Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-05
POLITICS IN VIRGINIA
Interest Now Centers in the Coming Lynch
burg Convention. ....r
Strong Feeling Against Republican
Contest for U. s. Senator.
Correspondence of The Evening. Star.

Correspondence OF Tbe Evening. Star.
RICHMOND. Va, October 4, 1897.
The interest of Virginia politicians gen
orally is just at present erected to the
coming republican state convention in
Lynchburg on October 5. The question be-
| ing discussed is whether nomination for
| governor will be made. If the convention
decides to nominate the choice will likely
be either WarSen s. Lurty of Harrison
burg or Patrick McCaull of Culpeper.
The impression seems to prevail that Nc
Ca.ull will be the nominee. He is popular
and has many warm personal friends
among those who will take prominent part
in the proceedings.
1t is, indeed, hard to predict at this time
what the convention will do, but it is GER
tain that there will not be any cut-and-
dried routine in the manner OF procedure,
and that the whole affair will be more or
less spicy, and some lively resolutions will
doubtless be presented and adopted. so
far there seems to be no real leader of the
movement, and 1t is true that even those
who were chiefly instrumental in making
up the call for the gathering at this stage
of the game know practically nothing of
how the business will be. transacted or
what will be DONE The whole thing seems
to be in a chaotic state. Despite the eff
forts of the machine in the republican
party in Virginia, it seems to be assured
that this convention will be large and
strong ole. 1t is a wel-known fact that
the Observation-Disclosures faction of the
party have done everything in their power
to cry down the efforts of the people In
! the republican party to have convention
They got rid of Colonel Lamb as state
chairman. after considerable manipulation.
Colonel Lamb Gid not act as machine
man, and did not keep in touch with the
office-seeking fraternity. By shreWdness
and political maneuvering the opposing rae
ton, which is small in numbers but pow
fr,l IT, aol tnar 0nf
all the patronage in the state, and the
Lamb followers have been left in the cold.
Protest Against Machines Action.
Republicans all over the state rose up
with mighty protest against the action
of the machine, and demanded conven-
ten. They were discouraged in every pos
s:ble way, but their strength was too much
for the opposition, and they will express
themselves in emphatic terms it is
thought. 1t is expected that Col. Lamb
will be Endorsed, and that the conduct of
the opposing faction will be condemned In
pain words. Rumors have been spread
around to the effect that an effort will be
made to heal the rupture in the party, and
to have the two factions get together on a
mutual basis.
Gen. James A. Walker was prominently
spoken of early in the year as Tyler's op-
ponent. Gen. Walker then doomed up as a
strong probable candidate. He was then a
supporter of Col. Lamb, but when the ma
chine opposed the latter gentleman and de-
posed him as chairman, Gen. Walker went
over with the machine. This fact, it is be-
lieyed will exclude him from the list of
those who will be considered for candi-
dates. The numerical strength of the anti
Observation-Disclosures faction will be unit
ed against any machine man.
TyIer's Campaign n Farce.
An unusual situation in state politics is
the present Tyler campaign. 1t is being
spoken of as a roaring farce" So far the
democratic candidate has had plain sail
ing. His opposition, in case of 81 nominal
tion, will be weak, owing to the split in the
republican party. Tyler will get a large
number of populiSt votes. His original po-
sition on the currency question will be a
strong drawing card for the populist ranks.
During his stump speeches in the state this
fab he has appealed to the populst idea
by the pessmistic view of the commercial
and industrial outlook until some of the
| more conservative democrats in the state
are already looking upon him as "calami-
ty bowler" Mr. Tylers one-sided speeches
are not being very widely listened to. His
lack of opposition has knocked a great deal
of the interest out of the campaign, and it
has been really difficult for him to stir up
any great amount of enthusiasm in the
canvass.
While he is speaking from place to place,
the recent discussion between Governor
O'FerraI and Senator John w. Daniel is
being widely commented upon. The i'm
preston among conservative and intelli-
gent people seems to DE that the governor
acquitted himself with a high degree of
credit He brought to light many things
which had long since been forgotten, but
which will not in any way help the po-
ltical strength of Maj. Daniel. Governor
O'Ferrall is willing to prolong the discus
SIGN, but MAJ. Daniel appears to have been
glad to drop it even while under fire.
Fight for United States Senatorxhip.
The most interesting fight that will de-
velop in Virginia for long time will be
between Senator Thomas S. Martin and
Consul General Fitzhugh Lee. The latter
mas already practically announced that he
will be a candidate for Mr.. Martins seat in
the Senate. General Lee is looming I'D with
fine record as consul general at Havana.
He is exceedingly popular throughout the
state, and is regarded not only as O whole
souled, genial man, but a statesman as
we'll. He is an able debater and a strong
and influential man for any public office
he may try to get. He is believed to be a
sound money man, though he has never
given ont his views on the currency aues-
ton. He did not vote in the last cam
paign, in which he took no part. and the
public has little idea Of his financial views.
1t is believed, however. that Mr. Cleve-
land would not have appointed him as con-
sui general to Cuba, and~that Mr.. McKin-
ley would not have retained him in this
official position, had he not been sound
money man. General Lee will make a very
strong fight for the senatorship. The
memory of the last contest between Lee
and Martin has not yet been obliterated
and it is still believed by many people in the
state that the position should have been
given to General Lee. and would have been
| had not the machine politicians interfered
with public opinion.
| Senator Martin is not very popular in
| the state owing to his wavering views on
| the currency question. He was at first
| a sound money and railroad man. Suisse
| quently he Topped over to free silver
1t is not altogether unlikely that Con.
gresham William A. Jones will also get
| in the fight and that there will be an ex-
ceedingly interesting triangular contest