Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-06-02

One OF the warmest and closest po-
litical contests that has been held in
this city for years was the democratic
primary of yesterday to select delegates
to the convention, which meets in Alex
andria on August 18th next, to nomi-
nate q candidate for Congress. AS
heretofore stated, the candidates from
the other counties declined to enter
this contest, leaving the race open to
the two Alexandria candidates-Capt.
Geo. A. Mushbach and Mr.. Frank E.
Anderson. The election was held under
the old rules, with no Walton law re-.
strictions, and it was fight from start to
finish to secure votes and to capture
wavering voters. More people were seen
around the polls than at any election
for some years, and both men and We.
hicles were out all day taking voters to
the polls. AS stated yesterday, how
ever, though an active and warm can
vass was conducted, there was no dis
order, though the election was an ex-
citing one, both sides claiming victory
until the votes were counted. The re.
suit was victory for Mr.. Anderson,
who carried three of the wards by a
majority of upwards of $50, securing 16
Of the 20 delegates, while Capt. Mush.
bach carried one, the First ward, Sc
curing delegates, by majorities rang
ing only from 2 to 10.
After the result was known numbers
of Mr.. Anderson's friends called at his
residence on upper Prince street to con-
graduate him and there he held quite
a reception. Later he made speech
in front of Mr.. r. E. Knights news
store, where he thanked his friends for
their generous support and urged all
his hearers to become united again and
work together for the democratic party.
He made other short addresses to the
same purport in other parts of the city.
The result was a surprise to many
who contended from beginning to end
that Capt. Mushbach, with his many
shrewd political supporters-men who
had been winners in so many political
contests and who were taking such an
active interest in his election-could
not be defeated. On the other hand,
however, Mr.. Anderson's friends de-
clared that they would give Captain
Mushbach the fight of his life and then
beat him. Many of these were new
men in politics, but that their predic-
tons proved true will be seen by the
vote given below. Many reasons for
the result are given and many theories
| advanced, but the fact remains that
those who for some years past have
been considered the foremost politicians
in the city and the managers of the par
ty were defeated.
Capt. Mushbach takes his defeat
gracefully and being a democrat is
willing to bow to the will of the people.
Though still a young man he has been in
politics for many years and this is his
first defeat.
Mr.. Anderson is about 3S years old
and is a native of Alabama, but was
reared in Richmond where he was edu-
Gated In the public schools. In 1879
he was admitted to the bar and prac-
ticed law in Richmod for about five
years. In 1854 he entered the public
service, being appointed a clerk in the
Treasury Department, in Washington.
He rose rapidly and now is chief of the
law division in the Interior Depart
ment. He has resided in this city for
the past eight years, and that he has
made many friends while in Alexan-
dria is shown by yesterdays election.
The following is the vote by wards
| for delegates: