Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-06

.enerred TO; the mention of,anti-foot-ball
oills always recalls his name.
IL was feared that Mr.. Barksdale would
oe = freak legislator but he ha1 devei-
80 INTO exactly the opposite. He has
,'oNoca,ed IN an able manner some OF the
ues' piiis which have been introduced In
% ne senate and the successful termina-
1on oi the night for many has been
largely due 20 his able support. His
chief work has been as chairman OF fhe
JOINT Committee on Expenditures at
STATE institutions, and In this capacity
ne has not only rendered valuable SER
vice but performed great deal OF hard
labor.
barksdale's chief fight is 10 come lie
VIII champion on the floor Of the Senate
the bin providing for the choice of cam
didates for the United States Senate by
party primaries, and he VIII enter tho
struggle determined to win, If hard work
Of an unlimited amount can accomplish
victory. The friends Of the bill realize
that fine work viii be done for IT under
his leadership. and IL he fails they will
be show to attribute II TO fault Of his.
Barksdale--"Baby" is nickname
given him by his intimates in Halifax
county, and frequently applied by his
llow-legslators-is young man. having
graduated from the Virginia Military In
stitute in 1886. He is a lawyer with
line practice. But he IS pre-eminently q
politician. He has been making stump
speeches In every campaign in Halifax
and surrounding counties for several
years and no pleasure is 80 great 10
him as to talk Democracy from the
hustings on court-days, or any day, or
night. for that matter.
He wants TO represent the Sixth Dis
ri ~ In Ia oil fiU nfrlIV
the fight for the nomination. and 1t is
safe TO say it will not end until the last
ballot is taken in the nominating con-
vention.
IN HANDS OF THEIR FRIENDS.
Hon John F. Rixey now represents
| the Eighth District in Congress, but It
| is not certain that he will succeed him
| self. though it is understood that he de-
sires 10 do so. For years the Fourteenth
Sena torial District has been represented
by Captain George A. Mushbach, and
| though he has not fully made up his
mind that he will try TO leave the Senate
| of Virginia, and go 10 the Congress Of
| the United States. he has many friends
| who think he would look well there Cap
| tain Mushbach's speeches would sound
| well anywhere. 1t Is not possible to
imagine his glowing eloquence on any
| SUBJECT llldl IL uttlutAlg IOl III lA0 AliN'
| but for clear-cut incisive English. he
has few superlors in Congress or else
where. His ability to answer an argu-
ment with an epgram. and 70 condense
| the result of long line of thought into
an offhand bit Of sarcasm, is remarka-
bic. No man is listened 10 with closer
| attention by his brother senators, and
none speaks more closely to the point
Captain Mushbach has done great
| deal of work on the stump, and will do
more, whether ne leads the Democracy
| Of the Eighth next fall or not.
Senator Morris, Of Albemarle, Is con-
| gressional timber. but he is not candi-
date. He and Congressman James Hay
are very close friends, and the Senator
| does not propose to oppose him for a re-
nomination. But should bolt strike
| him It is believed he would be perfectly
| resigned 10 his fate. A pleasant, forcible
| sneaker. conservative until an opinion is
| formed but an ultra-radical in following
| II out he is a strong legislator, ana the
Seventh would have not only a polished
1 gentleman to represent 1t in Congress
| were he chosen, but a man capable ana
| faithful
Mention Of mere congressional timber
| I'm the Senate would include majority
| of the members, for the Virginia Senate
1
| ing in point Of average ability the state
| delegation in Congress Congressman
| Wiekham, Congressman Munford Con-
| sressman Withers, Congressman SANDS
| CONGRESSMAN Turnbull Congressman
| Barnes-aIl these look well in more senses
| than one. It is not improbable that seVe-
| raj Of them will live to see it so written
| A senator remarked TO the Dlspatch re-
porter a few days ago that If one wlsheu
/ to learn the names Of congressional aspi-
| rants in the Senate, read the roll or mem
! hers This is probably not strictly true
hut il is true that probably majority
| of them have heard at least faint ouz-
/ zings Of the congressional bee-not the
| loud sonorous, booming of the specimens
| of the genus apis ever in the ears OIL
| others. but the softer murmur tnal Is d.
| sweet and as alluring as the song Oh the
| sirens. and in only too many cases a.
| dangerous. 1t is rather remarkable thal
| the new men. and this applies TO the
| House as well as the Senate, are more more
| ant to aspire TO seats in Congress thah
Tlen who are serving their second or thlIo thl
| terms or have been in the Assembly eve"
! Longer Is the explanation a mystery!