Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-28
THE POLITICAL POT.
Il Is Still Simmerins, But the Situation
Remains Unchanged.
THE GOLD MEN MAY NOMINATE.
Captain Wise Their Favorite, hut
He HASN'T Been Approached Yet
PopuIists Return-Mnjor Page says
Bryan VIII Surely be Elected.

Politics, and especially the congressional
race in this district, continues to be the
all-absorbng theme OF conversation on
the streets of this city, but there has been
practically no change in the situation FOR
the past three or four days. Both Colonel
Elicit and Captain Frayser. the only con-
gressional candidates actually in the Held
are hard at work, and both are making
an active canvass.
1t is said that the gold men are also
preparing TO put a candidate in the held
and that their candidate viii undoubtedly
be Captain George ID. Wise. This may be
true but IL so Captain Wise has thus far
been left in bissful ignorance of their in
tention. When seen by Dispatch man
yesterday Captain Wise said that he
knew. absolutely nothing about any such
arrangement save what he had seen in the
papers. He did not indicate. however
whether he would run on their ticket il
called upon.
OTHER PROBABLE CANDIDATES.
Mr.. Gus. Millhiser, who has been spoken
Of as a probable gold candidate, is in New
York where he is expected to remain FOR
some little time He has, 1t is said, not
given the matter any consideration at all,
though it was rumored on the street yes
terday that he would announce his candi-
dacy and had expressed his determination
to run.
Colonel John S. Harwood is spoken of I'm
connection with the race. and II he enters
ha on,
platform.
Colonel Harwood returned yesterday
from visit to the Northern Neck OF
Virginia He reports that the people up
there Republicans as well as Democrats,
are nearly unanimous for free silver.
Colonel Harwood predicts that Congress-
man Jones will be reelected by the larg-
est majority he has ever received.
There seems TO be no doubt that Judge
Gregory or Mr.. George Il. Haw will
certainly offer for the nomination. 1t Is
for their friends to decide which 1t shall
be.
In political circles here yesterday the
order Of the r. -ctoral Board for a new
registration OF voters was much dis
cussed. There was no little questioning
Of the policy of having this registration
at this time. when many Democratic
voters are known to be lukewarm, and
when the Republicans are known to be
extraordinarily hopeful and active.
Ii is admitted that the registration
books are not in a good condition, but
some think they might be made to do. at
least until next spring 1t is believed
by not a few that the result of new
registration would be that the whites
would have fewer and the blacks more
names on the new OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES than
they have at present. That the members
OF the Electoral Board acted for what
they thought best is not disputed, but
II Is a matter as to which mems opinions
may well differ.
THE POPULSTS RETURNING.
Major Mann Page, Mr.. j. Haskins Hob
son. and Captain Edmund II. Cooke pass
ed through Richmond yesterday en- route
home from the Populist convention at
ST. Louis. They were the centre OF a
group Of friends at Ford's, and talked
entertainingly of the convention, which,
in point of numbers and brains. they said,
eaualled either Of the other two which
preceded 1t.
"It was a Bryan convention from the
start" said Major Page. This was APP
parent to ALL and had the nominations
been made earlier Sewall would have been
all right. The delay and bad management
by the Sewall leaders defeated his selec-
ton. In this connection L will state how
my name came 10 be mentioned for the
vice-presidency. You remember, Maine
man did It. The Maine Populists were
not for Sewal. He is all right on sill
yer, but won't do for the rest OF our
nlatform. The Pine-Tree State men
knew Sewall well, and when the move
I n NV Qurnrigp.
heard a gentleman placing me In
nomination. / met him for the first
time after his speech and told him /
would not stand. At the same time
pointed out to the Virginia delegates the
| fact that there had been no collision be-
tween us whereby had been mentioned.
MADE THINGS LIVELY.
"Those Texas fellows did make things
lively. They were like lot OF steers.
| The rules of the convention allowed
| the chairman to rule like car, but
they did not avail him anything when
the Texas crowd made q demand.
he at first paid no attention 10 tneN
they forced him to listen eventually.
Why he did not dare take both eyes OH
| OF them at any stage OF the proceeu.nss.
"a observation-disclosures Republican from
MHHGacnuNGll0
he estimated that Bryan already surely
could count on 213 electoral votes, agains
| 1S3 for Mckinley. He qualified his esu
mate by saying that certainly two states
that ne had counted on for the Onioa1
were exceedingly doubtful for him.
met men from everywhere, and am salts
fed that Bryan will be elected. 1 un'
| derstand there Is a great deal OF silver
| sentiment in Pennsylvania, and Bryan
stands as good a chance in that State az
Mckinley.
THE THING TO DO.
"The thing for the two national com
mittees to do now" concluded Major
Page. SIS for them to get together anf
cali off both Sewall and Watson. and
nominate a man acceptable to both par
ties. Their victory would be easy Re
publicans are already beginning to read
the handwriting on the wall. From what
| can hear, they are Gisorganized every
where, and particularly in the West. The
great West will do handsomely by Bryan
West Of the Mississippi Mckinley stands
no show. / doubt IL he can carry Nee
York, as In the western part there is a
great deal of silver sentiment. The peo-
pie viii win victory over the capitalists
this time. OF that l am confident"