Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-10-27
c !ntestS in The Various States Not
Attracting Much Attention.
BITTER CONTEST IN KENTUCKY
Old Time Democrats Hate Beckham
and Would Not be Sorry to See
Him Defeated-New Jersey Repub-
llcans Split over Sunday Opening.


WASHINGTON. Oct. 2G.-Thc fall
elections may have some surprises in
store for the politicians, although thoy
are mostly regarded as local con-
tests and without much significance ia
bearing on the next presidential cleo
ton. The city elections in Ohio will
be watched with considerable interest
because Democratic victory in several
large cities in that State would go al
long way toward eliminating Secre-
tary Taft rs Il Republican candidate,
while Republican victories will GER
tainly be hailed rs an evidence of his
popularity Us q candidate. Results in
other States, although deciding SEN
atorlal elections In two States. are
not regarded rs OF any great political
importance nationally because local
issues are involved.
OF course. ii Massachusetts should
go Democratic It would cause the Re
publicans to wake up and take no
,tice.' but with the Democrats divided
into two hostile camps, having had
split convention. there is not the least
probability of Republican defeat. At
the head OF one of the factions is Hen
ry NJ. Whitney, one of the first men
elected to the Ananias Club. He be-
came involved in controversy with
the President over the tariff. and In
attempting 10 quote what the Presi
dent said to him, got into the liar
class.
Little Rhode Island. which was so
long under the domination of the Re-
publicans. has been cutting up
rough" of late years, having elected
one Democrat TO the House of Repre-
sentatives. and man of the same
party Governor. Gov. Higgins has
been renominated by the Democrats
and 1t is expected that he will be re-
elected.
New Jersey has an interesting con-
test in which local questions are al
most the sole issues. The Republic.
can Legislature two years ago passed
what Is called the bishops law" for
the regulation of Sunday observance
In the matter of closing saloons. This
law compelled all saloons to remove
curtains. screens and everything that
I would prevent view OF the interior
of the saloons so that the police could
see that they were not occupied with
lpeopie. This Sunday observance reg.
nlation Is unpopular in the large cities
in the northern part of the state.
where there is n large foreign element.
The party platforms are silent upon
the subject. but the Democrats have
been making point against the Re
publicans and talking ABOUT personal
liberty in those regions where the
law Is unpopular. The Republicans
last year were somewhat divided be.
cause OF the reform efforts of State
Senator Colby. who made n fight
against the Republican machine"
He was successful in defeating Sena-
tor Dryden for reelection, but the
party held control of the state The
chances are now that New Jersey will
remain Republican. but by reduced
majority. Considerable local interest
has been manifested in the campaign.
THE Republicans were shrewd enough
iin their convention to select q high
class man for Governor, whose per-
lsonality counts for a great deal.
There has been no change In the
political situation In Maryland Gov.
Warileld has announced himself rs n
candidate for the Senate. an act that
has somewhat Disconnected the ma
~-''N IN'fNANiAh' Va thC
party. because Warfield is anything
but machine man. His candidacy
may help the Democrats because they
will have chance to elect a good
man to the Senate if they carry the
legislature. Under straight primary
law Warfield would no doubt be chos-
en-. but on n vote by counties it is like.
ly that there will be several candidates
in the field. and the final settlement
OF the controversy will be by manipu-
lation in the legislature.
Strange News from Kentucky.
Strange reports are received from
Kentucky indicating that the Demo
Gratis may lose that State. Such re-.
ports have been heard before. The
liquor question enters into the Ken
lucky contest. Gov. Beckham has
been a strict constructionist in en-.
forcing the laws restricting the sale oil
liquor and in closing up cities that de-
sire to be somewhat wide open This
has raised Z mighty row II Louisville,
and 1t is said that even if the legis-
lature IS Democratic and the majority
depends upon Louisville. 1t is likely
that the members from that city will
nOt abide ht. tho dao;.;o,, a., 49,;