The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-31
POLITICAL talk
IN washington | [. ] |. !! [
Gossip About the Coming Great
Senatorial Fight.
MARTIN AND THE GOVERNOR E: RI Y
Z
Interest Seems to Be- Conferred in the
Race Between Them-T ak About I
the Next Congressional
Races.
MARTIN AND. THE. GOVERNOR.

Special Dispatch 10 The Times. }

/ Special Dispatch to The Iimes.l
| WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. a0.--The
old adage, In time of peace; prepare fol
! war; would seem to Apply very properly
| to the politicians and statesmen Of Vir-
| GINA, il any reliance can be placed IL
| the gossip that reaches Washington
! through the many Vicg. mans who dror
into the Capitol every day. Around the
| lobbies Of The leading hotels there Is
nearly always something OF interest tc
| be heard concerning the aims and aspi-
| rations, ,le words and the deeds of cit1-
| zens OF the Old Dominion, who are, to q
| greater or less degree, involved IN the
| ever changing political life, of their State.
OF course, the Senatorial and Guberna-
torial contests, which are scheduled for
couple Of years hence. excite the great
est amount of interest, because they at
feet the whole State, but after ,herl
come the fights for supremacy in the
different Congressional districts, and no
sooner does a Congressman get well set
tied in his seat after an election than
people begin to talk Of opposition to
HIM next time"
AS. to the Senatorial contest. the con-
census of opinion is that the result may
depend largely upon whel.+er or not the
nomination is made by primary.
The gaze of the majority of those who
are opposed to Senator martin is turned
toward Governor AIon,ague as the
champion who might wrest from the
junior Senator his seat in the upper
branch of Congress. Some, and these
are the men who form the older, more
conserva tive element Of the anti-Martln
forces, are still imbued w. the idea
that General Fitzhugh Lee is the man to
turn the trick. TINS element, however,
is in the minority.
For the governorship Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor Joseph E. Willard IS the man most
talked Of, but there are several others
who are thinking Of having a try for the
biggest Office in the State. OF these
Representa- tive W. a. Jones is prominent
" mentioned.
IT, NEW DISTRICTS.
It is conceded that a redistricting bill
will be presented in, the Legislature soon
after the holidays, which VIII put New
port News in the First District ard IN
this case Mr.. Jones, who IS To-day more
strongly intrenched in his district than
any member of the Virginia delegation.
will probably have opposition in .. Te!y
short while. That Mr.. Jones does not
want this change is we'll known. but that
he realizes that it is inevitable also goes
without saying. If Mr.. Jones finds lie
will have a disagreeable time of it with
MS ISCOlStI4ctGu .CiStliIt, iiC iIicHs SiSS'oS
to run for the governorship- Il is even
more prohable, however, that lie viii
take a try for the Senate, as he IS
thought tc, prefer legislative life TO that
of an executive one.
Mr.. Jones is g, strong antl-Marin man
as well as a strong friend OF the present
Governor so there is no doubt as TO
which side he would be on if he came
out fer the governorsil'p. 1t Is more
than probable. say the gossips, that the
man Who ties up with Governor Monta-
que against Senator Martin Will come
from, the western part of the State In
order that both sections may be repre-
sented in the opposition which would be
more conducive TO q harmonious array of
tie anti Martin froces than If both can
didates were from the. east.
Speaking of the rcdistricting bill and
the opposition to the different members
of Congress, there are already rurlofs
ailoat regarding several Of them and meIi
who are printing themselves Tor the DEM
ocratic NOMINATIONS liz 1904.
Whether opposition to Mr.. Jones Will
come, that earl.s. or not one seems to
know. Mr.. Maynard will probably have
another fight like he had last summer and
autunn Mir. ] awless is said to have
ar idea Of taking another try for the NOM
iration, and there are one or two others
who may decide TO, enter the lists.
THE sCONGRESSMEN.
n tho Third CAPTAIN Lamb seems to be
resting easy at present. Captain Lamb
great strength, as every one Knows, is
out in the counties, while he also has
strong support III the c.tles' Us the iasI
election showed Still there are several
men whose friends have been pressing
them OF late to come out
Il, the Fourth Mr. Southall seems to be
ate lust now, and one, doesn't near OF
any opposition 10 him.
? Mr. Swanson is one of the strongest men |
n his district in the State, ard unless he |,
,uns for the governorship and is elected
re is likely to stay in Congress for an in |
lefinite period. |
Mr.. Glass seems to be safe, too. Per- /
oaDs he may have some trouble from |
Roanoke. but Washington has heard of /
lothing so. far from that part OF the |
sta te.
In the Seventh Mr.. Hay is very strongly /
ntrenched. His one probable opponent /.
s Mr.. Henry Downing, OF Front Royal, |
Who has had aspirations for some time. |
There is considerable talk OF his coming /
,rt against Mr.. Hay in 1901, although he |
s not known to have openly declared his |
Intention to do so. The general opinion |
$ that if he thinks he has a fighting |
.hance, even, he will risk it. but other |
wise he is too wary to come out ana
make a poor showing. He would rather |
3ide his time.
Talk OF Mr.. BRAxToN.
NIr. A. C. Braxton is looked upon as
,ossiv..4.y. although he is viewed more
Is a man who might develop strength
lnder favorable condition than one who
possesses strength to-day. It has been
aid of him by one OF the tshrewdest poll
icians II, Virginia that he is one OF the |,
ew men who made any capital out Of
he Constitutional Convention Member
ship in that body is said TO have done
irreparable damage to the political asp!-
atoms of many young Virginlan. but
is pointed out as one who not
MY succeeded in doing nilnself no harm.
tut went even further and clu h mseif
great deal OF good. People from his
art of the State say he burns moe mid
light oil than almost any man in Vir-
mia, and that his ca pacity for work and
is proclivities therefor are something
marvellous.
The friends OF Senator Martin are
nxious for a goodly number of candi-
ates to come out against INN. since.
rith the opposition o4y.-ed, he would
~ r. 4