Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-03
SOME HOT POLITICS.
WEST VIRGINIA FURNISHES ALI
THAT COULD DE DESIRED.
A DEMOCRATIC VICTORY PROBABLE.
The Democrats Will Certainly Gain
Two Congressman, and VIII Elect
m United states senator-Repub biz
cans Concede n Great Deal.

The unusually dull campaign in Virginia
this fall does not find counterpart in
that which is now In progress across the
line In either North Carolina or West
Virginia.
Very much has been written about the
exciting features Of the North Carolina
campaign, where white supremacy Is
threatened, but while little has been said
about II. It seems that the negroes in
West Virginia are taking a hand in the
campaign to fully as much purpose as in
North Carolina.
Mr.. W. p. Johnson, recently of the
| Charleston Gazette. was in the city a
short time on his way 10 Newport News,
whittier he goes to assume the position
OF CITY editor of the Press, and says the
campaign is one of the hardest fought
recently seen in the Mountain State,
where politics grow hotter than almost
anywhere else.
''The campaign is most exciting, and In
many respects peculiar" said MIR. john
son. Republicans and Democrats are
fully aroused, and are doing some of the
hardest political work you ever saw. or
course. II is difficult to predict the re-
suit where both sides are working so
hard.
SITUATION IN DETAIL.
"The Republicans now have the con-
gresham in each of the four districts or
the state. They claim now they Will
carry three districts, conceding the Third
TO the Democrats. / think the Demo-
Gratis will elect Judge Johnson in the
Third. pe is a fine man, and Is making
n fine canvass. but the man helping him
most is his opponent, William Seymour
Edwards. Of Charleston, who has been
making a great many speeches and wiz
ming votes for Judge Johnson wherever
he has gone.
'"The Democrats will carry the Fourth
District The candidate there Is ex-
Mayor George l. Neal, Of Huntington,
and he will be elected by big majority
He was the youngest Mayor in the State
when elected but he made one OF the
best. He is still quite young TO be
congressman, but is bright as dollar,
and is hustling in a manner that is some
thing OF a revelation even to West VIZ
einia politicians. If you knew as much
about them as do you would understand
what that means.
81 am not sure the Democrats will
carry the Second District" continued Mr..
Johnson. Hon. John T. McGraw is the
Democratic candidate there, and Is
making an aggressive fight against Aston
G. Dayton. who is serving his second
term I'm Congress, having first defeated
William l.. Wilson in 1894 There are
said TO be certain influences at work
against Mr.. McGTaw which. II II be true,
will probably defeat him. If the report
is not true, he will be elected.
in the First District the indications
are that the victory is anybody's, with
probably the chances slightly in favor Of
the Republican.
FIGHT FOR THE SENATORSHlPS.
TT is probable" resumed Mr. john
son. that the interest in the election OF
the members Of the Legislature is greater
than in the Federal election, as this
LEGISLATURE is to elect a United states
| Senator to succeed Senator Faulkner.
The Republican State chairman, Hon.
w. NJ. o. Dawson, Secretary OF State,
comedies the House of Delegates to the
Democrats by a majority OF SIX with
the eleven Republican holdover senators
he claims they will have majority
enough in that body to give the Republl-
cans "A majority of four on joint ballot.
Dawson claimed that much some DAYS
ago. He Is claiming less every day. You
can see that when he claims so little the
prospect of his getting but little is good
and it is also apparent that II he claims
very little he will get less.
1T is my opinion that the Democrats
will carry the Legislature. Former good
Republicans are working for Democratic
success. The negroes are doing great
hi. oil
Is no CANNON about their desertion Of
their party. They are sincere, and will
vote the Democratic ticket. l heard one
of their speakers say the other day that
the experience of the negro was like that
of the farmer who did half the work,
but whose partner got all the crop. This
has been the case for thirty years, and,
as he expressed it, de niggers am now
ewine 10 give EN- dose These negroes
who are going TO vote the Democratic
ticket do not profess to be converted.
and that they are henceforth going 10
vote against the Republican party; they
saw they simply want to teach their old
allies lesson. 1 think they will do so.
SENATORIAL CANDIDATES.
'I think Judge Gofi will be the candi-
date for the Senate II the Legislature
should Unexpectedly go Republican. Gov
ernor George Wesley Atkinson Is can
didate. and Mr.. Napoleon Bonaparte
Scott. United States Internal-Revenue
Collector. is one also. Each has had an
immense amount Of patronage at his dis
posaI. and each has used 1t TO the best
possible advantage. Governor Atkinson
has made his appointments of officers OF
the two volunteer regiments from west
Virginia do him all the good they could.
Judge Golf, however. is the brainest man
in his party in West Virginia, and the
most popular. think he would be the
candidate. Governor Atkinson, however.
Is a very strong candidate, and his spot
less private life has made him thousands
OF supporters.
THE Democrats would probably nomi-
nate ex-senator Henry G. Davis, though
General C. c. Watts, candidate for Gov
ernor I'm 1896, is an aspirant, and will
have very influential support. / think
Mr.. McGraw will not be a candidate I'M
til 1900.
Now, mark my prediction" concluded
Mr.. Johnson; 1.-THE Democrats will elect
certainly two, probably three, possibly
four. congressman. They will have a
small, majority In the Legislature on joint
ballot and the United States Senator
elected in West Virginia this winter will
be a Democrat.
Property Transfers.