Evening star., 1899-07-19
MARTIN FORCES THE FIGHT
Friends of the Virginia Senator Sure of His
Reelection.
His Opponent, Gov. Tyler. Hampered
by His Record I'm DISTRIBUTE
ing Patronage.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

RICHMOND. Va, July is lSl9
The Martin people are forcing the fight
ing in preliminary skirmishing to the COM
ing senatorial contest in Virginia They
maintained a mastery silence while the
issues were in doubt. but now that the issues
are Joined. ii Is evident that they have had
their forces well in hand all the time. ready
for use when needed. They have made no
premature moves. and therefore have no
mistakes to regret.
III is a well-known fact that Senator Mar
TN directs his own campaigns. and the Dig
nifty and astuteness with which he main
talhed silence especially during the inaug-
uration of the Senatorial Reform Ieavue
movement which many to this day believe
was started entirely to encompass his de-
feat. have won him friends who were not
his advocates before
Martin strongholds will no cs,,ass,,
carry. and the delegates instructed Ia vote
ior MN Tor senator. and IL IS believed bN,
,i,l ,.ia trlenus n that the showing will presage
Nictory before the campaign is well on
outside of the ninth district. from which
IpNerhor Tyler comes. most OF the leaders
VINO supported Tyler for governor are now
the supporters Of Martin for the Senate
ana II is said that Judge Rhea the renre,
sentative from that district, will canvass
the counties FOR Martin
Tyler's Devotion to Free silver.
when Governor Tyler came into office.
nushed with victory. the fire. silver move
ment was at its height, and he was an ex-
tremist. Whenever appointments had TO he
made free silver was the standard by which
all aspirants were gagged and as a conse-
quence there were sweeping changes made
Wherever the governor had the appointing
power. Even in the case of boards of visit
ors of state institutions men who had
served efficiently for years were dropped
and for the most part men of less ability
appointed in their places because they
were prominent free silverites
Changes were also made in some of the
state off1ces where this cause did not figure
IN order to give place to his friends over
the incumbents. who had served efficiently
Notable cases were the quarantine officers
and the commissioner of agriculture
All these actions aroused resentments
that have bided their time, and the fruits
are now coming 10 light In unexpected
places.
The nomination of S. NJ. Newman for the
house of delegates from Norfolk county at
portsmouth Saturday was the iirst decisive
shot Of the campaign. He pledged the con-
vention that he would vote for Martin
Judge Asa Watkins of Prince Edward
county has announced himself for the SELL
ate He is strong Martin man, and. it Is
said will have no pronounced opposition,
though Col. B. W. l.. BlantOn, the incum-
bent, is a candidate. These and other an
lowing the announcement of Tyler's candt-
dacy, and even to the casual observer seem
to have some connection with a prear-
ranged plan.
There is a growing desire to unite the
democrats in Virginia some vital issue.
1t is noticeable that the rampant sfverites
are more tolerant of their sound money
brethren and the men who voted the free
silver ticket on account of party regularity
are doing a good deal of talking. and de-
clare that their duty does not demand that
they shall vote for defeated cause again.
Antitrust and anti-eXpansion are oftener
heard now than the old slogan OF l6 to i.
There are no local issues in the state of
sufficient interest to be known outside Of
the counties, and, as rule, the candidates
for the legislature are running on their per-
sonal merits.
The contest for clerk of the house to
succeed Col Jno. Bell Bigger ls attract
ing much attention. Mr.. Joseph Button,
the present clerk of the senate and chair
man of the state democratic committee,
could probably have it il he would run.
but the duties require that the clerk
should live in the city of Richmond. he
is also keeper of the rolls and is con-
stantly called on for Information by the
members of the two houses. Mr.. Button Is
so circumstanced that he cannot live here.
The Leading Candidates.
The two strongest candidates at present
are Thomas Bigger who was appointed to
fill out his fathers unexpired term, and
VIM. Henry Mann, 3r., OF Petersburg, who
has long been a deputy clerk in the house.
No one apparently has a decided lead in
the race.
The question of speaker of the house is
also being discussed John +. Ryan of
Loudoun. who has been invincible as speak
er for several terms. will have a strong
opponent in E. w. Saunders OF Franklin
county, who was his opponent last year,
though he did not let his name come be-
fore the caucus having discovered that he
did not have the required strength. This
year, however. he has had influences at
work that his friends believe will give
him a majority vote.