The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-08-20
TIE SENATORIAL CONTEST
Democrats Looking to
Campaign of 1905.
AT ISSUE ON PRIMARY SYSTEM
Leaders at Variance on the Viva Voce
Method Of Naming
Candidstes.

November, marking the beginning oi The
hght tO bc made for the Democratic nom
inatiOn for nited Staterl Senator IN l3o''
only aiew nominations for either the
senate or house have been made ~ yet,
but the friends Of the Senatorial aspi-
rants ARE at work. end tine latter nave
been engaged for some months IN laying
plans for an active campaign.
The successor To Hon. Thomas :. Mar
lin il to be chosen by the general assem-
bly. which will he elected in 1903, and
will enter upon its work January !,
1906. II the State primary plan adopt
ed two wears ago by the Democratic con-
vention. and now in force. though not
cordially supported in all quarters. re-
mains in operation, the nomination WIZ
De decided 10y primary To be held III the
late summer or early iall two years
hence when members Of the senate and
houac are also named Bat vigorous
fight " IN he made ON the primary plan.
and the outcome il II matter ui some
donht There il especial opposition 10
the viva yoce system of voting, and 80
many of the local committees have ~
nnred this provision shat IL became nee
es-Ary for the State committee 10 come
together recently in special session anu
ndopt strong resolutions declaring
all primary plans not in conformity with
the regulations laid down 10y the com
mittee Illegal and of no ,iiect lt Il De
lieyed. despite this action. that the vote
in "A number Of legislative districts this
fall will be taken by the regular system
OF secret ballot.
no FIGHT pRlNNRN SYSTEM
While the Democratic State convention
will be held next year. primarily Tor an
election nf delegates 10 the national con
vention, the Indications are that the
nght over the primary system will over
shadow the prevalence for candidates Tor
the Presidency and every other issue. II
il ronsilered likely that the viva vcce
feature viii be- abandoned, and u Woulh
not be esurprising iiastrong fight IL made
to abolish the primary entirely.
The adoption oithe primary system ior
AZ, party nominations in the state war
really the outgrowth of the May confer
ence held several years ago. which was
dominated by friends cf Gov. Montagu"'
REPRESENTATIVE William A. Jones, and ex-
CAV TYLER. who were advocates oi this
system nfnominating candidates, lnelud
inc those for Congress aud the United
states senator. while Senators Martin
and Daniel and most OF the party leaders
nreirrred the old system Oi naming The
standard bearers 10y convention.
The plAn was the elimination ct the
Goht that Representative Jones star ted
al Roanoke several years before the May
t.h latI al
through the personal influence OF oisenator
Daniel and the ability OF those who OPP
nosed il to staye off action until enough
members had left for home to make
minority against IT.
The belief long entertained by many
that Hon. ]. HOge Tyler, who macesuch
a popular governor, will also enter the
race il given strength by the recent an
nouceement of the candidacy OF Hon. A.
\. Phegar. Of Montgomery, lor the state
senafe from the Fourth district. Judge
phlepar il one Of the most influential
men in South west Virginia, and has n
very extensive law practice, and 1t II not
believed that he would come 10 the legis-
lature again were it not for his desire to
advance the political ambitions ana IN
terests OF his friend, the ex-governor
A state ticket is also TO be elected IN
1908. but interest in the fight for COVER.
nor il overshadowed by the Senatorial
contest There will probably be four or
five aspirants for guberpatorial honors
Hon Glande A. Swanson il an ayowed
candidate. and Lieut.. Gov. Joreph T..
Willard. probably the richest man in Nir-
ginia il making an active canvass al
ready. and il il thought Hon. j. Taylor
Ellyson. will seek the nomination.
Judge William II Mann, OF Nottoway
the author OF the famous Mann bill
which had the effect Of closing "A large
nroportion of the saloons in Virginia, IL
being strongly urged to enter the race,
and ex.AttOrney General Rufus \. Ayers
Of Wise County, will he in the fight.
Twenty members of the State senat,
are TO be chosen this fall. As these hold
over. they will have voice in the selec
tion of the next United States Senator
The nominations for the senate. there
fore. will attract much more attention
and interest than those for the house, al
the entire membership Of the lower brancl
il chosen for two years. Up to this TIM
onIy two members OF the senate hay'
been named. These are Hon. william
Sbands. of Southampton, member o
the present body and Hon. Camm Pate
son. of buckingham, who was formerl.
in the house. Mr.. Il. NJ. Machen, ofAleN
andria. il il said, will succeed Senate
Donahoe from the Fourteenth district
lie isa Montague man, while Messrs
petteson and Stands are both ior Maj
tin Senators G.. Harding Walker, Q
Northumberland: X. L. Bruce, OF Wise
and George Il. Keezell, OF Rockingham
who will stand for reelection, are stanc
supporters of Mr. Martin. So are Sena
tors Henry II. Wickham, OF Hanover
and Judge Mann, OF Nottoway, both
whom will return. 1t would seem, there
fore. that. taking the twenty senator
to be chosen this fall Mr. Martin is lik'
Iy to have q decided majority.
The friends Of Gov. Montague recoI
nize TIE fact that the hope oil his nomini
ton lies in the continuance OF the pr
mary plan. Mr. Martin has undoubte'
ly grown steadily in popularity with Il
PEOPLE OF Virginia, but it is generally b
ieyed that he will be more certain OF T
nomination il the matter were to be q
cided by the general assembly.