Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-09

is a DlIter one, ana seems 10 De groWiIS
more and more bitter all the time, while
the republicans are equally divided among
themselves.
The factional fight among the democrats
finds the two sides lined up principally in
the senatorial fight between Senator Thorn
S. Martin, who seeks denomination and
election at the hands of the democratic
electorate. and Governor A. j. Montague,
who seeks to succeed Senator Martin IN
the upper house of Congress.
There is to be a state primary election
in August, in which democratic candida ties
for United States senator, governor, leu
tenant governor and other state offices will
be chosen The candidate for the United
States Senate who receives the highest
number of votes will be declared the dem
ocratic nominee and the democratic mem
bers of the next legislature will be pledged
to support, and, If they are in the ma
jority, elect him to the Senate for the term
of six years. beginning March 8. 1907. So
far the only candidates for senatorial hon.
ors are Senator Martin and Governor Mon
tague and It is conceded on all sides that
there will be no more entries in this race
Candidates for Governorship-
There is a three-cornored fight on for
the gubernatorial nomination, which prom
Uses untold complications for the democrats,
and from which the republicans OF the
state hope to make big capital and possibly
carry the state in the general election next
fall. The gubernatorial candidates are Rep
resentative Claude A. Swanson of the fifth
Virginia district, who will receive the I'M
divided support of the friends of Senator
Martin; Lieutenant Governor j. E. Willard
and Judge William H. Mann of Petersburg,
member of the Virginia state senate, whose
strength will probably come from among
the friends of Governor Montague In the
senatorial fight.
The friends of all three gubernatorial
candidates, of course, believe that their
man Is certain to win, and the fight is really
quite an uncertain one Swanson appears
to be in the lead al this time, with Judge
Mann, who Is a great anti-liquor advocate
second The effort of the politicians 70
have either Swanson or Willard Withdraw,
so that one could make fight against
Judge Mann. has failed completely, and
nothing more Is likely to be heard along
this line, though it would be pleasing TO
the knowing politicians II such thlhs
could be brought about.
1t Is feared that in the event OF Judge
Mann winning the nomination many will
bolt the state ticket in the general election
and vote for the republican nominee in NO
vember, and by reason of the bitter fight
that is on between the two senatorial cam
didates 1t is feared that the bitterness may
become so great that the friends of one or
the other may possibly become careless
about voting in the general election and
thus give the republicans a fighting chance
at least to elect a majority of the new
legislature, which conveneS at Richmond
In January, 1906.
Probable Republican Nominee.
Representative Campbell Slemp of the
ninth district, the only republican repre-
sentative from Virginia, and who was the
power behind the throne in bringing about
a reorganization of the republican party in
Virginia, is responsible for the statement
that Judge L. L. Lewis will be the repub-
lican nominee for governor, and Col. Slemp
thinks that Judge Lewis is quite certain of
election. Judge Lewis was formerly presi
dent Of the court Of appeals of Virginia, and
is a personal friend of President Roosevelt,
the President some time ago having upon
personal grounds appointed him United
States attorney for the eastern district OF
Virginia, one of the most desirable federal
positions in the state.
1t seems to be the idea of the republicans
to hold state convention in June, and
then they will put up a full state ticket to
be voted for in November.
c. Bascom Slemp, son of Representative
Slemp and the new republican state chair
man, has sent the word throughout every
section of Virginia that the republicans
must put up candidates for every office in
sight during the coming campaign, and par
ticularly candidates for the house of dele
gates and state senate, with the view to
controlling the new legislature so that a
republican senator be elected When
Senator John w. Daniel was last elected
the republicans gave their complimentary
vote to Repre- sentative Campbell Slemp and
the democrats say that the ninth district
representative now has the senatorial bee
buZzing In his ear sure enough. They de-
clare, however, that Col Slemp's pole will
never prove long enough to reach the per-
simmon.
Hopeless Split in the Second.
The republicans in this (the second dis
arc
Bowden-Agnew fractional men in control of
affairs Chairman Slemp has warned these
followers of the old Agnew organization
that they must throw off their Inactivity
and become party workers for the love of
party and not party organizations simply
for party spoils or else they will be asked to
step out and if they refuse to do this. they
have been quietly informed they will be
put out.
The situation in Norfolk county, the
largest in the state, is particularly compli-
Gated. Here there has existed for a num-
Der of years an agreement between certain
democrats and republicans by which num-
Der or the best county offices are given to
republicans, while the republicans give
other minor county offices to democrats and
guarantee the democrats all the county's
representatives, in the legislature Repub-
ican State Chairman Slemp has not put his
tOoe uo"A oh NoTlOlk county 1uSlOn, but
ne has said very plainly that the repub-
icans have enough votes there to guarantee
them one member at least of the new legis-
lature, and he expects them to send a good
republican to the house next January
Democratic Factions Far Apart.
The fusion situation in Norfolk county is
not only perplexing to the republicans, but
is also bothering the democrats to no little
extent at this time. 1t has torn asunder
all hope of a united democratic organiza-
ton, and the two factions are at daggers'
ends. each fighting all the time for recog-
milton from the state committee and SUI
premacy in general in all party matters
Some time ago the state committee recog-
nized what is known as the regular demo-
cratic straightout committee but the
fusion democratic committee refused to be
turned down. and is now demanding recog-
milton. This committee favors United States
Senator Martin for reelection, while the
straightout committee favors Governor
Montague for the United States Senate
The straightouts have just adopted strong
resolution calling upon the two candidates
for the United States Senate to express
themselves on fusion In Norfolk county
and to put their stamp of either approval
al