Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-16
IN THE OLD DOMINION
Richmond in Throes of an Anti
Saloon Fight.
AFTER Mr.. MAYNARD'S JOB
Gossip Over the Defeat of Machen for
the Senate.
MONTAGUE FOR CONGRESS
Democrats Planning Big Time for
Bryan's Visit to the State Capital
October 12-Notes.
MONTAGUE FOR CONGRESS
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

| Special Correspondence Of The Star
| RICHMOND, Va, September 10, 1907
No one can tell what will be the result Of
| the saloon question in this city within the
| next year. There is a proposition to re-
| duce the number of saloons to 100 and to
| make the license 81 600 There is coun-
| ter proposition to make the number 100
| end to make the license $500. The advo-
Gates of the two propositions are far apart
and there is little likelihood that they can
reach an agreement which will be accepted
! by both. The people behind the high-license
scheme are firm in their determination to
reduce the number of saloons and to in
crease the licenses, while the opponents
are equally as fixed in their position.
Jacob Umlauf who is leading the anti
saloon fight. says he will not agree to any
| reduction in the license tax and he has
| announced that before he will do so he
will force the issue and have a local OPP
ton contest in this city. There is scarcely
doubt to what would be the outcome
If there is an election. The present cleo
torate Is vastly different from that which
has heretofore passed on the issue in any
city Of consequence In Virginia. The ele-
ment which was known to be in favor of
liberty" and the exercise of the rights of
ca CHI person, has been eliminated from poll
tics as completely as the negro has been
cut Off from the right of suffrage.
Within the last year several of the
smaller cities of the state have voted on
the question of prohibition, and with but
one exception they have voted the saloon
out. Richmond will do the same thing IL
the fight Is forced. The conservative ele-
ment realizes that a contest at this time
means that the liquor men will lose, and
that this city will be dry" for at least
two years. Where there were formerly
81, 600 votes in this city. the poll books to-
day disclose the fact that there are less
than 1000 who are qualified. and in order
to qualify they would have to pay their
taxes at least six months before the cleo
ton
The prohibitionsts have. as a rule paid
up and ready to meet the issue at any
time. The saloon men ave disturbed at the
outlook. There are more than 800 saloons
in this city at this time, and one OF the
schemes will fix the locations of the 100
that are provided for in the plan now pend
ing in the council.
Sale to Oppose Maynard.
The result of the election in the city Of
Norfolk, when members Of the general as
sembly were named by the democrats, has
revived the question of opposition to Rep
resentative Harry Maynard. Mr.. Maynard
was nominated last year by very narrow
margin, his opponent being Col. George c.
Cabell Of the city of Norfolk Col. w. w.
Sale was nominated to succeed himself in
the state senate, and it is said that he and
his friends have expressed purpose to
have him oppose Mr.. Maynard at the next
election. Col. Sale has already served two
terms in the state senate, each time de-
feating his opponent by d good vote. He
has been valuable member of that body,
has served important committees and
has made many friends
The labor element stand by him to man
for his course toward the interest of the
toilers. He is a strict party man and loyal
70 friends q claimed a he
ing city in the district is entitled to, the
representative in Congress at least part
of the time, especially when it furnishes the
bulk of the vote.
The defeat of Senator Lewis H. Machen
Of the Alexandria district for the senatorial
nomination, revtves the question Of the
called unwritten law. Senator Machen an
nounced soon after the famous Strother-
Bywaters tragedy that he would in event
he was returned to the senate undertake to
have the idea Of the so-called law engrafted
on the statutes of the state. 1t was be-
l!eved that his idea for this was to relieve
juries Of any question of conflict in their
minds between what they should do and
what the law required Of them. The ques-
ton was discussed at some length in the
papers, many lawyers antagonizing the po-
sition and suggestion OF Senator Machen.
There Is question II this entered into
the campaign. 1t Is believed here that the
than any other subject In the primary, and
the fact that the people wanted Judge J. B.
T. Thornton of Prince William retained is
believed to have had much to do with the
defeat Of the Alexandria man. Then, too,
there has been a new alignment of forces in
the district lately. Senator Machen is gem
orally recognized as belonging to the Mon
tague faction.
Taxing the Corporations.
The state corporation commission is wres-
Ting with the public service corporations at
this time. the question being the assess
ment of the corporations for taxes. The
corporations confronted with rather
embarrassing situation. especially the rail-
roads. When the question of fixing the
passenger and freight rates was being
argued before the commission by the roads
the capitalization. the bonded debt and tho
enormous value os the physical properties |
of the carriers were dwelt upon at length. |
Now that the same properties are up for |
taxation the idea is to make the property |
appear valueess as possible. The com
mission has the figures of the carriers, and |
the first figures are being used to answer |
the figures submitted at this time. The |
railroads assessed very low in the state; |
much less than they are really worth. 1t |
is expected that the railroads will find that |
they to pay bit more this year than |
they have paid in the past.
Once more the Confederate veterans Of ,
the state coming to the front, and this |
time 1t is the women that are engaging at
tenton. For some tine there has been in
process of formation and ira ming a choir |
composed of young ladies. daughters and |
granddaughter of veterans, who have
ganized a choir and who will sing war
time songs at the Confederate reunion to
be held in the city of Norfolk, October 1B.
The veterans of Pickett Camp identi-
fled with this scheme. and there are other
camps In the state which have indorsed the
move But r. +. Lee Camp, No. |. this
city has come down squarely in opposition
to the idea this initiative having been
taken by the Woman's Auxiliary under the
Of JrS nh ln
takes the stand that the suggestion Of
women in uniform is repugnant to them.
and that 1t is merely paving the way for
more titles, and that the fever VIII extend
to the woman folk, some of whom will be
captains and majors and generals and the
like. All the same, Pickett Camp Conted-
crate Choir of 100 voices will sing the old
time songs to the veterans at the Norfolk
grand camp, Lee Camp to the contrary not
w!thstanding.