Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-03
Not a Good Party Record.

Not Good Party Record.
Mr.. Slemp's opponent two years ago did
not have good party record. He refused to
support Mr.. Bryan in 1896 and ninth dis
trict democrats pride themselves upon their
regularity. Mr.. Bruce. the democratic can
didate this year, has an unblemished party
record. In addition to that he has the
prestige of never having been defeated.
This counts for q great deal with man
who has seen consi derable public service
1t counted great deal with Gov. Mon
taSue last year when he was making the
race for the senate against Senator Martin.
although he was defeated by an over
whelming majority. Mr.. Bruce has been
many times elected to the office of COM
monwealth's attorney of Wise county
which is a republican county and has
served in the state senate from a reDub-
lican district. He is especially strong in
Wise and Lee counties. which, in other
contests, have been the stronghold of Col.
Slemp.
Mr.. Bruce. in addition to other elements
OF strength, has come up from the people.
He started life forty-odd years ago about
as poor as any man could well be, and by
his untiring efforts has raised himself to a
position where he commands the respect
ful consideration of all his fellow citizens
and has retained the friendship of all
classes. Although he is a man of consid-
cradle wealth and large business interests,
the result of fortunate investments In coal
from the people. All classes appear to look
upon him still as one of their own.
Mr.. Bruce Is one of the ablest lawyers
in his district. He Is probably the most
entertaining public speaker in the district.
He is undoubtedly, in one or two respects,
the ablest public debater. Yet he has not
made the kind of campaign calculated to
develop either of the latter talents He
has made several speeches, but he has re-
lied chiefly upon a personal campaign, and
has made an effort to see almost every
voter in the district. This work has been
highly effective, democrats say, and assert
that 1t will be proven on next Tuesday.
Better Organized.
The democrats of the district are better
organized than they have ever been. In
many of the counties the voters have been
divided into blocks Of ten, and every ten
has been placed in charge Of a captain,
who Is held responsible to the precinct
chairman. This captain is expected to see
that his ten vote the democratic ticket, or,
failing to obtain from them a promise to
vote as he wishes. he is expected to see
that they do not vote at all. Pressing work
well paid for. may be used to keep a voter
engaged on the farm or in the forests or in
the mines on election day.
At one or two places the democrats have
paid their poll taxes more generally than
have the republicans. At Saltville in Smyth
county, for instance, the democrats beat
the republicans IN making their voters pay
| their poll taxes. At Marion, the county
seat. IT is believed the same state of af-
fairs exists. This is not the rule.
The republicans have claimed from the
first that they beat the democrats last
spring when they were giving closest at
tention to the payment OF capitation taxes
which must he paid six months prior to the
day of election In order to entitle the voter
to cast his ballot at the next election 1t
is impossible to say whether the repub-
lcan claim be true. / am inclined to be-
iieve 1t.
II it be the case, Col. Slemp's friends
are justified in feeling fairly confident of
electiDg him. The temperance vote would
be a good thing to have, but it is always a
more or less uncertain quantity in elections
The good people who head temperance
movements are not as a rule politicians
and they do not know how to hold their
followers together. The followers are gen.
orally hard to hold. Every temperance man
Is democrat republican, and his old
party affiliations are apt to draw him pow
erfully.
Republican Disaffection.
There is republican dsaffection in some
of the counties which the democrats are
counting upon to show up in large proper