature of the gen.
erals speech, and which was looked for
with a great deal Of expectancy, Was q
reference, indirectly, to his defeat for the
Senate This was Gen. Lees first public
utterance on the subject, and what he
said was, of course, OF great interest to
the public at large. He said that the peo-
pie mad awakened to the fact that there
were persons in the Senate not placed there
by the power of the people. He was there
fore In favor of the election of Senators
by the people direct, and the House of Rep
resentatiye3 had confirmed this by a vote
of $50 to 40, and 1t was now before the SEN
ate for its action. Speaking further Oh
this subject he said
Our forefathers. wise In their day and
general ton, with great skill, constructed the
legislative department of our government.
1t was intended that there should be a
House which should represent, in proper
ton to population, the fresh, popular will,
and a Senate which should stand for the
preservation of the equality of the states.
Little did these great statesmen dream
that the majority of a dominant party in
the legislature, which practically, under
the caucus system, selects a United States
Senator, would be controlled, the years
rolled on, by any other motive than a pur-
pose to carry out the views of those whose
votes made them legislators. The govern
mental trainers supposed that United
nv
would be creation of the people them
selves, speaking through their state legIs-
lative representatives.
ut is charged that the Senate, as now
constituted, is a standing menace to the
liberties and morals of the people; that the
selection of Senators in many instances
disseminates corruption in their midst,w which
Will finally deprive them of their rights
and make them the slaves Of rich men,
corporations. monopoies and trusts
Gen. Lee received a great ovation upon
the delivery of his speech. and the crowd
which he drew, and the enthusiasm with
which his remarks were received, con-
firmed the belief that he has not lost his
hold upon the common people in Virginia,
who love Fitz Lee as they do no other man
in public life.
A new star has entered the political con-
test in Virginia. 1t Is Sam Small, the cele-
brated temperance fanatic, who Is editing
a new prohibitionist paper at Norfolk, Va
The Pilot. MIR. Small Is going for the DEM
speech he eulogized F'itzhugh Lee. greatly
to the surprise of his hearers. 1t seems
that Small has caught on in desire to
make political capital by praising Lee, who
Is loved by all parties. The reports say that
Mr.. Small in his speech aroused the crowd
to nigh pitch of enthusiasm by an elo-
quent tribute to F'itz Lee, who now was
standing forth in his confederate gray
pleading with the people for the continued
supremacy of his party. The gray was
torn In front by bullets, but the only mark
on it's back was caused by stab inflicted
In the house of his friends, when his serv-
ices to his state were forgotten, and his
name. venerated from the Potomac to the
Rio Grende, was discarded at the command
of the railroads"
Democratic Leaders Not Satisfied.
The democratic leaders in Virginia do not
hesitate to admit that they are not salts
fed with the congressional outlook in Vir-
ginia. A well-known democrat said to The
Star correspondent today that he would not
be surprised II the democrats should lose
several districts. He was not altogether
satisfied with the conditions existing in at
least five districts. No one" he said "can
foretell what the result of the existing
epathy may be. 1t may be far more ex-
pensive than any one dreams of, or 1t may
not amount to much" At any rate, this
particular democrat is very decidedly of
the opinion that the democrats are by no
means out Of the wilderness yet. This