Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-21
IN THE OLD DOMINION
Gossip Over the Republican
National Ticket.
INTENTIONS OF VOTERS
Early Contest for Next Years Gu
bernatorial Nomination.
"HOLY JUMPERS" INVASION
State Militia at Target Practice.
Building Boom at Richmond
Young Woman Runs Farm.
"HoLY JUMPERS" INVASION
special Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
RICHMOND. Va. June 20. 1908.
With the nomination Of Secretary Tar
for the presidency at the Chicago conven
ton there is talk among many business
men fthis city and state Of their inten
tions "in case Bryan Is nominated by TIT
democrats at Denver" to support the re
publican candidates. Many times the ex
preston has been heard that. Il will no
vote for Bryan under any circumstances
but that there is to be the organized
concerted opposition Of few years ast
is problematical. On the other hand
there are workingmen who are sayint
that they recall the days when Taft wa
on the bench. and when he issued an in
junction against Eugene V. Debs in con
nection with the great strike Of a dozeI
years ago. They are talking Of the prison
sentence accorded Debs. and they arr
saying that they propose to wait and SCI
what the democrats are to do at Denver
before they will announce their prefer
ence-the democratic candidate or the SO
cialistic candidate.
Little attention is being paid, however
to all the talk about the nominations a
this stage. and the chances are that eaci
of the voters will line up in Virginia al
they have been doing for the last fort!
years. Bryan's strength Is greater at Thu
time than ever before in Virginia. ant
with the element in the rural districts
he Is a tower Of strength. 1t was tina
element which forced the instructions
down the threats of the delegates at thu
Roanoke convention.
THE machine must keep Its hand on
of the gubernatorial contest" has beer
started thus early in the campaign of {
year hence. Just whom the author Of thu
slogan is no one seems to know. Th'
fact that Judge R. T. w. Duke Of Char
lottesville has thrown up the spong'
and has quit the contest leaves only thre,
men in the race-Judge Mann, Henry c
Stuart and Harry ST. G. Tucker. Mr.
Glass is not yet an Out-and-Out candidate
The popular idea is that Judge Mann il
the machine candidate. If that is SO
then Mr.. Tucker and Mr.. Stuart are thu
candidates Of the anti-machine or reform
forces. AS such, one or the other Is ex
pected to stand aside and to leave thu
field clear for finish fight with Judge
Mann. He says he will be in the race il
he lives. With two candidates for thu
same office representing one faction of the
party, there Is little or no chance fol
success. while the machine would have
plain sailing. There has been but ont
real test of strength between the factions
since the primary plan for nominations
was adopted. and Judge Mann is affiliated
with the successful faction.
The fact that an effort is being made
to keep alive the factional struggle of a
few years ago is deplored by the friends
of all the candidates. But, all the same
other gentleman will fight 1t out for the
nomination-the one for rigid enforcement,
of the liquor Jaws and the other as an ad.
vocate of licensing the saloons. That idea
Is favored. and with two candidates in
the. race the question would be settled in
the primary.
Taft and Washington.
A cOlored social organization held a re-
ception here a few nights ago and one OF
the features was mock republican ma
tional convention. The colored men i'm
personated Taft. the President. Fairbanks.
Hughes, Cummins and Booker Washing
ton. Taft was nominated for President by
an overwhelming vote and the race for
the vice presidency was on. All the names
mentioned were placed before the con-
ventiOn, and when the roll was called
Booker Washington was found to have
defeated all the other nominees by a large
vote. There was much speech-ma king
and enthusiasm and the letters of accept
ance were submitted by the nominees
both accepting the hOnors and promisi' e
to make the campaign memorable. rhe
convention wound up with a resolution
demanding that the Brownsville MARTYRS
should receive recognition at the hanGs OF
the Congress and be reinstated with full
ranks and honor.
Black Elijah. Prophet of the Holy
Jumpers, an organization that embraces
great many grotesque negroes N IT.
fold, whose form of worship consists OF
exiortations, singing and jumping Ut and
down and yelling at the top % the:1
voices, will come here the first of the
week for stay of several days. The
h,t ri, oh.
ing. The forerunner of the jumpers came
here couple of days ago and began q
preliminary meeting. 1t was woman.
She said things about preachers and
members Of the churches in this city, and
the crowd made things SO hot for her that
she was forced to seek shelter.
Elijah Is an old negro. named Crowder
said to be a native Of Halifax now resi-
dent in Washington, very old. Eat ana
blind. He has a corps of followers that
manage things for him. The jumpers Az
ray themselves in purple costum IS
prominent part in all proceedings. The
jumpers are mostly the more ignorant and
superstitious Of the negro race.
OFF for Target Practice.
Nearly one hundred members of the
militia of the state are encampe1 near
Williamsburg, on the government rifle
range. engaged in target practice. The
detail is made up of three me from
each command in the state. and from the
best shots in the finals for the week VIII
be selected the Virginia team for the aE-
nual rifle shoot at Camp Perry. Ohio.
Last year was the first time that the
state of Virginia has been represent ed.
the matter having been worked up by Adj.
Gen. Anderson and Col. c. A. Dempsey.
United States Army, detailed for duty in
Virginia. Col. Dempsey is inspector for
small arms practice. He has charge of
the men. He left here early yesterday
for Williamsburg and will remain
with the men to the end of the week.
There is great rivalry among the soldiers
for the team assignments for the Camp
Perry trip.
Building Inspector Henry p. Beck says
that the permits for buildings and re-
pairs issued by him so far this year will
come very near to the 100000 mark
The city is enjoying a building boom
In all parts of the town there are houses
in course of building. nearly all of which
are residences. The vast majority OF
these are homes for the men who are
age to keep all their men employed. and
so far the prices of materials have not
lessened very much, but the impression
prevails that within a month there is to
be a reduction that will stimulate build
ing. Mr.. Beck says that the number OF
dwellings costing from ~, 500 to $4,000 Is
very large.
While all this building is going on
there are very few houses for rent, and
a reduction in rents does not follow
One of the best posted real estate men