Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-13
Southern Republicans to Put
Up a Fight. ....-
WILL DO ACTIVE WORK
OPPORTUNITIES FOR WINNING
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.
Conditions in Louisiana, Mississippi
Virginia, the Carolinas and Other
Southern States. -

Southern republicans do not expect to be
able to pull down any electoral votes for
their national ticket this year, but they are
preparing to give the democrats some an
noyance by making fights in an unusually
large number Of congressional districts.
That policy is in accord with the wish of
the President. He has no patience with he
pap-eating republican who is satisfied to
draw his salary from the federal govern
ment and keep his little private organiZa-
ton intact for a descent on the White
House offices when there IS something bet
ter doing. The PRESIDENT likes to see
mai active and energetic in the defense of
his faith and principles, even if he is in
Woeful minority. The President gave
quiet tip of his feelings in that direction to
southern republicans two years ago, and
indicated that he would keep a memoran-
dunn of the pie-grabbers without fight ard
the pie e-graDbers with backbone and scrap
in their repertoire, that when he had
something good to pass around he would
have no difficulty from his little list in de-
termining where the nice thing should CO.
That aroused some of the southern re-
pubicans at the time and is distinctly re-
membered this year, with the result that
the President is being informed that there
will be show of activity in southern con-
gTessional districts this fall. There are
not many buoyant expectations as to the
results. but the Presidents idea of belliger-
ent partisanship will have been carried
out. In addition to the possibility of con-
stantly increasing the republican vote.
Work in Several States.
President Roosevelt today talked with
Frank B. Williams. republican state chair
man of Louisiana. and one of the referees
in that state for federal appointments. Mr..
Williams said that the republicans would
pa 1ipa in
district of that state and would put up the
best fight in their power. They had hopes
of winning in the second and sixth dis
tricts and would display most of their
energy in those districts. The second is
represented by Representative Davey
democrat, and the sixth is represented by
Representative Robertson of Baton Rouge
The dSfranchiSeme clause in Louisiana
made the democrats SO Indifferent in The
last election that Mr.. Davey received a
total of only 5.O14 votes to S63 for the re
publican candidate. In the sixth district
the vote was still smaller, being only 2 124
fol- Robertson and 673 for Hebert, re-
publican.
In Mississippi the democrats have lost In
terest In the general election to such an
extent that the leaders fear that the repub-
lican candidates for Congress may slip in
by few votes if they should get their
registered vote to the polls. The President
has personal friend in control of federal
patronage and republican politics in that
state. He Is Edgar S. Wilson, United
States marshal c. the southern district.
Under his leadership the Mississippi repub-
licans have nominated candidates for Con-
gress in every district, and they will make
the best fight within their power, trusting
partly to democratic indifference and fall
ure to go to the polls. Mississippi Is one
! of the southern states where the negro is
disfranchised to ( large extent. 5-f
| The Virginia republicans are making
| fights in practically all the districts of
! that state this year, and claim to have
| hopes of carrying the third, ninth and
| tenth districts. The ninth district is rep
| resented by Col. Campbell Slemp, a repub-
| lican. He was elected over Representative
| William F. Rhea by the slender majority
| of 21S. The district is close and a hard
! fight is to be made by both parties to re-
| tain 1t. The democrats have nominated
| State Senator Wysor. and the republicans
| have again put up Colonel Slemp, who is
sanguine of success and greatly desires
victory, because he aspires to control the
| republican organization Of the state and
! knows that the best way to get it is to put
| up fight that will make the President
| admire and respect him. The Bowden-Ag-
| new following have controlled the state
| and the offices for years, and Colonel Slemp
| failed to oust them in the last state con-
vention, although making a strong show
| ing.
| The republicans are to make stiff fights