The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-08-13
THE PIEDMONT
SECT''|O.N|.|.s'C:'L.|0|S'jIE|| !:
Both Of the Senatorial Can.
l.# d u lat S Claim Lynch
burg.
THE SITUATION MUCH MIXED e
- = = NV 49, -. N 4
Montague Has Strong Vote in
a3 Amherst and Close in
Nelson.

Il q . III & rs
Especial to The Tlmes-D spatch.) &5
&LOvINGSTON, VA, August 12.-Tho
Democratic voters Of the Piedmont sec
ton always alert and active for their
respective leaders, are ready for the
grand climax Of the greatest political
campaign known to the present genera
ton In Virginia, and they are preparing
5 to line up and close ranks for warm
finish at tile polls. And there is no at
tempt among them 10 conceal the we'll
rrcognIzcd fact that they arc sharply
divided us to both the offices Of United
States senator and Governor.
Indeed, IL the voters are as badly split
up as to their choice for these posi-
tons all over. the State, there'll be some
heart disease finishes on August Y;
for, taking Amherst and Nelson and the
city of Lynchburg together. no candi-
date for either place Will have; any lead
over his competitors to brag on when
the returns are In. "a Z. n, VI n. L .5
have taken some pains to investigate
the situation this week, and in so doing
have talked with reliable and well posted
leaders as to all three places. The men
Il saw are divided as to their choice for
senator, and among them were Manu..
Swanson and Willard supporters for Gov
e' WHiie sharply dlvildedd q on these ,w y
questions SO far as their, support Is con-
cysrned, their forecasts rs to results were
not far apart, and they all emphasized
the strength possessed by each Of the
uspIrants. There are ATo striking feat
ures OF. the campaign up here to my;
mind.
Judge Mann's Strength.
One Is the. very close race between
Montague and Martin for senator, and
the other the amazing strength being de-
ycoped by Judge Mann for Governor
l was in Lynchburg some two months
ago and was told that Senator Martin
would easily carry the city. Since that
time the Governors sfrXadst have pulled
1 him UP to a paint which they say VIII
nut him In the lead on election day
They are stoutly claiming the city for
their favorite, while the Martin leaders,
say they have held their own and Will
have d ma orlty. However, lis q fact,
that neither side Is prepared TO say that
there will be any big lead. and It Is evil,
dent there Will not. One Martin man.
who is quite close to the situation. SAID
he thought the senator would ilKciy
carry Lynchhurg, but he added =
would nor be greatly surprised should It
J = IsI
over across tho river in Amherst the
Governor is very strong, and his friends
are putting his majority anywhere from
800 to 400 In the county. The Martin
people do not claim Amherst as&l I'M
derstand 1t, butsthcy say their man VIII
give the Governor hard run and that
they may pull him through.
Close in Nelson.
II possible, 1t looks as though the sit
.uation In Nelson is as close and inter-
estIng regarding the senatorship as It Is
In Lynchburg. VIXEN tho campaign open
cd up, the Montague forces were unor-.
.gunized and scattered and they laid 10
Special claim to the county, though the
Governor got all the delegates over Mr.
Swanson four years ago. The conditions
have changed materially since the battle
rot in full blast, and now the leaders arc
saying 1t is anybody's fight up here for
senator. s3f 3,
Mr.. Martin Is. strong, along the James
River and on the slide OF the country
which touches Albemarle, while the GoY-t
errors greatest strength lies In the IN
terror. the Rockfsh Valley, and the Sec
lion nearest to Amherst 1t is claimed
that one precinct In the central portion
of tho county will give tho Governor
all her votes, save possibly one, but ~
Others where Senator Martins friends
have been more active, conditions. may
be reversed, ! In any event, 1t Is q pretty
safo forecast, based on reliable informa-
ton, that whoever wins for, senator IN
Nelson Will have no large majority 10 add
to others in tho State, and that he'll
have to fight hard on election day for
what no gets.
Equally Interesting.
The fight for Governor in the territory
mentioned Is hardly less interesting than
that for senator. 1t Is battle royal al
round, with all the candidates showing
UP well.
They tell me that two months hago
Swanson would have carried Lynchburg
a"ln Storm" but there Isn't going to be
any storm" about 1t for any one on