Evening star., 1898-10-05
OLD DOMINION POLITICS
Little Interest IN oougressisnal Campaign
Democrats Have Walkover,
Warm Fight in Prospect Retweeu
Gen. Lee and Senator Martin for
United States Senate,
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

| RotoRous, ,stagnant condition of Virginia mol
ftics so far as the congressional campaigns
IN the several districts this fall are con-
cerned is counterbaianced by the steadily
| growing interest all over the state in the
forthcoming senatorial hattie between two
of Virginia's political giants.
Not for years has there been 80 lukewarm
| a public feeling in regard to the result of
the congressional races. In many places
| throughout Virginia where electioneering
| politicians have been accustomed to find
large crowds of people representing miles
| of territory and thousands of votes, when
they appeared to plead for their fayorite
| candidates, there have been small audi
| snceS and a conspicuous lack of enthusi-
| asm. Short speeches, few and far between
have been the popular demand.
| With a few exceptions the democrats bid
| fair to have everything their own way A
| muddled and badly split condition of the
| republican ranks has left little for the
| dc mocrats to get excited about, and to a
ncn-partisan observer, there be no
| oubt that the cause of free silver in nearly
| all of the districts in Virginia is gradually
on the wane.
Lively Contest for Senator
While such a stale condition of affairs
| prevails in the congressional campaigns
| there is a decided contrast that grows more
and more conspicuous as regards the sena-
| torial race 1t bids fair at this time to be
the greatest political battle In Virginia
| since the forces of Mckinney rose up and
| crushed Billy Malone and his followers
forever in the old commonwealth. Since
| General Lee has been in charge of the 1th
| Army Corps he has added much to the
| strength he gained consul general to
| Supa Already a large number of the
| members of the I'd Virginia Regiment
| which was under his care and which is
! now on a thirty days furlough preliminary
| TO being mustered out of service have com
| menced a systematic campaign in behalf
| OF the general for senator. 1t is we'll
! known fact that General Lee was remark
| ably faithful An his efforts in behalf of the
| men in his corps while stationed at Camp
| Cuba Libre. and much of his time was de-
| voted to the welfare and comfort of the
| Virginia boys. He made hundreds of
| friends among them The 4th Virginia
| Regiment, which is also in General Lees
| command, and which, 1t is understood will
go to Cuba with him, will also prove a
| tower of strength to him in his fight for
| the senatorship. Already many members
| OF that regiment have written strong let
| ters in his behalf. and have wheeled into
| line to take part in the big political battle
Before the campaign is formally opened
| many members of both regiments will he
! hard at work with both their influence and
| their personal selvices for the generals
| support. 1t is thought. too that a certain
| bend OF sympathy between men who have
| undergone the discomforts of camp life
| vii! have { strong effect in bringing many
| of the members of the Sd Virginia Regiment
| iEto line for General Lee. These three
| regiments represent nearly every part of
| Virginia. Among the various companies
| are men of intelligence and broad infla-
| ence in their communities, and they com
| mand the respect and confidence of broad
| constituency.
General Lee will depend no little. too.
| Upon organization He has realized the
| Importance of this political feature more of
| late than before Already of his
| strongest supporters are taking careful
note of the political conditions prevailing
! in the various districts. and plans being
originated and developed accordingly Cen
| eral Lee will make a short but vigorous
campaign Whatever may be said about
| the advantage enjoyed by the man who is
| already in, the records of the two men
will naturally be compared. That will be
| a strong feature of General Lees campaign.
| He has not only a good political record,
but his diplomatic and military services
| both will doubtless appeal to one of the
strongest elements in the state.
Lees Financial Views.
| 1t is stated by careful observers that
| Gen. Lees position on the currency ques-
| ton will not damage his prospects in the
| race. He will secure the support of many
| wool-dyed, unreconstructed, free silver ad-
| vocates upon the ground of his record as a
| soldier, diplomat and confederate veteran.
| His position on the currency question has
| never been sufficiently pronounced to ap-
peal to the more conservative Chicagoists
| while the sound money wing of the party
| ana hundreds who supported Mr.. Mckin-
ley upon purely business basis, will use
| their influence for Gen Lee. His personal
popularity Is being depended upon as one
| of mis- strongest appeals for support That
he will make the contest exceedingly in
terestlnS for Senator Martin is already GER
| tain.
Such is the political aspect as seen
| through the field glasses of Gen Lees
| strongest supporters. Their opponents while
| protesting to believe that Senator Martin
| will win the race have commenced the cam
| ralgn already in quiet way. Senator
| Martin has the advantage of powerful or
| ganization. His forces probably better
systemauzed than have been any political
phalanXeS for years past
| The field is so far practically open to
these two great political warriors for a
| fight to the finish. The talk about Con-
gressman William A. Jones coming in as a
| Gark horse has proved to be merely idle
gossip. 1t is understood that MIR Jones
VIII be only an interested spectator from
the grand stand.
Some rumors to the effect that ex-Goy-
ernor O'Ferran would again enter the no.
| htlcal arena and allow his name to be us I'd
| as an asplrant to the position have been
promptly brushed aside by those who are in
position to understand the interior work
| inss of politics in this state That Gov
einor Tyler will enter the race rs not at all
likely. And So Senator Martin and Gen Lee
VIII HSHt IL out upon TWO entirely separate
ana distinct lines. 1t is a matter of COM
nent that when Gen. Lee appears in Rich
me nd Senator Martin registers at the hotel
few hours afterward. This has '.just
happened" so three times of late. Senator
Martins friends claim that there is no po-
lftical significance in this.
Element of Martins Strength.
| One of the strongest features of Mr. Mar
tins campaign will be the support he draws
| frcn those who hold high positions in the
state democratic organize ton. State Chair
man J. Taylor Ellyson has never openly
announced whom he favored as United
| States senator, and yet 1t would be hard to
persuade those who participate in party
! politics that he is not a supporter of Mr..
Martin. Secretary Joseph Button of the
state democratic committee, and who hy
virtue of his position clerk of the sem
ate, in which he is very popular wields a
strong influence in that body, is known 20
| be strong supporter of Senator Martin.
Secretary of the Commonwealth Joseph T.
Lawless, who knows everybody in tide
water Virginia, and who has a multitude of
followers in that section of the state is
another influential addition to the Martin
ranks. while such men as James Hay, who