Evening star., 1898-09-06
POLITICS IN VIRGINIA
Unexpected Interest Shown in the
Congressional Elections.
DEMOCRATSDOUBf SEVERAL DISTRICTS
Vigorous Canvasses Planned for the
Uncertain Areas.
DEMOCRAlSDOUBF SEVERAL DISTRICTS
REPU UBLICANS ARE SPLIT
'Iscinl Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
RiCHMOND. Va. September Gas tn,
time draws near for the congressional cleo
tions throughout the state the interest In
the campaign seems far greater than was
expected. Cntil recently II was thought
that the Eews OF the war would claim the
attention Of the people in this state to the
exclusion Of everything else. But this has
not proven to be the case and there is
much gossip among politicians as to the re-
suits of the fights in the various districts
The meeting of the state democratic COM
mittee, held in this city recently, developed
two facts, If not more-first, that the demo-
Gratis, while disposed to claim everything
in sight from public standpoint, feel quite
uneasy about several districts They will
not openly acknowledge this. as il is not
considered to be prudent political method
The second fact is that vigorous canvass,s
have been mapped out, If not already com
menced. in the districts which are con
sidered somewhat doubtful.
The fact that the republicans are badly
divided into administration and anita amin,
1straton faCu uons in several sections OF the
state has put their opponents in high glce
The republicans take courage believing the
same is true Of their political adversarics.
dt leeSl IN the tertn district, ana that the
record of the republican administration in
Washington in its policy in the war sllI
strengthen the cause in this state.
Money Issue Not Prominent.
1t is fact that gold and silver are not
playing so conspicuous a part in this cam
paign az in the last and there seems 40 be
disposition TO discuss the Administrations
policy in connection with the war In more
than one political speech already made
the question Of annexation Of Cuba and the
Phinpplne Islands has been introduced. The
fact that Virginia and the south generally
have been given a liberal share Of the pay
ronage in the distribution OF military non
ors has afforded the republicans a good
deal OF ammunition for the campaign aul
in one district. at least charges that the
democratic candidate had made disparaginE
remarks about the ek-confederates were
dragged into the fight and used for all they
were worth against him.
For the first time in many years the
meeting OF the state executive committee
WAS an executive session. Nobody but
members of the committee was allowed 10
De present Newspaper reporters especially
were excluded. and thfs created the i'm
preston tnat during the conference about
the political conditions in the several DIS
uicts some things would be said which the
leaders would not like TO have published
A number Of prominent politicians from
various parts of the state were here TO at
tend the meeting, but they were informed
N-'sAN my NoAiN i-'A I'll HI lIlt StSSlOL
struck Snag.
In the conference about the districts. the
first one called for was the ninth A snag
was struck at the start, for it is well
known that the minority faction which has
been giving trouble for years has broken
lose again in Washington county This
faction has lately been severely sat down
upon. l. lost the members Of tie electrical
board at the last session of the legislature
and at tn convention that nominated
Judge Rhea the disgruntlcd faction was
left out in the cold. These people were
represented being dissatisfied with their
treatment. and for nearly TWO hours the
committee discussed ways and means by
which to pacify them. No action resulted
from the discussion. Ii is feared they are
going TO give much trouble i'm the ninth
Encouraging reports were submitted as
TO the probable results IN the first. third,
sixth, seventh and eighth districts In
these it was stated that the democratic
candidates. Jones, Lamb, Otey, Hay and
Rixcy would win.
In the second Young will win unless the
republicans can get together down there.
They are split up badly in that district.
There is bitter feud between the Lamb
Wise and Bowden factions, both OF which
have district campaign committees. The
situation is so badly mixed w that Chair
man Babcock OF the republican congress
sional campaign committee put his foot
into it by reCrganizing the Lamb-Wise
COHliillllct- Dll dllcTNaGO Withdrew us
letter of recognition and declined TO inter
fere to the election of the delegates
chosen.
YounE's Strong Canvass.
While this division and family row is
going on MI Young is making a strong
canvass, and there is little doubt that he
will win in a walk. In the fourth district
Epcs is making a hard fight. He will prob
ably win, though there will not be any very
large surplus of votes. Swanson is having
a rather uphill time OF 1t in the NTH. Gen.
Walker, the republican candidate in the
ninth, is making ii warm for Judge Rhca.
1t is hard TO make any reliable prediction
al this time to the result of the fight.
Gen. Walker was credited with having
made the charge against Judge Rhea that
the latter made disparaging references to
ex-confederates during some of his speech
This circulated throughout the
district and Judge Rheas friends realized
that IL was telling against him The judge
characterized the charge a malicious
falsehood, but still 1t is being worked
against him
In the tenth district all is not smooth
sailing for the democrats. That conveu-
ton at Covington not altogether satis-
factory to many Of the delegates, aud they
haven't yet gotten over the way things
were run. 1t is believed this will give Hub
bard, the republican candidates, some addt-
tonal strength and al least make il in
teresting for Quarles. He will not haze
many votes TO spare If he wins the fight
1t is believed the republicans Will havo
candidates in every district in the state
with the exception of the eighth, the re-
publican convention there having refused
to nominate.
The republicans of this city and district
are badly split up. Faithful efforts have
been made for some time TO bring harmony
out Of the discord that prevails, but so far
they have proven futile The central re-
public an league, an organization started 10
defeat the enos of certain republicans and
get DIR. K. e. Jones and others on the state
committee, has succeeded in widening the
breach. and there seems to be little pres
pect CT getting the factions together in
time 10 be of any material service to the
party in this congressional campaign.
NEW ORLEANS is FEARED.
SGEtlern Cities Quarantine Again
Her-A Suspicious Case.
Dr. Carter of the Marine hospital service