Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-07
Republicans Intend to Make
a Stiff Fight.
SHAW OPENS CAMPAIGN
WILL ADDRESS STATE CoNvEN-
TON TOMORROW NIGHT.
Slemps to Put Forth Earnest Efforts
to Fulfill Their Assurances to
President Roosevelt.

Between intervals OF Official business
secretary Shaw has been busy several
days preparing the speech he will make
tomorrow night to the republicans OF Viz
ginia in their state convention at Roa-
noke. when they will nominate District
Attorney L. l. Lewis for governor.
Secretary Shaw has taken some time
and given considerable thought to his
speech. which Is designed to stimulate
the republican cause In Virginia and
cheer the rank and file OF the party there
in their attack upon the democrats of the
state.
Right at this time Secretary Shaw may
be regarded as the favorite of the Vir-
ginia republicans for the republican pres
tdential nomination three years from now
and his acceptance OF an invitation to
make the principal address TO the state
convention indicates that he is fully
aware of the regard in which he is held
In the state. In the campaign last year
1t was noticeable that Secretary Shaw
was the only republican of national prom
inence who was invited into Virginia to
express his views. He made a speech I'm
the ninth district, the only one repre-
sented by a republican-Representa
Slemp-and in the November election
Slemp carried the district by 1900 ma
5ority over the democratic nc minee an
unheard-of majority for the district. Mr..
Slemp Is in full control OF the state or
state chairman, and his selection of Sec
rotary Shaw indicates that far as the
present organization goes there Is moth
ing wrong with Shaw"
1t Is likewise noticeable that Secretary
Shaw is receiving more invitations than
any of the republican candidates for Pres
ident and that he is accepting some OF
them. He doesn't believe in dropping out
of the game OF politics What his plans
will be about making speeches after he
gets out Of the cabinet in February is not
known. although II Is supposed that his
friends will keep him supplied with invi-
tetions from all parts of the country, es-
pecially during the next congressional
campaign.
Virginia Republicans in Earnest.
Virginia democrats probably do not real
ize that an earnest effort will be made by
the republicans to elect governor this
year The republicans understand the dis
advantage under which they fight. but they
mean to put forth every effort to make a
good showing. 1t is widely recognized that
District Attorney Lewis. their nominee Is
a clean, able man, with considerable per
sonal popularity. The two Slemps, father
and son. are political fighters OF no mean
ability. The elder Slemp confederate
soldier, made some money In land deals IN
the southwest part of Virginia and has
some money, which he spends pretty freely
to further his ambitions When President
Roosevelt turned the old organization out
OF control OF 1eueTdl OInCeS III the Sltlt anu
handed the patronage over to the Slemps
and their followers they promised him that
they would do something to win in the next
election, and they are eager to make
good" They claim that while the repubil-
cans have lost many thousands Of votes by
the DISTINGUISHING laws respecting the
negro they have made up some of this by
accessions from white persons. and that
there are a number Of congressional dis
tricts in the state that are close between
the two parties as between the white vote
only. r.-
In past campaigns in Virginia for a good
many years. there has been no genuine ef-
fort by the republicans to win. 1t Is said
that they have been satisfied to hold the
federal offices and to make some noise, but
they didn't care much as to the outcome
feeling that they had no chance to win.
The natural fighting tendencies or the
Slemps have altered that part OF the T,r-
will have to watch the campaign with
careful eyes.
The Financial Problem.
While the republicans expect some speak
ers of prominence from various parts OF the
country to help them in an oratorical dfrec-
ton they do not know what they are go
ing to do to obtain funds to enable them to
prosecute as lively campaign as they have
planned. There will be heavy expenses for
their speakers travelling over the state, as
we'll as for the circulation of literature
The party Is not made up of wealthy men,