Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-12-23
VIRGINIA REPUBLICANS.

ltElnlo R'fitfto ~Cl@N ~
consideration by the President yester
day. He had conference with Repre-
sentative Slemp, Judge WaddiIl, of the
U. S. Court, and l.. L. Lewis, u. 5.
district attorney for the Eastern District
of Virginia.
The delegation informed the President
that important con ferences of the re-
publican leaders of the State would be
held at Roanoke, and that an effort
would be made 10 secure unanimity o.
action in Virginia looking to the reor-
ganization of the republican party of the
State. 1t is proposed by the promoters
of the conference to make the republican
organization an earnest and aggressive
contestant for every State Office
This conference proposes to thresh oveI
the question of reorganization Of The
party in the State, with The object of put.
ting up an organization that will becomt
a regular, earnest contestant with thC
democratic party for every Office in the
State. 1t is supposed the conference ha;
been called by Representative SlemP,
and that it will embrace the leaders o.
the present republican organization
which includes Park Agnew, as Safe
chairman, and George Bowden, as nation
al committeeman. Slemp is the head o
one faction and these men of the other
1t is declared that the Agnew- Bowden
people may or may not attend,
but that if they do they will take the
pos ton that the pIrty does not need
reorganization, but needs more votes,
which they will help to get if a plan il
arranged upon which all can cooperate
The fact that the conference is being
engineered by Representative Slemp ma!
create suspicion as to the motives, but Sc
far as the White House is concerned
the only desire is to see 4 credllabl!
republican organization built up in the
State,
The President yesterday indicated his
approval of the conference idea, 5u
indicated also that he could take no par
in Virginia political affairs in support
ing one faction or another. He ex
pressed the hope that the Virginia re
publicaus would get together and act a
a unit.
The appointment of ]. f. b. Stuar
TO be marshal for the Eastern distric
Of Virginia appears now to have beef
made by President Roosevelt who'll,
upon his own responsibility, for bot
Representative Semp and District AT
torney Lewis said Yesterday that the.
had not Endorsed him for the position.
There is a strong probability that tn
republicans of Virginia will call upoi
Mr.. Agnew, of this city, the chairman q
the State committee to. make the cam
paign for the goyernorshiP.
It is said in Richmond that nothing
in Southern politics has created such
sensation in long time as the remoya
of u. 5. Marshal Morgan Treat and th
appointment of Capt. j. g. b. Stuart t
the position. 1t develops that th
President was not influenced by any q
the factionaI influences in Virginia, bu
acted on his Own Independent motion an
personal knowledge of the appOintee
The faction opposed to Treat declare j
a victory for the State organization. Al
old time republican said in RichmOn
yesterday that this was the forerunner o
the Presidents policy in the South, an
that he would recognize the Conlederat
element where political affiliations mad
il practical, believing it TO be the bes
material for a strong republican party ii
the South.
A dispat, h from Roanoke says: A meetni
of abont fify prominent epuDicans OF ih
State was held here last night Owning T.
trains being late, Col. Campbell Slemp, o
| Wise. did not arrive until after o'clock am
and il was nearly II o'clock before the meet
ing was called to order c. \. Hermans wa
made chairman Col. Slemp,' the only repub
lean Congressman from Virginia, at once re
tired from the deliberations Of the meeting
after relating the result Of the c0nferenc
with President Roosevelt Wednesday morn
ing.
The object of the conference here is to plac
The party in fighting shape. There is a desir
To eliminate federal oifcehOlders from activ
politics and to place the leadership III tn
hands Of men rho fight the local battles
At o'clock his morning an executive SEES
sion was called lor republican Legislators, Sena
tors and members OF the constitutional con
vention. At 2:30 o'clock il was still in ses
sion.