Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-06
A FEW CANDIDATES.
~or OVER FORTY SENATOR'S
WOULD BE CoNGREssMEN.
SOEg OF The OUTSPOEEN ASPIRANTS
.nmerous Gentlemen Have signihed
rhetr Intention Of Fighting TO
serve Their Country In Congress
Net Protected Against Lightning.


resentaiivcs. and it is clear that II is so
r,eardcd by many members Of the pres
,rt General Assembly.
There IS a large amount OF congress
s,nal timber OF excellent quality in the
$50 houses OF this Legislature-men who
would serve the state well In the coun-
III halls OF the nation. There are mem
hers OF the present House and Senate
,fc equal many OF the best among the
Members OF Congress, no matter from
vsat standpoint viewed. The listener 70
debate in the House of Representa-
,.,es would not, as rule, be more great
~ Interested or edited than the man who
rseas 20 some Of the Virginia Delegates
eri senators discuss measures proposed
f'r enactment
rr addition TO the remark that there is
confessional timber in the present Legis-
hurs. q may be said with equal
t-uth that the fact is fully realized by
The members themselves. Congressional
candidates are plentiful in each branch.
indeed. 1t is believed that every district
an the State could find. without difficulty.
several men among the Delegates and
senator's who would be willing to spend
@. least two years in Washington as
members Of the Federal Congress.
The number Of candidates in the Senate
s. smaller than would be expected. There
are several who could receive the nomi-
nation. but DO not want it. Hon. w. B.
N.uwaine is one. He has twice had il
within his grasp, but would not reach
forth his hand 10 take H. The same is
true OF Senator r.. T. Boykin. Of Isle of
WIGHT. and probably others. Each of the
gentlemen named has fine law practice
and feels that he cannot, in justice 70
himself and family. give IL UP for a seat
!r Congress. They love to be in the SEN
ate for three months in every other year,
meeting with Virginians from all over
the state old friends made dear by long
association, business and political. Later
on-they are each young yet-they may,
lut that IS another story, or will proba-
Dig be one some day.
WILL TRY IT AGAIN.
Hon. II. d. Flood. of Appomattox, is
ole Of the most prominent candidates in
the Tenth District. He ran against Hon.
Jacob YOst IN 1896. and though he led
the Bryan ticket in the district. he was
defeated by a majority of 46 He is
naturally desiTous Of leading the Demo-
cratic forces again this year, and his
friends all over the district are already
beginning the canvass.
3ir. Flood is one OF the strongest men
g. the Senate, thought not by any means
among its Oldest. being yet in his early
ihirties. He is chairman of the Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections, and
ts such. Is the recognized leader as re-
CARDS matters of party policy He does
no, speak often. but when he addresses
tle Chair ne Is listened 10 with close at
;ertion. He has a habit Of jumping into
s debate at unexpected times in a man
nsr that IS very disconcerting to his op-
r0nents He does not follow the usual
style OF beginning low and going slow"
but takes fire" from the start, and
shoots his arguments at the Senate like
g. was firing a Winchester repeater
Senator Flood was educated at Wash
lrgton and Lee, and the University of
Virginia, and is a lawyer with a large
practice. HIS waTmest friends are those
who know him best and II is pleasant
@ see how a reserve. which impresses
the stranger as coldness. disappears as
acquaintance ripens. revealing the mans
sincerity. and warmth. 1t is easy TO i'm
aglne that ne can be very strong friend,
bur II Is not difficult TO believe that his
lsllkes equal his friendships in strength.
lie Will have opposition for the nomina-
ton, but the man that beats him must
Rot only be a fine worker, but man
lirong in all the qualities that should be
found in a Virginia congressman.
TWO OF HIS OPPONENTS.
At least two Of Mr. Floods opponents
for the nomination are among his col
leagues. SenacOr John Opie, OF Augusta
g. one OF them, though he has not form
G.ly announced his candidacy. Captain
Op!e has been very prominent in the poll
ties OF Augusta, and his congressional
district. for years, however, and has
many friends who would like 10 see him
fighting something in the Congress OF
the United States.
Captain Opie entered the army when
only a boy Of IT, but he served through
out the war. He began 70 mix politics
with the practice of law pretty soon
after the days OF Reconstruction ana
Vas nominated for the House in lS'4
but was opposed by the celebrated Hon.
Alexander II. IL. Stuart. and in the con-
tested election case that followed the
House declared the vote tie. AT the
new election which was ordered MI
Stuart was successful, but Mr.. Opie was
cent 10 the House in 1855 by a majority
Of $50 He was nominated for the sen
6te last fan after a remarkably not con-
test and was elected by a majority Oh
! 90 leading all candidates IN MS city ol
stauuton.
captain Ople has canvassed his own
county for the Democracy at every cleo
ton for twenty-six years. lie mas also
frequently appeared on the stump III
other counties. He has fine reputation
e. stumper. and his record as mem
Der of the House IS good one. hls
abiitv 10 fight was clearly demonstrated
o. those days when the kepuDhcaii
minority was very much more lhah =
name and a shadow, as at present anu
g. is said. that scattered all over VIZ
e.ria ara men who once served under
Mahona's banner IN the House OF Dele
yates who recall with shudder the
angular figure. fiery eye. and ihclsiVe
voice OF the gentleman from augusta
H.q friends say they can imagine no
thing more thrilling in forensic "dr .ii.1l ii.1 !
a qreoch Of his In Congress on a pehulhs
pension bill. o,,.
ISN'T WEARING LIGHTNlNG-KODS'
Hon s II Letcher, from the nelghDoI-
sle county Of Rockbridge, Is not "cai
lre anv liehtnine-r0ds. though he says
De does not expect a stroke re - oHs t,,
or the best known xwyeis Oh 'ne ~. .,l,.' sar-
District. and has done much valiant ser
vice for the party, for wnlch "o nv ~ =. =.
asked reward until he man' eitS -,aa
for the senatorial nomination laSl 1o@i'
and got H. -, ,,or,her
Nr Letcher. although new meIhpei'
took a prominent place in the Seiaee
early in the session. and ms coleas e. ~.
foOn learned 20 have great IesPcOs - -
Ais conee-yaflsn and sound Judgment ~.
may not receive the nomination. ~
81 be gets IT, the man who Oeats nm % 80
have 10 hustle over the lnou'i,,'a' ', ~ man.