The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-03

| conditions the opposition to Judge Mann
and what he represents would endeavor
to concentrate on the strongest Of the
| other candidates. That Is q concession
! that with four or five in the field Judge
Mann would be a formidable bidder for
tho nomination. The contest IN me prl-
mary would develop into one OF tie field
| against Mann.
Mr.. Swanson, They Say.
Upon whom the opposition to the adj
| vocate of prohibition would concentrate
| Is difficult at this distance to ascertain.
and any opinion would necessarily be
friends say that he is tho logical candl-
| date and the strongest Of the field against
| Judge Mann They point to his splendid
| acceptance of the verdict of the party
| at Norfolk In 1901 and his loyal support
1 Of the nominee as indicating tho stuff OF
which he is made There is no doubt
that Mr.. Swanson made friends, even
among those who had opposed him. after
| the Norfolk convention had made Its
| nomination. He Is q man of great per-
sonal magnetism and is widely known.
! No other man in the race, perhaps, has
moro devoted, influential friends all over
the State. as the First District congress-
man, On the stump he can hold his own
! with any OF the field.
i -
ernor on tho ticket with Governor Mon
| tngue, has made an excellent presiding
| officer of tho Senate. and has been dilGsnt
and faithful In dlscharglng his duties
! There is no more popular man In either
branch of tho General Assembly than
;Joe'' Willard, as everybody calls him
Hc has the warm personal esteem Of
every member and employee. He has
served his county in the House several
| terms and has a number of associates
| In that body as now, constituted. Al-
though perhaps, tho wcalthlest man IN
state, Mr., Willard Is utterly unspolled
and Is as thoroughly democratic IN tho
| broadcast sense MS any man In tho GEN
eral Assembly. During tho last campaign
| he made very pleasing impression upon
| the audiences he addressed and won
! friends everywhere, 1t Is admitted that
! hn added strength to tho ticket on which
| he was elected three years ago, and his
| friends arc confident that he would make
| q strong run for the 1goycrnorship IN a
| primary,
From Southwest.
Mr.gAyers comes from Wise county, IN
| the extreme Southwest and Is OF nAturer
nge and experience than either of the
| gentlemen named. In 1855 he was elected
attorney general OH the ticket with Fila
| hugh Lee when the readjuster regime
| was OVcrLnrOWN, ana ATeHuereu Ndluuplo
service in that ardous position, then In
volylng a vast amount Ut work, owirs
to the endless litigation attending the
| debt settlement. Mr.. Ayers Is a man
OF largo means, prosperous II not posi-
lively wealthy, but he is as approachaple
cordial and unnssuming as when he was
young and unknown man. a sound
lawyer, he Is also a man Of large expert
ence In business ana oflrlpe Judgment.
He is not actively allied with any faction.
The Southwest. from watch he halls,
has now become the political battle-
ground Of the State. The only congress
man elected by the Republicans is from
the Southwest. and In the recent legsla-s
tive elections, the Republicans made all
most clean sweep there. Some con-
tend that these facts would have ten-
dency to make the party look elsewhere
FIN a candidate but, others maintain that
I II y Il good notifies to Mpolninate-a man