Evening star., 1896-10-24

Review Of the Situation in the State
Of Virginia.
TIE OUTLOOK FOR CONGRESSMAN
Chances Of Republicans and Sound
Money Democrats.
BASED ON A FAIR COUNT
Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

point in the ten congressional districts in
Virginia there is every reason to believe
that the free silver democrats will carry
three districts, the republicans three and
that the sound money democrats will win
in two. The remaining two districts are
put down as doubtful. both the free silver
democrats and the republicans having a
fighting chance. These estimates are based
upon the probabilities of the republicans
a.. sound money democrats securing fair
count. The Star correspondent recently
had careful interview with the leaders
at tie state headquarters of each of the
three parties In Virginia. The result OF
theSo interviews when proper allowances
are made for certain conditions are en-
bodied in the following estimates in the
respective districts throughout the state:
In the first district the free silver demo-
cratic candidate, w. A. Jones, will be
elected by safe. though not an over
whelmingly majority. The district Is more
completely agricultural than any in the
state, Fredericksburg being the only town
Of considerable size in the district. Eight
or nine Of the counties have no railroad
facilities. The sentiment of the majority
of the white people in the district is for
free silver. There is a very strong sound
money sentiment in Accomac county on
the eastern shore, and in Fredericksburg.
as we'll as throughout large part of Caro-
line county. Inc republican nominee, w.
b. Tyler, will receive the vote of his party.
Jones will not have large majority
as the free silverites claim for him. There
is still large number of disaffected demo-
Gratis in the district who will support Ty-
Ter for currency views. The district has
been twice carried by the republicans.
Hot Fight In the Second.
In the second district there is very
hot fight on. and the result is hard to
predict at this time. There are three
strong candidates in the field. This is the
only district in the state that sent a gold
standard delegation to Chicago. There is
very strong sound money sentiment in
Norfolk and Portsmouth, ard in the coun-
ties in the district there are more sound
money voters than will he found in any
like number of counties in any district in
the state. All three parties are well or
ganized, though w. A Young. the free
silver democratic candidate. has the avow-
ed e1mity ard systematic opposition of
many preachers who claim that he Is In
league with the liquor element. DR.. r. A.
Wise, the republican candidate, and brother
| of Capt. John S. Wise of New York. has
some republican opposition on account of d
split in the republican ranks which
amounts almost to two separate factions.
The free silver democrats claim that they
will elect their man. Those best informed
on the matter recognize that the contest
will be a close one. The nomination of
William NJ. Whaley by the sound money
democrats makes the situation still more
complicated.
the district. He will poll a heavy vote
from the cities. The usual republican
majority in the district Is thought to be
| about 5000. The republicans find great
difficulty in securing fair count. For
| this reason and the fact that their di-
vision will materially affect them 1t Is
thought their chances are by no means
| easy. In this district last year Borland
ffQctp6 n
march In q procession with them, and
Tyler won by $500 majority. Whaley's
chances are strengthening daily. and 1t is
not at all sure that Wise will not be taken
down by the state committee.
Another Stin Contest.
The fight in the third district is going
to be one Of the stiffest In the state. Cap
| tain John Lamb, the free silver democratic
candidate, Is a confederate soldier. and
will get some strength for this reason
He defeated Congressman Tazewell Elicit
by a majority of only two. He is an orig
inal free silver man. The fight in the
nominating convention was SO close and
| that 1t is thought some Of the Elicit sup
porters will turn their backs upon Lamb
| on November 3. The district includes the
| city of Richmond, which is the stronghold
| in the state of the sound money democrats,
who will poll their heaviest vote In the
city. Ex-Judge L. L. Lewis, formerly
president Of the supreme court of appeals
is the republican candidate. Both sides
are already claiming the victory. The
most prominent and active men In Rich
| mond are. many of them. proclaiming their
purpose to vote for Mckinley, and the vote
Of Richmond city will determine the re-
willing to name any figures. The doubtful
factor in the contest Is the number Of dem
ocratic voters who have declined to sup
port Bryan, but will vote for the demo-
ora nominee for COnCresS CaDfain
Lamb will run ahead Of the presidential
vote. An impartial estimate would prob
ably put Lambs chances In the district
ahead Of Lewis. If the republicans stand
by Lewis en- masse and they get a fair
count Lewis may pull through.
In the Fourth.
Sidney P. Epes, register of the land Of
flee, Is the free silver democratic nomi-
nee in the fourth district, and Congress-
| man R. T. Thorp is making vigorous
| fight for reelection on the republican
ticket. The retirement of j. Thomas Goode
In the fourth district, the populist nomi-
nee, has thrown most of his strength for
Epes. The union Of the populists and
free silver democrats will be offset by the
large republican majority In the district
While the free silverites do not concede
Mr. Thorp's election they do acknowledge
| that he Is formidable competitor.
Doubtful in the Fifth.
The fight In the fifth district between
Claude A. Swanson, the free silver demo-
cratic nominee for reelection, and ]. r.
Brown. the republican candidate, will be
close. Mr.. Brown is the same who defeated
the democratic candidate in 1885, Since G..
W. B. Hale, the populist candidate, retired
from the field, and went on the stump for
the free silver democratic nominee, the free
silver democrats claim the district by sew
eral thousand votes. The district Is ordi-
narily equally divided. There IL great en-
thusiasm and perfect harmony among the
republicans The result Is altogether doubt
| full
Otey and RadfOrd.
In the sixth district the free silver DEM
| ocrats have one Of the recognized free
silver leaders al their candidate in Peter
| ]. Otey. He IL running for reelection
Since ]. Hampton Hoge, the republican
| candidate. has been taken down. Otey has
| q stronger show to win. The sixth district
| was the populist stronghold Of Virginia.
having polled In 1892 $500 populist votes.
The practical fusion Of the free silver DEM
| ocrats and populists, and the fact that J.
Haskins Hobson, chairman of the populist
state committee. and other Dopulist leaders
will stump the district for Otey viii Der-
haps. elect him by 2.0o0 majority. Lynch
burg. In this district. being the home of
John w. Daniel. the great free silver lead