Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14
NEWS OF THE VALLEY
VIRGINIA REPUBLICANS IN TAN
GLE OVER POST OFFICES.


Special Correspondence of The Star.
WINCHESTER, Va, January 10, 1906
Republicans in particular and democrats
generally have this week been absorbed by
the bitter fights in at least two valley towns
Woodstock and Front Royal-for the posi-
ton of postmaster, and although the refer
ees of the seventh congressional district at
tempted to decide the contests and succeed
ed in one instance-that of WinChester-the
other two are even more bitter than at any
time since the fights were inaugurated
many months since. The referees decided
in favor of the present postmaster, Bentley
Kern, over Charles w. Ramsburg al Win
chester; Postmaster John n. Davis at
Woodstock over Daniel B. Logan, and
County Chairman G. l.. Pritchard over the
present postmaster, Rev II. w kinzer, and
c. B. Sillman, at Front Royal The refer
ees, together with many witnesses and sup
porters of the various candidates, met at
Woodstock continuing IN session except for
brief intermissiOns for meals and sleep, over
three full days, and they decided to send
brief of the entire proceedings to the Post
Office Department al Washington. Mr..
Ramsburg has decided TO make no further
contest, as Postmaster Kern had the In
f1uence of practically every republican or
prominence in Virginia, as we'll as United
States Fish Commissioner Bowers of West
Messrs. KinZer and Sillman, at Front Roy
al, have indicated their intentions or carry
ing on the fight with renewed Vigor to the
department, and up to the White House, II
necessary. A remarkable demonstration
occurred at Front Royal when the news be-
came known that Mr.. Pritchard had been
Endorsed by the referees. 1t is stated that
fully 80 per cent of the business men were
in favor of him, and on Wednesday night
Postmaster Kinzer who is a Southern
Methodist minister, was burned in eff1gy.
A monster parade was held, bonffres were
kindled and the fire bells were rung in
honor of Chairman Pritchard. The contests,
however, will be a fight to finish.
Large Apple Crop.
Former State Senator S. L. Lupton of
Frederick county, who is now the Washing
ton representative of the United Fruit Com
pany, gave out a statement this week re-
gardng the apple harvest in the lower
Shenandoah valley this season, in which he
states that a careful estimate shows that
this section produced over 10000 barrels of
apples of the best quality Mr. LuptOn is
looked upon by horticulturists rs an expert,
and his views on fruit culture, and particu-
larry apples, are regarded as authoritative.
He is secretary of the Virginia Horticul
tural Society, whose annual meeting will
take place in Richmond January %, and he
expects to give fuller details of his investi-
cations at that meeting. He helped his
father, DR. John S. Lupton OF this county,
to plant the first commercial apple orchard
in the valley of Virginia twenty years ago,
and at that time people said Dr. Lupton
was crazy. Now there is not a farm with
out its orchard, and land values in the apple
belt have been soaring since Mr. Lupton
made an agreement with the Agricultural
Department to establish its model orchard
on his land.
Great inroads are being made in the for
ests of the southwestern part of Frederick
county by lumbermen, who have closed
deals with landowners to remove the tim
Der, and a. the present rate there will soon
be barren land where formerly grew great
oaks and pines. One firm has within the
past week hewn over 100000 feet of lumber
from thirty-five acres, and others are max
ing similar operations.
To determine whether dead man was in
sane prior to his demise is the delicate
question Circuit Judge Il. w. Harrison of
Winchester has been called upon to decide
for the second time before the estate of the
late George w. Bromley of this county can
be settled. Bromley, who was a wealthy
farmer, was adjudged insane by the court a
few years before his death, and at the time
he was indorser on a note of his son, w. G.
Bromley, for $500 drawn on the Union Bank
of Winchester. He Endorsed the renewals
several times before and after the court de-
clared him insane, and it finally went to pro-
test. A suit has just been filed to compel
his estate to stand for the note, his execu-
tor having refused to pay 1t, and the point
raised is that he was not responsible for his
acts at the time. Judge Harrison will,
therefore, have to decide for the second
time whether Bromley was sane or insane
when the note was made, although the man
has been dead over year.
Perhaps the first organization to indorse
any portion of Gov. Montague's message to
the legislature was the Mutual Farmers
Club of Frederick county, which Is COM
posed of many of the wealthiest agricultur-
lists in the lower valley of Virginia. At a
meeting yesterday the club passed resolu-
tons urging the delegates from this section
in the general assembly to support any
measure looking to the establishment of
other organizations will adopt practically
the same policy.
General Matters.
Manager J. w. Verus of the Clarke Coun-
ty Horse Show Association was this week
taken to Garfield Hospital. Washington, to
undergo a surgical operation for a malig-
nant growth in his jaw.
During a terrific windstorm here this
week the great flagstaff in the National
cemetery was blown down, but the tomb
stones over several thousand graves of
federal soldiers were not damaged
Bloodhounds have been bought by the SUI
pervisors of Page county, to be used in
running down criminals.
Although several weeks have passed since
the robbery of the post Office at Moore's
store, Shenandoah county post Office detec-
tives have so far been unable to capture
the criminals, who are said to have been
amateurs. The inves tigation, however, con-
tinues.
Frank McInturf and wife, with their in
FAINT son, left their home at Mt Jackson
few days ago to spend the day with her