Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-07
POLITICIANS UNEASY
Virginia Democratic Leaders Send
Out Words of Warning,
FEAR INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES
Senatorial Fight May Give State
to Republicans in 1900.
STU ALTON AS IT IS NOW
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
RICHMOND. Va. Septemher q 1ssn

special correspondence OF The Evening Star.
RICHMOND. Va. September g. 1882
There Is now no doubt that the demo.
cratic leaders in Virginia becoming
seriously alarmed at the outlook Promi-
nent party men have already issued secret,
but urgent. appeals. imploring local man,
ayers to use every effort to bring about
harmony
ms alarm is due to the large crop Of in
dependents in sight and the extremely
gloomy outlook for 1900. The leaders real
lie that the party is foredoomed to an even
more decisive defeat than in 1896 unless
something can be done to heal the breac hes
that now exist in go many districts, due
to the fight for the senatorship between
Thomas s, Martin and Gov. J. Hoge Tyler.
In many quarters the latter Is being
severely censured even by his we'll wishers
for allowing his personal ambition
to override all consideration for the party.
Had he not entered the field" said
prominent democrat of Hanover county
yesterday. the party would have been in
good shape In this state for the national
contest. L have none but the kindest feel
ings for the governor but there is no
doubt that he has done the party that he
processes to love incalculable harm. In
nearly every county the organization is
split into factions, and I fear that many
independents will be elected to office 1t
Will be almost impossible to get them into
line before the presidential fight begins and
IL would not surprise me at all to see Vir-
ginia In the republican column In 1900
Another feature of the situation which
Is causing the democrats even more alarm
than the probable trouble in 1900 is the
element of uncertainty which attaches to
the independents almost sure to be elected
to the legislature, which meets here in De-
cember next
Although the majority of these call
themselves democrats, they are absolutely
unpledged to follow any particular course,
and no one knows what they will do The
state machinery has heev
in the hands of the democratic party,
which has manipulated 1t to suit its own
purposes, and, very rally, the leaders
are greatly alarmed lest by any chance
they should lose their grip on the lever
The election law now in force was passed
four years ago, after a series of most acri-
monious debates. and it is admitted that
the law was framed not with any view to
fairness. but to perpetuate the sway of the
democratic party In the legislature that
passed this law We're many democrats of
high character and strict integrity. They
did not look with favor upon 1t, but voted
Tor 1t because 1T was party measure, and
would have been enacted even had they
Withheld their support
1t Is fair to assume that there will be q
considerable element of the same way OF
thinking in the coming legislature. Should
the Independents lend their aid, there is
every probability that an election law may
be passed which shall be perfectly fair. In
case such an event shall occur, Virginia
could no longer be counted safely in the
The methods which have prevailed in this
state for years have resulted in practically
crushing the republican party. The leaders
when asked why they do not make an.
other effort to carry the state simply shrug
their shoulders and say;
What's the use Our votes will not be
counted If they are cast. 1t would be SIM
ply waste of time and money"
The republicans have submitted to this
state of things for years because they say
there is no way to help themselves, but
now the party Is again coming to life. The
state all farsighted men agree, stands on
the threshold of a great political upheaval,
one which will rival in intensity of feeling
the contest which ragged when BILLY" Ma
hone was in his prime, and what the re-
suit will be no man can say; but the dem-
ocrats fear 1t greatly.
AS to the present situation 1t may be-
summed up in a few words. Senator Thos.
S. Martin will undoubtedly succeed himself
His friends now announce that more than
enough delegates have been secured to
elect him. and that they will now relax
their efforts.
Senator Martin, II is stated having made
his own election sure, will in a short time
begin to make speeches in those districts
which seem likely to go republican. He
will also have the assistance of Senator
Daniel, a pronounced advocate of the cleo
ton OF Martin.
In some of the Virginia counties where
elections primaries have recently been
held state and national issues have been
lost sight of in purely local matters. The
most remarkable instance of this kind Is in
Amherst county. where the primary was
held yesterday, resulting in the nominal
ton of DIR. r. B. Ware.
Tho whole fight in this county conferred
on the local judgeship. DIR. Ware was op-
posed by Mr. Thomas Whitehead, 1r., a
son Of Colonel Thomas Whitehead. who at
time represented the sixth district in
tho national House of Representatives.
There is somewhat remarkable story con-
nected with the Amherst county fight.
In 1906 Clarence j. Campbell now judge
Of the county court of Amherst was q
member of the state legislature. BY shrewd
cousin. Bently B. Campbell judge Of
Amherst county. Some months after the
adjournment of the legislature Clarence J.
Campbell. accompanied by his cousin, the
Judge. appeared at Governor Tyler's office.
The latter presented his resignation which
was accented, and Clarence j. Campbell
was Immediately appointed to fill the va
cancy.
The good people of Amherst knew moth
ing of the change until the latter ascended
the bench at the next term of court The
fight, therefore, has been against Judge
Clarence Campbell. His candidate was DR..
Ware. The latter is young farmer. He
is not a speaker and the judge has been
doing his talking for him during the cam
paign. Ware is said to favor Martin for
senator, which is regarded somewhat re-
markable, since Judge Campbell is MEM
Der of Governor Tylers voluminous staff
of colonies. and is under obligations to
him