Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-01-11
State Politics Looming Up in
Virginia

State Politics Looming Up in
Virginia
The Richmond Times-Dispatch
Of Sunday contains an article on
the political outlook in State
politics. The principal contests
will be made for the Democratic
nominations for United States
Senator, Governor aid other State
offices.
The campaign for the various
nominations 10 going to be especi-
ally active for the reasons-hrst,
that the Democratic nomination is
regarded as equivalent to election !;
and, second, that for the first time
candidates for the high Offices to
be filled are to be chosen by pri-
mary election, instead of by con-
vention al heretofore. In con-
veutlon the man with the smallest
following originally might win the
honor over men who had almost
enough delegates pledged to elect
In the primary, conditions are
widely different. The man with
most followers will inevitably be
nominated, for a mere plurality
vote will confer the nomination,
whether it be also majority or
not.
Inasmuch as every Democratic
voter will have an equal voice In
the selection, the candidates will
make an effort for the favor OF the
individual voter. instead of for
the more influential men, as here
tofore. This will result in stump
campaign, in which orators will be
heard at every county seat and at
tue crossroads throughout the
summer. Joint debates and spirit
ed pas ages between the rival
candidates and among their friends
will be inevitable, since there is
nothing on which to wage the
campaign, but the political records
of the various aspirants. lt Will
be difficult toconfine the campaign
to official records, and it will not
be unexpected if the rivals get In
to exchanges of personalities, make
charges and counter-charges and
arouse the feeling of their partl'
sans.
Congressman Claude A. Swan
son of Pittsylvania county, hos
formally announced his candidacy
for the gubernatorial nomination.
20 which, it will be recalled, he
as2ired four years ago.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Joseph T..
Willard of Fairfax county, several
months ago made formal announce
msnt of his candidacy through an
interview in the Times-Dispatch.
State Senator William H. Mann
of Nottoway, generally known as
Judge Mann, nearly year ago
announced that he would be Il
candidate, and has given no in
timation of any change of mind
since that time.
For the senatOrship there are
two avowed aspirants-Senator
Thomas S. Martin, the incumbent
now serving his second term ald
rounding out his tenth year in the
Senate, and Governor Al. Monta-
que. who recently made formal
announcement of his candidacy,
after consultation with friends a
day or two before. Senator Mar
tin was never a candidate for
public office until elected Senator
by the General Assembly of 1891
'95, when he defeated General
Fitzhugh Lee, and took the seat
March !, 1895. He was reelected
by the General Asse mbly of 1900
and 1901, defeating Governor }.
Hoge Tyler, who tardily entered
the field as a contestant.
There are many offices to be
filled at the primary next August,
or September. For State treas
uier Hon. w. II. Boaz, of Abe
marie, is an announced contestant
of State Treasurer A. w. Hartman,
Jr., of Rockbridge, who will stand
for reelection. For superinten-
dent of public instruction DR.. j.
w. Southail, the incumbent, will
be opposed by NJ. j. d. Eggles-
ton of Prince Edward. Hon. d..
@. Eggleston, Secretary OF the
Commonwealth, is II candidate for
reelection, but is unopposed and
so far as is known will have no
opposition. The same is true Of
Commissioner of Agriculture O..
w. Koiner, who will probably be
named without opposition. Both
Messrs. Eggleston and Koiner
served for years in the General
Assembly of Virginia and are
widely known in the State.