The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-08-04
The Exposures in Richmond are 'l'E
Taken Deep to
Heart.
the soUTHslDE is CLOSE s
Montague Likely to- Garry Meek
lcnbrrg, But the Race Will
Be Exciting.

CRY, VA. August 3.--With the state
primary less than twenty days of tho
situation concerning tho two rN,in Of
flces In controversy, namely those of
United States senator and Governor, Is
chaotic to n degree In Southslde Vir-
ginla, where the speaking end OF the
campaign Is now practically over. and
where all depends upon what tho voters
are going TO do about II when the fcai
test come on August ed.
The candidates, for the most part,
having been In this section, are now on
their whrlwlnd finish in other parts OF
the State, and must Of necessity rely
upon the activity and loyalty OF their
respective friends for whatever showing
they may make down this way in the end
And frankncss. coupled with n fairly
Intelligent insight into the situation. Inn
pcls the statement that they. all have
good. strong loyal friends, and that the
wind-up will be close and warm. There
IT. one feature which has impressed me
with great force during my stay here.
where have met q large number OF
Democrats OF more or less information
: and prominence, and that IL the appar-
ent lnck OF confidence among the rank
and file In the result Of tho primary
shortly to take place.
Some OF these men, indccn many OF
them, with whom ! have talked, are
we'll known local Democratic leaders OF
this and surrounding counties, While
others are simply voters, who make no
prctcnslons toward political activity. but
with amazing unanimity, and without
reference TO their choice for senator or
{ Governor, they have laid stress on this
subject and pointed out as their reasons
not only the established and possible
further fraud In the recent Rlchmonu
,.Ity primary, but the expressed deter
,ninatlon OF the organization In many
rection. 10 refuse this or that candidate
representatives among the election Of
ficcrs to conduct the August primary
Won't Feel Satisfied.
Most OF them figure It out that how
ever n gwen county or city may 90,
where application has been made 1ol-
lowed bys,u REFUSAL and where the Or
eanlzut!cli Is known to favor one can
ddate or another. the plain people VINO
have no part III elections than 70 VOTE
will never feel satisfied that things were
straight and right IN the polls.
laG8I have heard some ask if this was q
move TO break down the primary system
IN Virginia, by making 1t unpopular IN
advance Of the first trial. but the ques-
1uion Is not easily answered one thins
may be said however, that whatever may
IL the object, the rank and file OF inc
Democrats down this way are coming 70
lose confidence in the primary before 1t Is
held. and unless this can In some man
ncr be restored. they will cast their bal
lots with considerable feeling OF misglv-
ing. The effect OF such feelings on the
part OF the main body Of the Democratic
voters In the State can be plainly seen. 1t
IS admitted that they favored the new
system, while 1t Is commended that many
leaders did not. II there shall be even
n suspicion which is at all widespread
that there were any unfair dealings, the
opposition to the system will be shifted
f,om those leaders who are said to have
been. opposed TO it'in the f1rst instance,
and It will find It's opponents among its
ctstwhllc strongest advocates. I.
Two Fierce Contests.
But much of this is by the way. and
is only said TO give the people the i'm
pressions have gained from talks with
party men In this section of the State.
based mainly on wat Is now going on
in Richmond, and the refusal of several
Of the local committees to adhere to the
requests Of candidates for represen Ion
among the election officers to be In con-
troll Of the great fight on August %.
Now to my story:
Out OF Il natural interest, as news
paper man. In this most exciting and i'm.
portant contest. I have taken the pains
to make diligcnt inquiry as to the proba-
HE standing OF the candidates for SEN
ntor and Governor. in Mecklenbrrg,
Brunswick, Charlotte and Halifax, and
IND that, taking them together, the sltu-
alton Is much mixed as to both places.
Both the senatorial candidates have
visited all these counties. The Governor
was at Mecklenburg Court carly In tho
campaign. Senator Martin started there
at the next term. which was two months
later, but smallpox prevented either him
errors reception at Boydton. the county
seat. was a splendid one. The only other
point In the county he has visited during
the campaign Is Chase City, when he
came to the Mecklenburg Hotel. after his
illness some months ago, to recuperate
his heat health, , Here he and Mrs Monta-
II was entirely non-polltical.
Leaders Divided.
BY Senator !Martin are south I'M and md
la Crosse. Ho was we'll received at
both places. There are four thriving
tto9wns u MeekIenburg, These arc CHASE
Hill. My information Is that they Will
al be close, but that chances now favor
the Governor at Chase City and Carks-
vile, and Senator Martin at the other
two places,
pss Pq's ne is TIE d esGRe h ss
Mecklenburg county will go and | am
told by those who ought to know that
voters. rs rule. are for Montague.
This county supported the Governor al
most unanimously four. years ago, and
most of his former leaders. If not all OF
them, are still with him,
county Chairman Thomas N, Williams,
of GAINESVILLE, former State senator
and prominent lawyer, is q strong adj
mlrer and friend of the Governor, though
he is not, making himself very proml-
nent IN tho fight, owing to his party
Captain Thomas B. Jeffress, lawyer and
iong tm g. Mayor syer Of Chase City, Is going
me he has an abiding friendship and
n afde h,ue i for r I'M, Monague and WI d
the casting Of his ballot.
Captain ,Jeifress introduced the Coy.