The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-03
There Are Ayers Swanson, Viii
lard, Ellyson, Mann, All
derson, Tucker.
SOME. GENTLEMEN
WATCHING THE STRAWS.
Are Unwilling to Announce Can
didacy Now; as the Contest
Is 50 Far offf-T[he Pri--. P'r1.-
mary .]7;7 Plan =. Will Will
3t. Doubtless be
l5,I srt1'i5f r1>.. ~ ~
s Tilted

l#s With tne next guDeTnatOTlhlR y Cpllesl,s
moro than year I'M the future. much
interest Is already being manifested in
political circles In this city Washing
ton and throughout this State In the
prospective battle for the nomination OF
the Democracy, which is generally re-
sarded as equivalent tn election.
The honor is ono to, which any man
may well aspire. since 1t Is regarded as
tho highest within the gift Of tho state.
Tho fact that 1t. seems 10 be the end
OF the political career OF tho successful
candidate, Judging by the record Of the
past forty years does not deter men,
young or old. from aspiring to tho po--
sition. with the presidency hardly yet
within tho range ot tho hopes Of the
most ambitious irginian, tho dis
tinguIshed sons OF the old Common
wealth look Jpn It. as the glittering PIN
uacle OF political Famb bition.,
with the primary, for tho nomIna ton
OF Governor Lieutenant-G Goyctnor, and
Attorney General more than eighteen
months in the future and the
aouyo campaign for tho nomination
set twelve or fourteen months
distant, several avowed or acknowledged
candidates are already in the field and
arc quietly at work to win influential
supporters In all sections Of the State.
With primary plan as the probable
ruethod OF selecting the candidates, the
importance of the geographical sub
division of the State from which the as
ba
.pinished Indeed, 1t Is felt that the man
who is strongest with the people as a
mixer" who Is most effective on the
stump and most magnetic among his fel-
Low men, is liable to carry off the honor.
whether he halls from tho shores of the
Chesapeake or moves and has his be-
{ Ing among the mountains OF the South
west or in the beautiful Valley or In the
Southside. or In the capital city of'tthe
Commonwealth. it matters less than ever
before. Geogra phical subdivision may
4 weigh In convention where the claims
of the various sections arc proclaimed
/ hy orators, but when 1t comes II to The
+ uaople acting directly in their sovereign
Y capacity, the merit and the popularity
OF tho candidate Is going 10 outweigh
every other cons!d tton, u
Old-Time Stumping. a8 h
The various aspirants will take the
stump aud address those whose SURFACES
they solicit, setting forth their claims
10 the honor they seek. Necessarily, with
no issues to discuss further than prom.
ising a clean, Democratic and progressive
administration. the aspirants Will have
little else to discuss OH the stump than
4 their own records and their pas + party
services In tho hea t.Sof discussion and
the anxiety Of every man to put forward
ana maintain his qualih ihcations for the
rosit!on, feeling isxvery apt to- be en-
rendered, especially II the policy Of Joint
debates Is inaugurated, Nothing ADDS
more to popular interest ina political
campaign than joint discussion. s
Whether they are conducive to party
harmony and the maintenance of the
solidity and effectiveness Of the party
organization Is another question, but ono
about which there Is little difference OF
opinion. \
MANY sagacious men, experienced In
public affairs and who have no axes
10 grind, no sef-int terest to subserve, are
fearful that heated primary campaign
for the party nomination ls gong 70
widen the breach In the party ranks
which no candid man can deny already
exists. That there are factions In, the
party no one can deny. That ley are
Z likely to figure in the campaign for the
Governorship Is equally patent. but Just
whose candidacy they will affect, and to
what extent, can only be known by eX-
perIence. It is the party behest that
tho nomination ;ba maue under the plan
4 first tried sln 1909 in the congressional
nominations and again In the nomina-
tons last year for the General Assembly
J The primary Is yet to be tried In a. State
campaign. After q. trial It is time TO
form conclusions as to Its effectiveness
and the satisfaction It may give
1t is SUFFICIENT to say that tho nomnia-
t!ons for Governor, Lieutenant Governor
pud Attorney-G General will be made by
the party primary, unless the new Gen-
sral Assembly shall pass a general pri-
mary bill. That now appears to he very
improbable. The primary plan is pop
ular with the, incumbents of oil offices
< who are candidates for reelection for
the reason that with minority snomina-
tions the incumbent can generally cons
1nand sufficient support to insure him the
nomination whichsin convention, might
70 to one of the field opponents. I'll tht
case of the goyernship the chances Of
the various asplrants are about equal
ICED, for there will be no incumbent in
tie race. Tho attorney-general, however
may be renominated