The evening times., 1895-10-29

"
Gen. Mahone az leader of the Republican
party in Virginia Is attracting general at
tention, not only among politicians in this
city but throughout the country. 1t is a
matter of Importance to the State so far
as its future control is concerned, and may
have considerable influence on national
politics.
1t is not a scarcity, but a super:ibun-
dance of leaders that has complicated the
situation since the death of Gen. Malone.
These have been gradually sifth until but
three men appear To be prominently IN the
contest for the State cha irma nship These
are Gen. James ID. Brady, the weIl=known
lawyer of this city, who resides at Peters
burg. He is an cx-member of Congress,
cx-chairnan of the committee, aud an ex-
member of the national committee.
The general declares, however, that he
Is not q candidate and could not accept
the place.
Gen. Brady favors Col William Lamb,
of Norfolk. Col. Lamb is Well and favor
ably known far outside the political con-
fines of Virginia.
COL. LAMBS RECORD.
In the canvass Of 1882 for members OF
Congress Col. Lamb first came out for the
Republican party, meeting Gov. .o'Ferrau
i'll discussion when the tariff was made
public issue in Virginia for the first time.
His first speech in this campaign was
made at Surrey Court Mouse, and 1t was
the subject of much personal abuse; Since
then Col. Lamb has given his party large
portion of his time in every canvass, trav-
cling through the State stumping at his
own expense and invariably declining
all offers of cmolument.
During the last tariff fight in Congress
Col. Lamb spent several weeks in Wash
ington In the effort to obtain some meas
ure of protection for bituminous coal,
which the Democrats had placed on the free
list. II Is the general belief in Virginia
that at the coming meeting of the state
committee the newly-eected chairman OF
the committee should be selected as the
national committeeman.
The friends of Col. Lamb are of the opin-
ion that If the two offices are rendered tn
him without a contest he will accept them
and enter at once upon the task of rcnrgan-
iZing the party in Virginia. 1 is not prob
able that he will accept either office singly.
The third name mentioned is that of
Gen. James A. Walker, elected To Con-
gress at the last election from the Ninth
district. He is a man of long service in
handicapped by the fact that he is IN adj
yanced advocate of free silver.
For this reason there is disposition in
many influential quarters to question the
wisdom of selecting Mr.. Walker, in spite
of his conspicuous prominence in the party.
His attitude is not popular in Republican
ranks and not calculated tn be of benefit
to the party in Virginia should il be COM
PEELED to call upon its friends outside the
State for assistance in future campaigns.
The Virginia State Republican commit
tee will meet next month aud choose a
successor to Gen. Mahunc. The fight be-
tween Gen. Walker and Col. Lamb has be-
come exciting. and may injure the party
before it Is ended.
ASSUMED THE LEADERSHIP.
A letter has been sent by the managers
of Gen. Walkers campaign to each OF the
fifty members of the committee, setting
forth the wonderful capacity for leader
ship possessed by the general and also call
ing attention TO the services he has rem
dered the party.
Col. Lamb had already assumed the re-
sponsibility of leadership, and fastened
to New York, where he took part in the
conference between Mr.. Plat, Senator
Quay, Chauncey /. Filley, Senator Car
ter, Gen. ClarksOn, and other Republicans.
OF course, Col Lambs participation in a
conference Of such influential Republicans
is certain to have its effect upon the Repub-
licans In Virginia and will probably ad-
vance his chances for the craftsmanship OF
the State committee. But In the meantime
Col John S. Mosby has suggested Gen.
Walker as a good man for the Republicans
to nominate for the second place upon their
national ticket, and this boom will he used
10 offset the prominence which Col Lamb
has attained as one OF the national leaders
of the party.
The bearing the organization of the COM
mittee will have upon the chances of the
different Republican candidates for the
Presidential nomination gives to the coming
meeting a degree of national Importance
The sentiment of the Virginia Republicans
is said to be divided between Harrison and
Reed, but SO far 1t is not known which Of
these gentlemen the aspirants for the COM
mittee craftsmanship favor.