The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-05-06
REPUBLICAN POSSIBILITIES.
Many Prominent Men Mentioned for courres

Many Prominent Men Mentioned for Congress.
There has been a good deal of talk n.
Gently among the Virginia Republicans
in Washington on the subject of the com
ing Congressional Campaign in Virginia
and the names otthe probable candidat
OF the Republican party have come in for
their share of discussion.
At an impromptu gathering in the
lobby of the Raleigh few nights ago of
several prominent members of the ma
chine the following slate" was thought
70 be the strongest that could be put up
against the present solid Democratic del
egation from the Old Dominion:
In the First District there is no possi-
ble hope for the Republicans. SO no one
will be put up. In the Second the condi-
ton is practically the same. for notwith-
standing the fact that Bowden, Thorpe.
General Groner, Lawrence ID. Groner
Hugh Gordon Miller, Edgar Allan and
number of other strong" Republicans
are located therein, the leading members
OF the machine appear To have no great
confidence in the ability of their party
to land Congressman from among
them.
In the Third there is nothing doing -
Even with the prospects of a big fight
between Captain John Lamb and Mr.
Jefferson Wallace for the Democratic
nomination, the Republicans do not feel
that they could accomplish anything
there.
In the Fourth c. f. Wilson. Of Meek
ienburg. will be put up.
In the Fifth Beverly Davis. At present
member of the Constitutional Conven.
ton from Rocky Mount. will come out
against Swanson. The Republicans
place great hopes upon carrying the
Fifth. They say it is a strong Republi
can district and Davis personality will
be potent factor in the race. Swanson
doesn't seem much troubled at the out
look. and the Democrats who have heard
ot the intentions of the Republicans to
put Davis in the field against Swanson
display marked lack of uneasiness.
Said one of the Virginia delegation to-
day in speaking of the matter: Swan
son is a hard man to beat in his district.
and the fur will fly before he is defeated
at the coming election
In the Sixth the hopes of the Republi-
cans are conferred on J. Hampton Hoge.
An effort has been made to lead Captain
Patrick McCaul to the slaughter. but
Pat" smiles broadly and says. "Nay.
nay Il am tired of running" said
Captain McCaul, in speaking OF the prop
osition. IF the boys want somebody TO
stand up to get the gaff in the breast
bone, they may look further" So the
probabilities are that Hoge will I've
pressed into service to trot around in the
sixth making speeches against Major
Otey.
RoSsER MAY run.
In the Seventh General Rosser is said
to he casting about for the Republican
nomination, but the machine" will not
support him, and without the backing
OF that powerful influence the chances
Tor the success of any Virginia Republi-
can are extremely slender-so the ma
chine" men say.
In the Eighth no one will come out for
the q. O. p. Joe Crupper, the postmaster
at Alexandria, is the strongest man in
the district, but since Rixey has got for
the Alexandrians a 100000 approrria-
ton for additions TO their public build |
ing, no one could beat him in that sec
ton of the State.
From the ninth there is great talk of
Judge T. NJ. Anderson as an opponent to
Judge Rhea, but in spite of the claims
that the ninth is a Republican district. |
there seems to be no one anxious TO try
with Judge Rhea. They have
not forgotten the Judges aggressive cam
paign againt General Walker, and they /
are still shy of the tall, gray-eyed Demo-
rat. Although Judge Rhea has been
by a contest Turing the pres
mt session, he has been very active before
he departments in a quiet way, looking
after the interests of his constituents.
with whom he stands quite firm at pres
mt.
George A. Revercomb is the hope of
the tenth, if he can be persuaded to come
out, I'VE may not be able to get him |
out this time, but we will bring him out
in 1904 and carry the district with a
whoop." In the meantime the machine" |
is lifting up its head a little and going
about the department asking for offices
in the name of the Virginia Republican /
Organization" while few months ago |
certain of its leading lights could not be
iraWn to the White Hnnaa or 4ho l0.... l