Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-08-13

VI ~ itiI 90 Nphh
dent of carrying the State as they do
at the present time. Il seems like
dallying with the truth to say that
| there is really Il chance for this seem
insl yimpossiblc thing to happen, but
it is the truth nevertheless. The
Democrats are really becoming alarm
cd, and. where ordinarily they view
| the approach Of Il campaign with feel
! inGS of confidence marked by an cX-
trcnc apathy. this year they are be-
| stirring themselves and preparing for
| the contest as they have never done
before. In the first place, the Dem
ncracy is facing two bitter contests in
their own ranks. Senator Martin is
| being opposed for reelection by Gov
crnor Montague. The usual courteous
department marks the actions of Nir-
ginia gentlemen when they meet in de-
bate upon the stump has been lost in
| the StrcDunusncSs Of the present cam
paign. Martin aud Montague are at
lacking each other savaScly. Past
records are being looked into and
some things which each would rather
he kept secret have been given to the
public and made usc of by the RCpuh
| licanS. The other contest is for The
| ruhrrnatorial nomination. TCrc the
| temperance question has thrust itself
and become not only an issue. but u
! most important one. No matter how
| the nomination goes. the Democrats
are certain to lose many thousands of
votes
'In fortunate opposition To this the
| Republicans arc united and harmOni
ous to an unusual degree. The state
convention will he held nj Roanoke
next week and former United States
| Attorney Lewis is certain TO he nom
mated There will he no opposition
Lewis is popular with all parties and
| all classes Of people. He can bring
| together the various factions III Re-
pubicanism and coral the dissatisfied
voters of tile Democrats.
"RcpubIican leaders from the State
who have been in Washington during
| he past few days are really confident
Of the ability Of the party to win this
year and their confidence is born of Il
careful study of the situation as it
actual ycXIStS The campaign will be
Il harl-fomrht one From inaction hero
toforc the Republicans will bcstr
themselves and wage an aggressive
fight from The start. They arc busy
now holding meetings everywhere to
point how the people have lost under
successive Rcmucratic administrations
Lewis himself will take the stump and
| travel the State from end to end. Rep
rcscntativc Slcmp. the only Rcpub-
| lican member now in the House from
Virginia. will take personal charge of
The campaign ami direct II from Rich
| mOnn.
Virginia will bear watching this
year. for il is not unlikely to come into
the Republican column. Once in Col
Oncl Slcmp says il will stay, for the
people will then have IN opportunity
to really gct Il taste of good administra-
ton of public affairs"
II is hardly necessary TO point out
the individual inaccuracies of the fore
going. Regarding the claim of har-
monious accord in Republican ranks,
we simply reproduce an /! interview
with Benjamin l.. VandGrvall, one Of
the leading colorcd politicians OF the
State. Which appeared III a recent is
sue Of the Richmond News Leader:
With the negroes disgruntlcd and
the friends OF the late General Mahouc
on the warpath for Lewis scalp We
fear that the Republican party in Wiz.
ginia will fall far short of hciug cven
II saluiary check upon the Democrats.
"Whilc the Republicans at Roanoke
are preparing to nominate Il full State
ticket. they have raised the Lily White
| flag all over the State. The cOlorctl
voters who have paid their taxes num-
J her 25,000 or 10000. The leaders OF
this vote are laughing in their sleeves
at the leaders OF the Lilly White move
mcnt as they know they cannot carry
the State without them, and they will
have strenuous time 10 get the col
orcd vote to the polls. They are more
independent with their votes since
they supported Edgar Allan, Jr.
agains Hanson. although Hanson had
Judge Lewis. Roy Cabcll, Marshal
Treat. Postmaster knight, Collector
Stuart and Judge Waddill-thc whole
of the federal machine. Still Hanson
was beaten = Ia l.
"'rhc colorcd leaders of the party
here did not attend the Monroe hall
meeting, They had Il purpose for stay
ing away. ami il is The same all over
the State. The leaders like Jonathan
Mallory. Cook. Custalo and others toe
numerous ia mention. that poll tho
vote. arc telling you that they are ont
of politics In the next month numcr
Gus gatherings of negroes will be in
this city attending the annual meet
ings of various societies whose head
quarters are here. There will he
hcart-to-hcart talks and when these
people return home there will he al
influence gone out that II will be hard
10 cuuntcract. With white Republicans
fighting the ticket. because the head
did not vote the ticket with the late
'Hil'i1m Malone ~ u g htad and nc