Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-02

in politics. with the election more than
three months off, as it is today. This ap-
plies to the governorship, the United States
senatorship and to legislative candidates.
There is more uncertainty as to the out
come than the friends of either candidate
for any office care to admit
Under the plan of organization of the
democrats there is to be a primary for the
nomination of all candidates. This is the
first time that this will be done and
trouble is developing in unexpected quar-
tiers. 1t is reform movement, and those
who were most earnSt in advocating the
primary system now want to have the state
officers Gncludng United States senatoD
named at one primary and members OF the
general assembly and local officers named
at a second primary. The reason assigned
Is that one man may be sWapped Tor an
other by the voters. On the other mana, II
is contended that by having one primary
the voters will be free to express their
choice without the interference OF the ioca,
politicians and at the same time there Will
be a much larger vote in one primary than
in two '.Too many elections was one OF
the causes assigned for consolidating the
spring with the fall elections ana the people
d, not take kindly to the proposed double
urinary system. The state committee is TO
fix the date for the nomination OF all state
candidates, while the city ana county com.
rnittees arrange for the nomination OF
members of the general assembly and local
officers. The date chosen by the state COM
mittee can be adopted by the local commit
tees, but they are also free to act Tor them-
selves.
The Crop of Candidates.
"All virginians are politicians is an old
saying and it is true to an alarming eX-
tent The candidates this year are unusual
Nv thick and there is no reason why the
number already in the field should not De
still further increased. Here is list OF
those who are in the race for the various
positions at this time:
For governor-Capt. Joseph b. wizard OF
Fairfax now lieutenant governor), Clauoe
A. Swanson of Pittsylvania tnoW a MEMBER
OF Congress from the fifth diStrlct), Judge
William Hodges Mann of NottoWay NOW d
member of the state senate from MS
county,. y, ,,,.,a
OF Portsmouth former member of the leg
islature; James Aston Cabell or TINS city'
once a member of the house from TINS cry !,
James R. Cation of Alexandria, a MEMBER
of the last house. and j. Taylor ELY son
of this city former member of the state
senate former mayor and for the last Jour
teen years chairman of the state democratic
committee.
Samuel w. Williams of Wytne.
State treasurer-Asher w. Hartman or
Rockbridge (re-election).
Secretary of State-DaVld Y. Esslestoh VI
Charlotte re-eectlon).
Commissioner of agriculture-George w.
Koiner of Augusta re-elecuon?
Superintendent of public instruction.,
James A. McGilvray of TINS clty, a clern
w, Hulvey of Rockingham and John u.
Eggleston of Prince Edward.
Tinted States senator-Senator Thomas s.
Martin of Albemarle and GOV. Ahure" j.
Montague of this city.
heretofore none of these, save the first
three have been named other than by con-
ventions made up of delegates CHOSEN ny
primary or precinct meetings. The other
four now on the state tlcketGWere haheo
by the general assembly.
In addition to the foregoing all the mem
bers of the house and one-hai1 the sta.e
senate. court clerks, treasurers, attorneys
for the state in each county ana CITY, com
missoners of the revenue, besides others vi
less importance, are to be nominated
Unrest Among Voters.
The candidacy of Judge Mann is dis
turbing element. He is democrat, and
has always stood with the party, and ex-
presses his intention of submitting to the
will of the people. He stands for temper
ance He was the author of the Mann
many counties in the state in the dry
column and closed about five hundred sa-
looms in the last two years. Many voters
who have heretofore voted the democratic
ticket have announced that they will stay
out of the primary, so that they Will De
free to vote as they desire in case Judge
Mann is nominated. These voters nave no
hesitation in saying that they will vote for
the republican nominee should Judge Mann
be the nominee of the democrats.
Along this line it is known that the re-
publicans are calmly awaiting developments
and watching to see what the democrats
will do. That they will make formal
fight for every state office was declared by
State Chairman Slemp to The Star CORE
spondent here recently He says his party
will put up good, clean, old-time republic
cans, and there are many of these men In
the state-high, pure men. Judge l.. L.
Lewis now district attorney, is regarded
as the man who will head the ticket. He
was at one time president of the supreme
court of appeals, and comes from one of
the best families in the state, and is man
of irreproachable character. President
Roosevelt's policy toward the people of the
south, and especially to Virginia. has done
much toward Strengthening the party here,
and now that the negro is not factor in
that party in this state many who have
affiliated with the democrats in the past
As to Senators.
Gov Montague has for nearly year been
engaged in preparing for the campaign
which is now on. He Is hard worker, is
popular, a fluent speaker and is always
available when speakers are needed for any
occasion. He is well known, and has a
corps of trained men enlisted in his behalf.
He is not novice at the political game,
but he is lending all his energies to obtain
ing the nomination. He has heen in public
life for many years. his first service being
when he was named by President Cleveland
as district attorney for the western district
of Virginia. Then he was moved up to at
torney general and later to governor of
Virginia, and the duties of these positions
he has discharged with the fidelity of a
Virginian. =
On the other hand, Senator Martin is an
aspirant for his own seat in the federal
Senate. He has served nearly two terms
his term expires in 1907-and has made
what is recognized as the hardest working
member of the Senate from the south since
the war. He is not what is recognized as a
pollshed speaker; he is a worker. He de-
feated Gen. Fitzhugh Lee in 1884, when he
was unknown politically. Several years ago
ne was opposed by Chem Gov. Tyler, and
the nomination was won so easily that the
Word contest was msnomer!3 Senator
Martin is here, and is conducting his
campaign from this city He has a force of
clerks at his headquarters, and he expresses
the belief that he will win tho pou,ino ton