Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-16
DEMOCRATS ARE ACTIVE
LIVELY TIMES IN VIRGINIA CAM
PAIGN-NEGRo ELIMINATED.
pecIal Correspondence of The Sunday Star.

NORFOLK, Va. April 15, 1865.
While the democrats of the state are in
the midst of primary campaign for the
selection of a candidate for the United
States Senate and candidates for governor.
lieutenant governor. attorney general, Sec
rotary of the commonwealth and superin-
tendent of public instruction. to be voted
for in the November general election. the
republicans all oyer the state are losing no
time in preparing for the campaign which
they propose to wage this coming fall in
a desperate effort to wrench from the demo-
Gratis the several state offices to be filled in
November and the state legislature, with a
view to electing a republican successor to
United States Senator Thomas S. Martin.
over whom Gov. A. j. Montague is now
seeking to secure the democratic natorial
nomination in the August primary.
Now that the negro, under the operations
of the new constitution of Virginia, has
been practically eliminated as a political
factor in the state. the republicans, with C.
Bascom Slemp of Big Stone Gap the new
republican state chairman. in the lead, have
started out to form a new republican party,
in which the negro, to all intents and pur-
poses, will not appear as consideration.
The idea of Chairman Slemp and his fol-
lowers is to have a white mans party and
give the democrats of the state an opposi-
ton such as will set them to thinking If
not wipe from under them the confidence of
long standing that Virginia can never be
anything but democratic state.
The republicans, following the advice of
State Chairman Slemp, are setting to work
in all parts Of the state in an effort to have
all registered voters of their party faith
pay their poll taxes. and thus become fran
chised for participation in the November
election. The leaders of the Virginia Negro
Suffrage League have formed district or
CARNATIONS in all ten of the Virginia con-
gressional districts, for the purpose of hav
Ing all registered negro voters pay their
taxes, and the district organizations are
seeing to it that local county and city
leagues are being formed for active work
along this line.
Negroes Feeling Sore.
The negroes, however, are not feeling very
kindly toward the white republicans. and
there are small things happening all the
time in local organizations and otherwise
which appear to be irritating them. Ac-
cording to some the negroes are on the
verge of declaring that If the ''lilly-whfte"
republicans want everything and intend CIV
ing them nothing they can go and the ne
groes will no longer give their votes, in this
part of the state at least.
J. I. Mitchell, of York county, one of the
negro leaders in the second congressional
district, while in Norfolk recently to attend
the meeting of district republicans before
which L. P. Summers of Abingdon APP
peared, declared without hesitation that the
blacks were mad because of the way the
whites had treated them, and they wanted
their feelings in the matter thoroughly I'M
derstood mitchell said that State Chair
man Slemp and all the others were very
anxious on election day to have their votes,
but that he any of the others seemed
to want to give them any recognition, ana
that this was what the colored brother was
directing to. -~----g..--
Mitchell. when asked if the blacks had
any idea of withdrawing from the regular
republican organization and forming re-
publican party of their own, as had been
reported in some quarters, said for his part
he had no such intention. it being his deter
mination to remain within the OLD ofganfLa-
ton and prove thorn in the flesh OF the
whites who were ignoring the negroes until
the black men got some recognition.
Since this, hawaver Mitchell, VINO mas
held a clerical position in the newport
New custom house, has received notice,
along with w. II. C. Brown, another col
ored clerk in the same office, who was Tor
merIy resident Of Portsmouth ana
practicing attorney here, that his services
will not be required after April 10. Inc
colored republicans take these removals as
another direct thrust at them. While II
was known that the custom house force at
Newport News, by recommendation OF the
customs inspectors at Washington, Woulo
have to be reduced, the negroes were mop
ing that their friends holding minor posi-
lions in this office would be looked out for
and that the chopping would at least not
begin and end with members of their race
w
Newport News thus far have been two.
and those to receive the ak were both no.
groes. 1t is announced, however, that
others must go at Newport News, and the
prominent negro politicians of the district
are watching eagerly to see whose offciai
heads will fall next time.
Campaign Contributions.
Not much has been said of late among
the local republican officeholders concern
ing the request" that came from State
Chairman Slemp some time ago for contri-
buttons from them for state campaign pur-
poses, the contributions. 1t was suggested
by the chairman. to be equal to one-fifth OF
the annual salary Of the officeholders. 1t
is suspected that a large majority Of those
who received letters from the state chair
man requesting contributions will make
them, though numerous Office holders pro-
tected by the civil service and otherwise
have declared that they have no idea of
paying any attention to 1t.
One office holder whose influence
Chairman Slemp could not touch has
never opened his request" The letter did
not reach him until after publication was
made Of the receipt here of the circular
from Chairman Slemp and when the letter
postmarked Abingdon" reached this office
holder he politely put the same In his
pocket, and now says he Is keeping 1t as
souvenir.
The question as to who the republicans
will nominate at their state convention in
June or July for state offices Is now quite
an interesting topic among the politicians.
One slate which has just been made up has
Judge L. L. Lewis of Richmond for gov
ernor, Ambrose H. Lindsay Of Portsmouth
for lieutenant governor, and for attorney
general A. P. Gillespie of Tazeweu county.
The same slate which Is given out by A.
F. Griffith, republican member of the leg
islature from Russell county, probably in
cludes Representative Campbell Slemp of
the ninth congressional district for United
States senator should the republicans hap
pen to secure majority in the next gen.
eral assembly.
Judge Lewis has been repeatedly men,
toned for the gubernatorial nomination.
and 1t Is foregone conclusion that the