Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-21
BRISTOL POLITICS..
sURMIsEs AS TO THE EFFECT OF
THE NEW CONSTITUTION.
THE CONGRESSIONAL Re FIGHT.
Col. slcmp, the Republican, VIII Pur
Up an Active Fieht-Rhca,. vigor-
on. campaign-odds in Favor OF
HE CONGRESSIONAL FIGHT.

BRISTOL, VA, September c0.-(Spe-5
cial.)-The registration under the new
Constitution was begun in this city yes
terday. It has not progressed far enough
to make an estimate on the result, since
the books have not yet been open in
the colored section Of tho city. The i'm
preston of the politically well informed
is that there will be considerable re-
duction in the number of voters as COM
pared with the old registration. There
viii be a considerable number Of white
men, who have heretofore voted that
will not now be able to register, while
tits believed that more than three
fourths of tho colored vote will be elirni-
mated. The registration has just been
completed at Ctninowie. Smyth county.
Where under the old Constitution there
were 300 voters at Chilhowie, the number
has now been reduced to 200. It will not
be surprising II practically the same ratio
will apply to the new registration in
Bristol. The registration Will not be con-.
cluded here until October 9Th.
NINTH DISTRICT FIGHT.
The race for Congress in the Ninth
Virginia District Is seing to be one of
considerable interest. With such men as
Judge w. f. Ehen and Colonel Campbell
SIemp to oppose each other there can but
be stirring see.es In the political arena.
Colonel Slcmp has be,n in conference
with the Republican leaders in different
counties ever since his nomination. He
has given it out that ne intends to make
q vigorous campaign.
Congressman khea has already begun
an active canvass. No practical esti-
mates can be made on the probable result
until the registration in the district is
completed. It Is generally believed thai
the trend Of the registration will be fav-
orable to the incumbent.
TENNESSEE POLITICS.
Since Hon. Robert Burrow has declined
the Democratic nomination for Congress
in the First Tennessee District, it is not.
certain that Representative W. P.
Brownlow, the Republican nominee for
reelection, will have opposition. The
Democratic committee is now in CORE
spondence about the matter, but no man
has yet been decided; upon to make the
race. There is a small faction of Demo-
Gratis who would support Brownlow In
opposition to anybody that the party
might nominate, and this fact has had
a tendency to embarrass the movement
to make nomination against the Con-
gresham. But what would be lost In
this way to the Democrats would be
made back to them tenfold by the dis
satisfied Republicans who would support
the Democratic nominee.
Mr. Brownlow's party is perhaps, more
seriously divided as to his candidacy than
it has even been as to the candidacyEof
any man, and should the Democrats put
out a strong candidate, the general
opinion is that he would stand a chance
of winning even in the face OF an ordi-
nary Republican majority in the district
of 10, 900. Brownlow's good record for en-
cient service alone might save him.
In the case Of John A. Mahoney and
wife against the Southern Railway Com
pany for alleged damages sustained1sby
Mrs. Mahoney while she was2at passc1i-
ger on train OF the defendant COM
pany, the jury rendered a verdict in
favor of the plaintiffs in the Law Court
of Bristol this week for damages to the
extent of $1,000.
The Strother Drug Company, of Lynch
burg, Va, has leased a large building,
in Bristol, and is taking steps to open.
a wholesale drug house here.