Evening star., 1898-10-24
GEN. WALKER IN BIG FIGHT
Close Contest Going On in the Ninth Vir-
ginia District.
The Democratic Candidate, Judge
Rhea. is Making an Aggressive
and Telling Campaign.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

RICHMOND, Va, October %, 1898.
All the advices from the ninth district
show that as the election draws near the
fight between Gen. James A. Walker and
Judge VIM. F. Rhea for Congress gets
warmer. Gen. Walker recognizes that he
has a big fight on his hands and he is
making it with all the energy and skill with
which he is able.
Both democrats and republicans are max
ing determined fight and both sides are
confident, but from conservative and out
side view Of the situation it may be stated
that the fight is extremely close and in
positive doubt.
Gen. Walker is a willy opponent, and gen.
orally nolds a good card at the last. He
shows up well on the home stretch, and
more than once has won against seemingly
long Odds
The ninth district, which comprises all
that tier of agricultural and mineral coun-
ties southwest of New river, is ordinarily
considered a safe democratic bailiwick, but
the republicans nave twice elected Gen.
Walker when he opposed by such
strong democratic campaigners Judge
Sami. w. Williams and ex-Representative
II. S. K. Morrison and they have conf
dence in their ability to elect him again.
The last time, when the free silver senti-
ment was at high tide in that district and
Gen. Walker had changed his views on
monetary questions in Difference to the
tonal platform of his party, the democrats
We're sure they had him beaten. But they
did not count on his wonderful personal
popularity, and his old friends of the Stone
wall Brigade forgot their differences and
rallied TO his support and he again snatch
ed victory from defeat
Nalkerism is a term being used in de-
rision by his opponents, and they declare
they will at all cost rid the ninth district
of "Walkerism." That there is disafection
in the republican ranks nobody denies but
lCf- hE. N. ,0o,-, 10
ranks. too, and the republicans claim that
the opposition to Gen. Walker in his own
party is not enough to beat him.
Gen. Walker is handicapped by the fac
tional fight in the party for the state or
ganZation. He made bold fight in the
district convention at Marion, Smythe cour-
ty, against the machine" and elected
Walker men, as members Of the state re-
publican committee. 1t may be that this
victory will lose him the greater contest. in
which he is now making the fight of his
life.
If he is defeated the majority will not be
large.
Judge Rhea. his opponent. is one of the
most consummate political strategists that
ever took the stump in Virginia, and more
than once under his sharp irony Gen.
Walker has lost his temper and head while
in joint discussion
He is making great capital out of Gen.
Walkers change of political parties and
principles. Snd apparently has documen-
tary evidence N his pocket of every action
of the general since he has been in public
life.
There is strong opposition to both the re-
put lican and the democratic candidates in
sda their own parties That against Gen.
Walker IS rather covert, while that from
which Judge Rhea suffers is outspoken.
1r Washington county, the largest in the
district, there is a big democratic split, and
occasionally is seen man wearing a Rhea
button covered with crepe.
The democrats base their hopes of sue
cess on the calculation that they will carry
all the democratic counties outside of
Washington county by an increased ma jor-
ity and reduce Walkers vote in the repub-
lican counties.
If Gen. Walker is defeated Virginia is
likely to have a solid democratic deiega-
ton, for he apparently has a better chance
than any of his colleagues, but no one will
be surprised if the veteran Representative
turns up smiling for another term