Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-09-22
NOW FOR PARTY FIGHT.
Virginia Already Plunged Into
the Campaign.

rapidly take shape. For two month
there will be the hottest contes
against Democratic nominees siucs
the famous Readjuster campaign o.
1881, when John w. Daniel, now Sen
ator, was defeated as the Democratic
candidate for governor by William
+. Cameron, of Petersburg.
It matters little that the Republi.
can hope of success is not as strong
as was the Readjusters'. The party
has been giving an unusual impetus
by the elimination of the negro vote
and the growth of the white Republi
can vote Iii various parts of the State
A great majority for a Republican
Congressman in the ninth district last
year demonstrated that the sggres.
siVe and industrious southwest has
committed tself to the Republican
cause. Soon there will be another
district to fight for-the Fifth
with possible chance of Republican
success. Formerly the district, sit.
uated close to the Ninth, and inha6-
tied by people of similar tempera-
ment and political tendencies, was
Republican occasionally.
The Senatorship, as a feature of
the campaign, disappears with the
Democratic primary and the designa-
ton of Thomas S. Martin for re-
election. The Republicans have no
man in the running for that office.
They hardly need one, for it is not
doubted that the next legislature
will be strongly Democratic and that
Mr.. Martin will have the unanimous
vote of the Democratic members.
At the Roanoke convention in early
August Judge L. L Lewis, the Re
publican nominee for governor, paid
Representative Slemp, of the Ninth,
compliment by referring to him as
good Senatorial timber should the leg
islature be Republican, but neither
Judge Lewis nor Col Slemp seriously
believes such an honor rs an election
to the Senate awaits the latter In the
immediate future.
The attitude of Gov. Montague
and his enthusiastic followers will be
a matter Of interest as the campaign
progresses. They will vote the DEM
ocratic ticket straight in November,
notwithstanding the harsh things
said by them about the organization.
Whether the governor will 90 upon
the stump and devote bis eloquence
to the Democratic cause remains to
be seen. Four years ago his chief
opponent for the gubernatorial NOM
ination was Representative Swanson.
At the Norfolk convention, after a
big defeat, Mr.. Swanson commanded
great admiration by comiSg for
ward and pledging his Efforts on the
stump and otherwise for the election
of Montague. The governor now has
an opportunity to return the favor.
But whether the governor sulks
In his tent during the remainder of
the campaign or not, he and his sup
porters will certainly have nothing
further in derogation of the Demo-
cratic ticket. Mr.. Swanson conduct
ed his campaign for nomination en-
tirely Independent of Senator Mar
tin. But both are personal and politi-
cal friends, and both have trained
with the. same faction in Virginia
politics. Four years ago Mr.. Swan
son was heralded as the organization
candidate for governor, and, in that
year of agreat popular desire to smash
the Democratic organization, Mr..
Swanson owed defeat to his known
allegiance to the organization more
than to any other one thing.
Gov. Montagues' political future,
according to the present outlook, is
not altogether bright. There is a
saying in Virginia that its governors
have no hope of party preferment
after retiring from office. Certainly
for mauy years no ex governor has
held important office. AS one prom
inent Virginian put it not long ego,
''only nice mahogany shelf awaits
the man who ceases to be governor"
AS long as the two present Sena-
tors live, there is little likelihood that
he will care again to contest for Sena-
torial honors. Maj. Daniel can be re.
elected as long as he cares to remain
in the Senate. 1t would be folly fol-
any one to enter the list against him.
Mr.. Martin has so thoroughly estab.
lished his reputation as efficient and
businesslike Senator that he stands
in good way of becoming quite as
strongly fortified with the Virgins
people as Senator Daniel. His new
term will not end till 1918.
Gov. Montague will remain as the
leader of the opposing faction. if he
cares for that distinction. He was
elevated to the leadership by the
events Of four years ago. But the
primary has been almost as over
whelming against his faction as was
the contest of 1901 against the reg
ular organization, which recognizes
Senator Martin as its leader. For
the present the Montague faction is
down and out.
Gov. Montague's propaganda,
which he abandons for the time being,
at least, with his defeat for the sen.
atorial nomination, will be taken uT
in considerable part by the Republi-
cans. Headed by Judge Lewis, they
will continue with the same attach
upon the State organization and upor
| the election methods that the Cover.
nor has been making in nearly every
county of the State.
| Lieut.. Gov. Wizards political fu
ture may be almost as problematica
as that of Gov. Montague. He hal
waged his campaign for governor in.
dependently, but he has been
leader of the Montague faction, sec
ond only to the governor. The peo
pie of Virginia think very highly Of
him. He has grown in their per
sonal regard by his conduct during
the primary CAMPAIGN. Four wear