The Washington times., 1905-08-12
.SLEMP REGENCY
MEANS BUSINESS
Will Fight in Virginia for
Republican Success.
PASSING THE C0L0RED VOTE
New Boss Thinks Well of Taking Out
the Color Issue-Democrats
Confident

The Republicans mean to make an
honest effort to carry Virginia this year.
Congressman Campbell Slemp. the new
party boss in the State. and his son. the
chairman of the State committee. are
believers in the idea of making their
politics count. They do not propose that
under their domination there shall ke
any shadow boxing at politics. They will
fight for control Of the State govern
ment, not for mere control Of the Fed
eraI patronage.
The Slemp regency insists that other
Republican leaders Of Virginia have too
often maintained a nominal organza-
ton, making no real efforts to carry the
State, but keeping themselves in control
OF the skeleton of a party in order that
they might have the distribution of the
Federal pie This isn't the sIemp idea.
There are enthusiastic Republicans,
and a good many of them, who actually
believe there is q chance to carry the
State this fall. There are no Democrats
who think the State is in danger this
year. or next; but there are thousands
of Democrats who admit that in the
present course of politics, State and Ma
tional. Virginia VIII some day be like
ly TO go Republican,; and to these. the
most significant of all indications was
the complexion of the Republican State
convention at Roanoke the other day.
Elimination Of Colored Voters.
For the Republican party of Virginia
has accepted the elimination of the ne
gro from politics. There was hardly a
handful of cOlOred people in that Roa-
nolke convention, and there Is no viola
ton of confidence in saying that the
leaders Of the organization were glad
Of it. They believe the party will have
its real chance for victory and perman-
| ent victory only whan the color Issue
| is taken out from politics.
! Congressman Slemp has no more kind
! ly feeling for the coIored man in poll
/ ties than have his Democratic oppo-
hents. He always admits it frankly
enough in private. and mis- views are
we'll known
The theory of these Virginia and other
| Southern Republicans who believe that
| some day their efforts will break the
solid South, is an interesting one. They
say that with the race question out OF
politics the South will naturally begir
/ 10 divide for the first time since the
var on economic and political questions
/ Then it will be realized that the South
| needs protection for the development
| OF its great iron and coal and industria
| possibilities Meantime the manufac,
! turing North, being already developed
and not needing protection so much as
/ II once did will see that in order to hold
| its lead over the South, it can afford tC
| sacrifice some OF its own protection In
| order TO keep the South from getting
| the benefit: and so III time there viii
| be a reaction IN favor OF more moderat t'
/ protection in the North. and in favor
! of the highest schedules possible in the
\ South. at least as affecting those arti
An Interesting Theory.
This theory-and it has been a gooC
many times exploited in the last yeal
by Democrats as well as Republicans
is certainly interesting. 1t is said Il
be the theory on which Secretary Shaw
has warmed up TO the South and frankly
talked protection there; and he ha!
made good with the talk, too, according
to many Southern observers II may re
quire vigorous Imaginative effort TO con
template Il situation in which Pennsyl
vania will be ready 20 sacrifice any o.
her iron and steel schedules, for in
stance: but it is not so far cry TO tht
day when Alabama will want and viii
make political demand for the larges
| measure OF protection TO her iron anC
steel traffic.
But discussion of possibilities so re-
mote as these is rather foreign TO the
Immediate political situation in Virginia
! me lJGnOCIdllC. Sidtt BLailItti VIII "
held August p, for the nomination or 1
candidate for Senator 4 candidate fol
governor. and other State officers; while
the legislative districts Will name theil
respectiye tickets. The next LeglSla
! ture must select q United States Senator
TO succeed Senator Martin. and there
are two candidates.
Governor Montague and Senator Mar
tin have been making vigorous can
vags OF the State. and the one of then
who receives a majority of the primary
4 gla-EEF tod FlrAF TsT fRFaT4
didate. legislators being pledged to sup
port him.
The Senatorial contest viii not be ovel
until the votes are counted, but the
Martin men certainly are more confident
than the supporters of Governor Mon
tague and they make their claims more
snecific and detailed, Governor Mon
taeue has bitterly attacked the Senator
as a corporation agent, alleging tha
Martin was a railroad lawyer befOr'
he was Senator and has conducted him
self ever since as beHt one. 1t IS ad
mitted in reply by the Martin peCpl'
that Martin was d district attorney fo
the Chesapeake and Ohio when he wa:
| elected Senator. They say he resigned
The position and that today far from
being the railroad candidate, he ha
! every railroad president in the State op
poscd TO him, as he had at the two pre-
vious elections when he has been Sc
Iected for Senator. The railroads ar
declared to be for Montague; and tn
railroads WELD no inconsiderable inf1u
cnce in the politics Of Virginia, as II
that of every State.
Martins Senatorial Record.
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