The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-20

The State campaign ofs19Ql in Virginia
is rapidly drawing to close. Within
two weeks from next Tuesday the result
will be known. ard then there VIII come
q slight lul in the political matters that
have attracted the attention OF the voters
for SO many months.
On the eve OF battle two things are ap-
parent One is that Hon. y. j. Monta-
que will be the next Governor of the
State; the ether. that the. coming Legis-
lature will be Democratic.
There are many reasons for the verb
fication Of this forecast. In the first
place. Virginia is essentially aDenocTatc
State and has never been otherwise. save
when that party was distracted by serious
internal discord. This state OF affairs
not only does not exist this, year. but.
on the other hand, the party is in gooG
shape, according to Chairman E,llyson
and other prominent leaders. save in
spots where local factionaI troubles eX-
ist Again. it is lie opinion of some of
the hest posted leaders in the State.
that the Republican bosses do not de-
sire Col. Hoge's election, for the reason
that it would open up avenues for a long
division of Federal patronage in the
State and would tend to diminish the
power of distribution. which is said TO
lie now in the hands OF a select few. The
prestage of these few would necessarily
be lessened anG: many. who would prob
ABLY say: 81 did it, would. gain seats a
the pie Counter in Washington
Mr.. Montague Captain Willard and
Major Anderson have all made splendid
campaigns thus far. and theNtllave been
ably supported on the stump by scores
of the most powerful Democratic ora
.ors in the state. without regard to their
primary choice for Governor: and the
gaps made by the NIoutague-S Swanson
campaign for the romina ton, nave been
closed. certainly SO far as the coming
general election is concerned
No one who was aressnt At the Norfolk
Convention and heard the manly ut
terances of Claude Swanson evs- doubted
for a moment that he and his friends
would be loval ans, it is ssat=s on snod
authority that there is probably as@littles
trouble in the Fifth CongreSsionGl Dis
trict as in any section OF the state
The Democrats nearly always make
their "base-h hits during the last three
weeks of the campaign. There was an
evident upward tendency in their stock
last week, and from now. until the 9TH OF
Noyerr Der it is expected 10 climb steadl-
". and to overwhelm the forces of the
opposition on that cay At least. thus
IS the opinion OF the hes. leadersaof the
narty. and in the past they have nor
heen known to shout wide OF the marx on
political forecasts. n
In the minds c.s these leaders there
has never been any zeal danger ahead
for the State ticket Less DOUBT II
possible. has lurked around the lesisla-
tive fight It is believed TO &c safe
estimate that the Democrats VIII con-
troll both Branches ::nd that they VIII
have from So to so nsmhcrs OF the House.
and not less than 50 and possibly % OIL
the 30 Senator's.
Even il the South west which is al.
ways doubtful groun1 the Democrats
have put forward a high class OF men
FOR. the General Assembly and are eS-
racted to make 2 good shaving on cleo
tion day. II the Seventh Sentor:ai Dis
trict, composed CO the COUNTIES az sote,
iourt. Rcckbridge, Ai,azhanv. Highland
ard Bath the situation at one time look
ed blue for the Democrats. but they put
forward Colonel Robert Catlett. OF Lex;
inston, and owing to his splendid popu-s
larity it Is the general impression that
he win pull through. though the district
is a dangerously close one. But 1t IS
easys to prdeict what will be the COM
plexion az the Legislature. for the Re-