Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-23


November next
The Withdrawals of Bland as candidate
for the democratic nomination for lfeuten-
ant governor was prac ,ically in the interest
of State Chairman and Democratic Ma
tional Committeeman j. Taylor Eliyson of
Richmond. who is a candidate for the same
office. This leaves three candidates in the
field for the lieutenant governorship. but
the chances all seem to be that the record
of State Chairman Ellyson and his long
party service and work will give him the
nomination with ease. The remaining can
ddates other than Chairman Elyson are
Messrs. Cabeil of Richmond and Cation or
Alexandria, both of whom entered the race
prior to the entrance of Mr.. Eiiyson.
Mr.. Bland. who it appeared before Mr.
Eliyson came in, would stand very lair
chance OF capturing the nomination. de-
! clared in his letter of withdrawal that the
present age is one of conditions and not
theories, and based his withdrawal on the
fact that Mr.. Eilyson's strength was such
that it was evident the nomination would
go to the state chairman any way.
With his withdrawal from the state race
comes the announcement that Bland will
again run for the Legislature from Ports
mouth which city he represented in the
lower house of the general assembly for
four successive terms. Two years ago he
declined to stand for reelection, though
he could have had the nomination for the
asking. He will be elected this year with
ease. 1t is stated that Mr. Bland desires
to represen: the second congressional dis
trict in Congress, and he may enter the
next congressional primary. notwithstand-
ing the fact that Representative Maynard.
who Is also from Portsmouth, will stand
again for reelection.
Montague Against Fusion.
Governor Montagues speech in Norfolk
county. in which he condemned fusion in
strong language, was probably the most
notable of any speech the governor has
made during the present campaign There
was no attack upon Senator Martin. but
the latters friends in his part of the state
were bitterly attacked the governor ham
ding with gloves off all democrats who in
any way Endorsed the fusion of certain
publicans and democrats in Norfolk county
for political purposes. The governors
speech was well received by those favoring
his candidacy in the present fight, but was
bitterly condemned by many other demo-
Gratis. who claimed to be able to point out
in the speech statements that could not be
reconciled with declarations made by his
excelency on other occasions.
Lieut.. Gov. Willard. who is one of the
three aspirants for the gubernatorial cam
paign in the August primary. made a great
hit all over the state by indorsng the Mann
liquor law. upon which State Senator w.
H. Mann. another gubernatorial aspirant,
is making his run as father Of the new law.
the operations of which have resulted in the
ginia in a little over one year.
Each of the gubernatoral and senatorial
candidates were asked by Rev. DIR. James
Cannon of Blackstone, Va, president of the
Virginia Anti-Saloon League for his posi-
ton with regard to the Mann law. 1t Is
understood that all have replied and DR..
Cannon will shortly make public the re-
plies. Lieutenant Governor Willard. to let
his friends know how he stood, gave the
press copy of his letter at the same time
that the original was addressed to DR.. Can
non. 1t was in this letter that Mr.. Willard
thoroughly Endorsed the Mann law.
The call by State Chairman Slemp of
the republican state executive committee
to meet in Lynchburg on Saturday next
probably means that the republican state
convention will be called for an early
date in June, and that Roanoke will be
the convention city.
Slemp's Great Fight. -; -,
Representative Campbell Slemp made a
great fight to have the last state con-
vention held in Roanoke, but the Bow
den-Agnew faction then in control out
voted him, and Norfolk was given the
convention. Representative Slemp con-
tends that large majority of the repub-
licans of Virginia are in the valley and
the southwest, and that it is too far to
bring the rank and file who desire to at
tend the convention all the way across
the state to some eastern city.
With the exciting features of the state
campaign there are many exciting and
interesting local fights now going on in
this part of Virginia.
One of the most interesting of these is
in Portsmouth and Norfolk county, where
n candidate for the state senate is to be
chosen. The old war between the fusion
lists and straightout democrats has CROP
ped out, and the campaign is proving to
be a lively one indeed.
Norfolk county and Portsmouth elect a
senator Jointly, and it has been the prac
tice for the county to name the senator
one term and Portsmouth the next term
This year 1t is Portsmouth's time to
name the man. She has three candidates
in the field. John C. Neimeyer, a brother
of $. w. Neimeyer, secretary at Wash
ington to Representative H. L. Maynard.
is pleasing to the fusionists, and the
friends of United States Senator Martin,
while Samuel T. Montague and Frank
Wonnycott, the other candidates, are
the county and the managers of the cam
pafgn of Gov. Montague for the United
States Senate.
The county committee, which is con-
trolled by the straightouts, has already
said that it is Portsmouth's time to name
the senator. J. C. Neimeyer wants the
candidate to be named by primary in
Portsmouth city alone. With this Mel
meyer could win. With the county voting
S. T. Montague might win out over the
other two. The county wants to take part
so that it can assist in electing Montague
to the state senatorship. The Portsmouth
committee has put itself on record
favoring one primary in Portsmouth city,
and this resolution has gone to the county
committee for ratification. The result Is
being anXiously awaited. H