Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-06-04
DOESN'T WANT TO RUN
Tbe FrIends'orthe Senatorial Reform
Movement nre Distinctly Hopeful
H. of EIccttnG Their Camdidnte-Et 81
believed Some One VIII ECO An
nonnced TO Run Agninst Mar.
Martin by.fhe 18TH. INSTANT.
Especial to virgihian-Pilot1


18th of June" said Il prominent advo-
cate Of the popular selection of Scna-
tors and Senatorial candidates to-day.
Il am positive OF that" he continued.
''The State Committee will meet the
night OF the 18th. 1t will decide that it is
not wise. nor proper to call n conven-
ton.
You can set it down for n feet that
the announcement of a candidate will
not he delayed three days. 1t will come
Z. almost at once. ! regard it as a GER
! lainty.
"I cannot say who it will be-" he
a continued. II think 1 know that the
RI great majority of those who are advo-
~ Gates of allowing the people to select
+; their candidates want William a. Jones
: 10 make the race. I know Mr.. Jones
i does not want to do so. He has said
\, from the beginning that he did not
81 and has been most consistent in his
7, conduct, keeping in view his decara-
+! dion at the inception OF the reform
ri movement. that it was not in any mans
~ interest, and that he was free from sell
~ fish motives.
Zones is not afraid to run. He be-
1ieves 4 good man can be elected on
the platform adopted by the conference.
die is anxious to support such Il man.
But the men who head the movement
md those Who are most anxious to see
it succeed, insist that Jones is pre-
eminently the man To make such
fight. The pressure brought to bear
upon him 10 induce him to enter the
aists has heretofore been unsuccessful,
but it cannot be longer resisted. Mr..
Jones will have TO run. He VIII have TO
declare himself within the next few
days"
Regarding the chances OF the cand-
date. the friends OF the reform move
ment are distinctly hopeful. The First.
Eighth and Tenth Districts, they regard
us being SO safely for the movement
as to be practically conceded. They
hope to be able to pick up enough coun-
ties in the Second, Third, Fourth. Fifth.
Sixth, Seventh and Ninth to give them
what may be lacking TO cause them to
triumph in the State, and in those dis
tricts the chief work will be done. Many
of the leaders think the Ninth Dis
trict as safe as any i'll the State.
Opposition to the movement is said
10 be strongest i'll the cities and towns
where those who fight the movement
ARE exceedingly we'll organized. In the
country districts sentiment is almost
unanimous in favor of the popular
Selection OF a Senatorial candidate. II
as believed that in IL large number of
counties the primary plan instructing
.sutuents' choice for the Senatorship,
will be put in operation. Whether the
sentiment in favor OF the popular
choice OF candidates be sufficiently
strong 10 induce those who are friendly
no Senator Martin to vote against him
because of his opposition to submitting
The question of candidates to the peo-
pie, remains to be seen.
AS IL matter of fact Senator Martin
has not said openly that he is opposed
10, y, In, y
his friends fought the primary plan
when it was under discussion, and sue
ceeded in defeating it. But since that
time Mr.. Martin has not publicly de-
clared himself. All his closest friends,
however with few exceptions. have ,in-
1esitatingly declared against allowing
the people to choose their candidate.
The movement has been ridicuicd by
them from the start. and is ut present
the subject of many jocular illusions.
Mr. Martins friends profess all con-
fidence as to the result. His opponents
say that if the question could be
brought to q plain issue another good
candidate would defeat him with ease.
All Of which shows that the coming
contest IS going to be one of the pref
test Virginia ever saw.
The number Of speakers who will
take part in the fight will be large. 1t
seems as though the rcrormers have
the advantage in this line. The men
they Will have to take the stump in
clude Il number of very able StumperS
among them Congressman Jones. At
torney General Montague. Mr.. Walton
Moore, Mr.. Eppa Hunton, Mr.. j. c.
Parker. Mr.. William n. Anderson, Mr..
Frank L. Glasgow and others. Hon.
Nv. F. Rhea. member of Congress from
the Ninth District: Hon. James Hay,
from the Seventh: Hon. Claude Swan
son. from the Fifth; State Senator Hal
Flood, from AppomattoX, and state
Senator Boykin, from Isle of Wight.
are among those who will take leading
parts as canvassers in opposition to
the reform.
1t is said that Congressman Rhea
WI nc selected to meet Mr.. Jones
Should the latter decide TO make the
race. No matter who is the cnndidnie
against MIR. Martin 1t Is believed that
alt. Rhea viii be the Senator's chief
spokesman.
SENATOR MARTIN.
Senator Martin is expected back In
Iti&hmond Monday. He was at AMMAN.
OILS yesterday attending the meetint, o.
1he Board of Visitors of the Naval
academy. The Senator has been away
from this city for two weeks. During
ms absence his brother. Mr.. Leslie Mar
I'm, mas had charge of his headquarters.
Representative Jones and Mr.. VIM. A.
Anderson are expected here next We'd
nesday to attend the meeting OF the
Senatorial Reform COMMITTEES on
Thursday. Both of them will probably
remain in the city TO attend the meet
ing OF the Democratic State Central
and Executive Committee OF the 18th.
Mr. Anderson Is n member Of the for
Z. kneT body. end Mr.. Jones OF the latter.