Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-17
OPPOSED TO MACHINE RULE
Indications of Strong Independent Senti-
ment Among Virginia Democrats.
..ReguIars' Were in Most
Cases Defeated.

| RICHMOND. Va, November 16. 1899.
While the election returns from Virginia
| give the democrats a tremendous majority
in the legislature, the machine people are
displeased because of the fact that in
nearly every case where contests came up
in the party the men who were declared to
be the nominees were defeated. Had there
been a general organization of Independents
against the regulars" nearly everybody is
willing now to admit that the result in the
state would have been very different from
what it was. There is unqucstionably
revolt against the machine. All that is
needed Is leader. bold and fearless enough
10 direct the fight. The small vote poued
in this state and the success of the indie
peudents in nearly every place where they
We're organized have opened the eyes of
the regulars to a condition that threat
ems trouble for them.
The stealing OF the poll books in Motto
way county is a matter that is exciting
much interest. That county is in the sena-
torial district in which Judge William
Hodges Mann. the regular" defeated e.
z. Buford independent. Buford carried
Brunswick, his home county, by big ma
jortty. and he had a small majority in 1u-
nenburg. Judge Mann got about 1,s00 ma
Jority III Nottoway. where Buford polled
less than 100 votes. Before the poll books
had been stolen Friday night from the
clerks office the abstract of the returns
the secretary Of the commonwealth.
Mann Will Get the Certificate.
Judge Mann will Of course be given the
certificate of election. Mr.. Buford will
now have to abandon his purpose to con-
test the election. He will be unable to
prove fraud in Nottoway, If there was
really any committed. 1t Is said that it
was his purpose to demand that the poll
books be inspected. expecting thereby to
show that persons were recorded as voting
who did not go to the polls, and in some
cases the alleged voters were fictitious
persons. Had the poll books been accessi-
be it is claimed by his friends that Mr.
RufOrl would have made one of the most
interesting contests that mas ever come be-
fore the state senate.
The defeat of Colonel R. E. Boykin for
the state senate in the Isle of Wight dis
tEtCt by William Stands. independent
democrat. Will end the coloners political
aspirations. 1t is generally understood tnat
he would aspire to succeed Representative
Young. of the second district in Congress
next year. He belongs to the inner circle
of the machine democrats. Mr.. Shands,
who lives in Southampton, came very near
beating the colonel in the iatteTs home
county Isle Of Wight. 1t is generally be-
HeveI that Representative Young will have
A hard tight TO win the nomination. For
mpr Represent D. Gardiner Tyler,
son of President John Tyler, has just been
elected N the state senate, and Will run
for the House. He will be Mr.. Young
strongest opponent. now that Colonel Boy
Kin Is out of the way.
New blood in the House.
More than three-fourths OF the members
Of the house Of delegates will be men who
have not served before. The chairmen of
nearly every important committee have
either declined to run or have been defeat
ed Of denomination. L. W. Saunders the
chairman Of the judiciary committee. viii
be elected speaker without opposition.
Speaker John F. Ryan of LOudoun, seeing
he will be beaten has decided not to allow
his name TO go before the caucus. It is ex-
pected that Mr.. Saunders will give Mr.
Ryan an important Craftsmanship, perhaps
that Of the finance committee TO succeed
| Mr. Cooke Of Norfolk, who declined 10 run
again.
William P McRae of Petersburg, a very
able young lawyer, who has served in the
Legislature, but was not here last season,
Is said to be slated 70 preside over the ju-
dietary committee. T. c Pitcher of Fau-
qUier Will certainly be placed at the head
OF the railroad committee again.
The general assembly will convene the
first Wednesday in December. Very little
work will be done before the Christmas re-
| cess. Senator Martin will. of course. be re-
elected by an overwhelming aJOrtty. 1t
seems to be settled that Governor Tyler
| will allow his name to go before the eau
| Gus, but the governor is not now in q mood
| for discussing politics, He hints that he
| has something up his sleeve" for his OPP
| ponents. but what II is time must reveal
| The governor IS now at work upon his mes
| sage. He VIII not have very many i'm
| portant recommendations to make. 1t IS
| said he Will be silent as to the election
| laws.
! There will be another effort made to pass
| the employers liability bill. 1t has been
| defeated by two successive legislatures.
| Senator William B. McIlwaine Of Peters
! burg Will lead the fight for IL.