Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-29
IN THE OLD DOMINION
NEGROES PLAN 70 NAME CAM
DIDATE FOR CONGRESS.
special Correspopdence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
RICHMOND. Va. July 20, 1905.
The republicans Of this district are pre-
pairing to renew the war which has been
carried on for the past two or three years.
In the past it has been the of1ce-holders
against the disappointed on1ce-seekers.
This time it is the ofIice-holders arrayed
against the outs and the negroes
against both the white factions. The me-
groes appear to be determined to show the
strength OF the republicans in the district.
claiming that they do nine-tenths OF the
voting and the whites get all the Offices.
In the campaign for governor last fall the
negroes In the cities held aloof from the
polls, and the result was that the republic
can vote fell OFF almost SO per cent.
The negroes are said to be preparing to
hold convention to nominate a candidate
for Congress and let the lilly whites" do
the same. The white republicans-those at
filiated with the 'ins"-are to hold meet
ing here August to determine whether a
candidate shall be placed in the field for
Congress The meeting is called for the
purpose of debating the question. It looks
now as though George A. Hanson, law
yer, will be offered the nomination and
will make the race. He 10 we'll known and
stands well. -
In the fifth district the republicans are
making good their claim to put up a man
In opposition to Judge =. w. Saunders OF
Franklin. who has been nominated by the
democrats. DR.. John Simmons of Martins
vile has been placed in the field and will
make an active campaign. He is practice
ing physician, popular, and is generally
esteemed. Judge Saunders will retire from
the bench August /, and will go at once into
the hght for the seat which was filed for
many years by Gov. Swanson. Senator
naN 49, he f~.
city day or two ago, says that while
DIR. Simmons is a strong man and one of
the best the republicans could find, he will
not carry his own county IN opposition to
Judge Saunders Gov. Swanson, always a
power in that district, has announced his
intention Of supporting Judge Saunders. and
will make a canvass OF the district during
the fall.
Gen Rufus A. Ayers Of the ninth district,
on whom the democrats were relying to
stand for Congress in opposition to Repre-
sentative Slemp, has finally determined not
to enter the contest. The democrats will
hold a convention at Bristol August 16 to
name candidate, and at this time 1t looks
as though Judge Duncan of Lee county
will get the honor. Politicians from that
section of the state say that the democrats
are united and pulling together this
year. thing which they have not done
since Representative Rhea was defeated by
Gen. Walker. 1t is commended that the
chances are exceptionally good for the
democrats to take the scalp Of Col. Slemp
this fall and all the party machinery is to
be centered in that effort. In the mean
time Col. Slemp is organizing his forces and
getting ready for the fray.
The contest between Col Joseph Button
elected to the Office of state insurance COM
missioner by the general assembly, and the
state corporation commission, which body
declined to allow him to qualify alleging
that there was uncertainty as to what
power should name the commissioner is at
tracing much attention. The supreme court
Will hold special term here Tuesday to
take up the case on mandamus proceedings
to compel the commission to allow Col.
Button to qualify. There comes an inter-
esting phase of the matter. The attorney
general is the legal adviser of the COVER
nor and has to defend the acts Of the gem
eral assembly. The election of Col. But
ton was an act of the general assembly.
The constitution at the same time makes
the attorney general counsel for the cor
poration commission In all cases of appeal
from the decisions of that body. 1t is diff
ficult to see just how the attorney general
will be able to represent both sides of the
controversy at the same time. The COM
mission has not announced who would rep
resent 1t in the court proceedings. From
all that can be learned at this time the at
torney general will hold hands off and let
the commission select counsel and represent
itself as may seem best.
At last the debates Of the constitutional
convention, which completed it's labors and
adjourned more than four years ago are
ready for delivery to the surviving mem
bers Of that body. There are two volumes
of the debates, and each member of the
convention is to receive two copies All
the state institutions, libraries and courts
are to receive COPIES and several sets are
to be placed on sale. The price of the val
umes has not yet been fixed the secretary
of the commonwealth to have the matter
in charge.
The chamber of commerce has employed
Allen Caperton Braxton to represent that
body and the business men of the city In
the matter of coal rates over the Chesa-
peake and Ohio railroad. The contention
is that the manufacturers of this city are
Disseminated against by the company and
that coal is delivered for less at other
points, necessitating longer hauls, than it
is in this city. Mr.. Braxton is now In
charge Of the freight rate hearings before
the corporation commission, in which all
the railroads of the state are defendants
The hearing has been on now for more
than six weeks, and as yet only two of the
roads have been heard.
The first of the English farm laborers
sent here by Commissioner G. w. Koiner
of the Agricultural Department. who is now
in England. arrived here the last week.
They are men of unusual intelligence, and
come here to work on farms and to make
their homes here. They say they want sew
eral years experience, and that it Is their
desire to own lands and to farm for them
selves after they have gotten familiar with
conditions. The men say they have no in
tention of accepting the conditions and
mode of living practiced by the negro farm
laborers but are willing and anxious to get
to work. They are ready to do any sort Of
farm labor, and demand only decent wages
and comfortable accommodations and fare.
They say that several thousand laborers
will come here If they are able to get work
and earn enoughs to enable them to get
homes of their own after they have served
their apnrentices him and shown fhem-