Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-06-08
POLITICAL.

POLITICAL.
Congressman Robert C. Southall, of
the Fourth district, has retired from
the race for the Democratic nomination
for Congress. This leaves Francis R.
Lassiter, of Petersburg, the only candi-
date.
| Friends of Congressman Jones felt
sure of Mathews and Gloucester. But
they are slipping from his grasp, and
are today about conceded to Mears. In
fact Mr.. Mears' nomination seems past
the doubtful stage.
The First District Democratic COM
mittee met in Newport News. j. M.
Curtis, of Newport News, was chosen
to succeed Judge Claggett b. Jones,
resigned. The date for the primary
election for the purpose of nominating
congressman was fixed for June is,
the hours to be from sunrise to sunset.
Judge E. w. Saunders, ex-speaker of
the House of Delegates, has been nomi-
mated without opposition for Governor
Swanson's seat in Congress. Demo
Gratis of the Fifth district, which is a
close one, wisely refrained from pre-
cipitating primary. A primary fight
would have probably meant Demo-
cratic defeat at the general election.
Hon. Ohio F. Mears, candidate for
the nomination for congressman from
the First Congressional district, ad-
dressed the voters in the town hall at
this place on Thursday evening last.
Mr.. Mears launched out into his argu-
ment in graceful and dignified man.
ner, stating his position in the contest
and speaking in complimentary tones of
his opponent, Mr.. Jones. No word was
uttered during his entire speech calcu-
lated to mar the dignity of the contest.
His speech was well received and Mr..
Mears made many strong friends among
our peopl e.-Colonial Beach Progress.
That strong Democratic paper, the
lndex-Appeal does not like the present
primary system, and does not hesitate
to say so, as is evidenced by the follow
ing comment: ''Now comes Congress
man Jones claiming to be the father of
the primary in Virginia. Last year
Gov. Montague claimed to be its father.
and boosted that he had given it to the
Democratic party. Can the bantling
have two fathers? What has it done to
justify pride in its paternity? Is it a
matter that any man should be proud of
that he has put price upon the privi-
lege of running for public Office, the
effect of which is to exclude poor men
from the opportunity? We predict the
time will come when the brat will be
repudiated and no man will be willing
to accept responsibility for THAR
risonburg Times.
Congressman Slemp will be re-nom-
mated to succeed himself from the
Ninth Virginia district. There is such
strong opposition to him within his own
party that he could probably be de-
feated by a Democrat. This would
certainly be the case if the Demo-
Gratis of the Ninth district did not
have to go through bitter primary.
Because they would have to go into a
primary in the Republican Ninth dis
trict the Democrats have about decided
to let Slemp have free field They
say the primary would be trouble and
expense and create sores, SO they seem
to favor Laying down" and letting
ISiepp, the Republican nominee, have
the job without fight. ''They have
got US whipped to death again on poll
tax payments, ',}said a prominent South
west Democrat the other day, ''and
see no use of making what must almost
certainly prove fruitless fight
To satisfy my own mind of the state
of the political conditions in Accomac,
last week took a quiet trip through
your county. found as had expected
that Mr.. Mears had many strong sup
porters at every point; that indicated
he would carry the county by mai
GRITTY approaching unanimity. In fact,
at more than one point, was told, not
vote would be polled against him.
Now, Mr.. Editor, this is as it is should
be. Mr.. Mears is an Accomackian by
birth. Northampton, for years and
years, has waived the claims Of her
favorite sons and given her hearty sup
port to gentleman from Accomack.
1t must be pleasure to you to know
that at the same time you are doing
honor to a gentleman of the distingui-
shed ability of Mr.. Mears. Affable.
gentle and learned, he has attracted the
love and respect of all who know him:
as prosecutor, his ability is recogni-
zed throughout the State, as an advocate
his success attests his worth. Acco.
mack's indicated splendid majority for
him, added to the practically unani-
nous voice of northampton, will not
leave him far in the rear in the old par
of the district, and with the best show
in the new it is safe to name our next
Representative in Congress, Ohio F.
Mears. And so say we all. -Senex.
in Peninsula Enterprise.