Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-14
LEE WILL NOT COME.
WILL DE IN WASHINGTON TODAY,
NOT IN RICHMOND.
INTEREST FELT IN CUBAN AFFAIRS.
Suggestion That General Johnston's
Interview May Indicate the Atti-
Political Gossip.


General Fitzhugh Lee will not come to
Richmond to-day TO confer with the
boiling Democrats about his becoming
their fusion candidate for Governor next
year. as it was reported q day or two
ago that he would do. On the contrary.
the Consul-General goes to Washington
to talk over the Cuban situation with Mr..
Cleveland.
friend of General Lees, who has talk
| ed with him within the last few days,
said last night that he was certain from
what the popular Ex-Governor said TO him
that Lee would not entertain proposition
to become the Boilers candidate for Gov
ernor in 1897. He is well pleased with
/ mis- present mission; there is no reason
to believe that he Till be displaced early
in the Mckinley administration. If he is
at all and General Lee has no disposition,
this gentleman thinks. to ally himself with
the Boilers in the movement which they
are reported to have in contemplation.
looking to fusion with the Republicans.
He was written % during the recent
campaign. and urged to come TO Virginia,
but he did not heed the pleadlngs.
INTEREST IN CUBAN AFFAIRS.
The great interest felt IN Cuban affairs
will be accentuated by the knowledge
Of the fact that the Consul-General has
an engagement with President Cleveland
! for another interview today touching
the situation on the island. General Lee
| has maintained discreet silence with re-
ference to his report to the administra-
ton with reference to the trouble la
| Cuba. but il is pretty well understood
| that he has made some important re-
concentrations, which, If adopted. may
lead 10 the settlement of the Cuban
troubles.
1t has been suggested that the recent
interview Of General Bradley T. john
son may throw some light on the mat
ter of General Lees recommendations.
The two gentlemen are close friends, and
! General Johnson recently spent some
weeks I'm Cuba. In his interview, which
was printed in the Dispatch. he said:
"The insurgents will eventually win,
possibly within eight months. nNwith-
| standing the enormous forces arrayed
against them. But there is another fea-
ture about the contest worthy OF note.
| IL the incumbent administration does not
| take some action looking TO recogni-
lion OF the independence Of Cuba. IL is
my opinion that President-elect Mckinley
| will take that step Immediately upon
his Inauguration as President"
ELECTION LAW WORKED SATISFAC-
TORILY.
Hon. J. C. Parker. member Of the House
Of Delegates. from southampton county,
and patron Of the Parker election BILL
under which the recent election in Nir-
/ t..fI Il In ~
at Murphy's. When asked by a Dis
patch man last night what he thought
of the operation Of the election law in
the late contest. he said that it had been
very satisfactory. II see no fault to find
with the bill" continued Mr.. Parker
"Our majority in the State should have
been larger but this was due to COM
/ bined influences y z Inst us. The act cuts
4 from the il.ite.tte black ana white
vote alike. / am sure that the elections
| in my county were absolutely honest
and feel that they were so elsewhere in
Virginia Some OF the judges Of cleo
tion may not have interpreted the letter
Of the law in regard to the preparation OF
! ballots. The act distinctly says that
one OF the judges may render
assistance in the preparation OF
| the ballot when the voter is
physically or educationaliy disqualified
! 10 prepare It himself This simply means
| that. L a man is blind or has not the
use of his hands. one Of the judges can
| fix this ballot, but not that he shall do
so If he is otherwise incapable Of pre-
pairing Il. In the latter case the voter
| can be assisted-that is, the Judge can
pOint out on the ticket the names Of the
| persons for whom the voter wishes 10
] cast his ballot. l know OF cases where
I the Judges actually marked such names
with a lead-pencil. and the voter. being
dubious about the honesty OF the judges,
| and unable 10 read. left other names on
the tickets and scratched those out"
DENIES LAMBS STATEMENT.
The interview with Chairman Lamb.
| published In a telegram from Norfolk I'm
| the Dispatch yesterday morning, I'm which
the genial Colonel goes out of his way
| TO throw mud at the Boltocrats who left
the Democratic fold to join his band. has
created some little talk in Republican
circles here.
Mr. Edgar Allan. when seen by Dis
patch man last night and asked If there
was any foundation for Colonel Lambs
denunciation Of the Boilers, said there
| was none There was no agreement
| made between them and the Republf-
| cans" continued Mr.. Allan. "They did
not promise TO support Wise II Hoge was
taken down in the Sixth, but they did
| support the Doctor, nevertheless, and the
small vote given Whaley was from dis
affected Republicans 1t is foolish for
Lamb TO prate about the Boilers having
betrayed their pledges"
AS TO CONTESTS.
Mr.. Allan was asked by the reporter ii
there was any probability OF a contest
being made in this district and his reply
ffsrs. l..
Richmond and Manchester and Henrico
afidavits had been secured from 200 men
who were unable TO get to the polls to cast
| their votes. but VINO would have voted
| for Lewis had they had the opportunity.
| In speaking of the contest in the Fourth
District. Mr. Allan said the main point
which would be urged in favor Of Thorp
| would be that the same election officers
In Petersburg, who were criticised by the
last Congress when IL seated Thorp, were
| allowed to remain in their offices during
| this election. Mr.. William II. Mann, OF
| Petersburg. said to a Dispatch man yes.
terday. however, that no unfair or dis
honest methods were used IN Petersburg
and that so confident was the Democra iic
| District Committee of this that they
would have been willing for a committee
of ministers TO count the ballots under an
electric light before the public.
4 PLACE FOR SCOTT.
Rumor has II that National-Committee-
man \ 3. Scott of West Virginia, will
! be McKinley's P0stmaster-General but
of course. this is merely speculation.
Mr.. John s. Bethel, OF Clay Ward. who
was instrumental In organizing the white
! Mckinley club in that ward is a can
| didate for Collector OF Customs. Candi-
dates for minor positions are now be-
| coming as thick as hops just before frost
and the Republican leaders are besieged
| with office-seekers. every Rep in Vr.
| ,,tnta seeu,ing 10 believe that the Ohioar