Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-12-16
SATURDAY EVENING. DEC. 10, 1905.

to who should manage party matters and
assist in naming those to hold all the
federal Offices in the State, it was herald
ed far and near that the organization
under Chairman Park Agnew had done
nothing, and could do nothing, hence
AS stated "a new deal was on. Mr.. Ag-
new relinquisbed his place as head Of
tue party organization by resigning his
position as chairman of The republican
State committee, and was forced by a
request from the President to hand in
his resignation as collector of one of the
two internal revenue districts of this
State. Mr.. Bascom Slemp was named
for the Craftsmanship and Mr.. Summers
for collector, both selections being made
at the dctatiOn Of Congressman Slemp,
the formers father. Great things were
promised by Virgnia's one republican
Congressman, and the President was told
that the old State was on the verge of a
revolt against democracy; that The demo-
cratic primary contest would lie so bit
ter aud leave so many sores that with
candidate of the Judge Lewis order re-
publican victory WAS not only possible,
bnt probable. II is not known whether the
President took Colonel Slemp seriously,
bat il is assumed he did not, for no one
has vet accused the President OF being
in his dotage, or bordering on senility.
BE this as it may, Colonel Slemp was
the patronage dispenser and party die
tator. Judge Lewis was nominated for
Governor, other gentlemen for the vari-
Gus State Offices and the revenue office
WIS moved from Alexandra 20 small
town in the Ninth district--a district
represented By Colonel Slemp in Con-
gress-and the republican campaign was
inaugurated and carried on in a spirit OF
brag and buster After the democratic
primary in August, for day or so, the
Semps and their followers, big and
little felietated themselves upon
what they supposed was falling
Oft in the democratic vote. In few
days when the full vote was canvassed,
it was shown that much interest had
been manifested, all of which pointed to
large, or fairly large, vote in November
This did not apparently dampen the re-
publicans' hopes, certainly it did not de-
ser Colonel Slemp nor his optimistic son
and his corps of followers and speakers
from making claims so ridiculous, that
they put credulity to test. More than
once in this column it was suggested as
folly to suppose that Judge Lewis was
stronger in 1905 than President ROOse-
Welt was in 1904. The returns are in,
AID were published in the Gazette OF
Tuesday. Presumably they are correct.
They are interesting in showing, as was
predicted, that Colonel Slemp and his
s1n, and their organized audacity, are
not better leaders than our fellow towns
men, Mr. Park Agnew, Postmaster
Crupper, and what was known as the
old organization. At the recent election
Mr.. Swanson reeeiued SO, 544 votes,
Judge Lewis 1926. Last year Judge
Parker received so, 664 votes, President
Roosevelt 4S,1Sl. This is not the only
evidence that Mr.. BascOm SIemp lacks
the force, as well as the ability of pO-
litical leader. The Fifth and Ninth
districts, if we have the counties correct,
are proof positive of such lack of polti-
cal ability. In the Fifth, Mr.. SwansOn's
congressional district, that gentleman
received S,502, Judge Lewis 1888.
Last year Judge Parker received 7, 966,
Roosevelt 1894 swanson s gain, l, 1885,
In the Ninth, Colonel Slemp'S congress
sional district, Swanson received 1903,
Judge Lewis ll,764 last year Judge
Parker 9,105, Roosevelt 1917. so
here in Colonel Slemp's home, Swanson
got 69S more woes than Parker, and
Judge Lewis got | 1858 less than Roose-
welt. "This was the most unkindest
cut Of ALL" Could Agnew have done
worse? Collector of Internal Revenue
Lowry, one of the appOintees, secured
by Col. Siemp, who has just returned to
Richmond from Washington, says that
while there be saw Chairman Slemp,
Just after the latter had returned from
an interview with the President, and
Mr.. Semp said the President expressed
himself as satisfied with the good fight
the republicans put up in this State in
che recent election. This shows that
the President eitherdid not expect much
from Virginia or that he is easily salts
fed.
---------~----------------
The authorities of the U. S. Naval