Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-08
IN THE OLD DOMINION
LIVELY CONTEST FOR GOVERN
oAsHIP Is PRoMIsED.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

has seen since the days when Senator
Daniel was a candidate for governor
against Col William E. Cameron. more
than twenty-five years ago, when the
''readjuster' element was in control OF
the state. Senator Daniel was defeated
for the honor. and a few years later was
sent to the United States Senate where he
has remained without opposition continu-
ously since that time. The contest be-
tween A. j. Montague and Gov. Claude A.
Swanson seven years ago. regarded as one
of the bitterest in the history of the state
will pale into ins!gnificancs wnen the cam
paign for governor opens in earnest In
year from now. The outs are against
Judge William Hodges Mann OF Motto
way. who is regarded as the 'logical can
didate' by reason Of having nnished
second in the contest with Gov. Swanson
tie is also regarded as the last OF the old
soldier element VINO will oner Tor the
position.
Fractional lines are being sharply
drawn, with the spirit Of the old-tme
rivals, Montague and Martin. manifest IN
every quarter. The faction which - PACK
ing Judge Mann IL that faction which is
allied with Coy swanson ;,ra ann o fnrces
The confirmation of Judge Rhea was the
issue which served to mark the lines be-
tween the contending forces. Judge
Mann, Els member OF the comml,.ee
case. ives chairman of the committee
which prepared the majority report
Eight other members Of the committee
agreed with him that there was no foun.
dation tor the charges and acquiI.ea
Judge Rhea OF all in connection Herewith
On the other hand, Senator Wickham OF
the committee filed a minority report and
he is being heralded as the champion OF
the right, though he did not and that
Judge Rhea had been connected with any
Of the acts with which he was charged.
but recommended that he be not con
flrmed because his usefulness had besn
impaired by reason of the allegations
Judge Mann and eight members voted TOT
Judge Rhea Senator Wickham did not.
The avowed and recognized opponents OF
Gov. Swanson and Senator Martin APP
plauded Senator Wickham ana froWneo
ON Judge Mann because the one voted for
rejection and the other for confirmation.
Judge Mann Is being made to shoulder
the full responsibility for the majority
report. and he Is standing right up ana
assuming his share of the report and de-
Tending his right to exercise his conviction
and opinion in the matter. Those who are
against Judge Mann are solid for Henry
c. Stuart. On that question the factions
are aligned-those for the administration
for Judge Mann and those against the
administration being for MIR. Stuart.
It is no secret that those friendly to
the administration are contending that
the committee on gubernatoriai nomfna-
tons was created just for the purpose OF
having this attack on Judge Rhea aired
and for the express purpose of benehttng
Mr.. Stuart, who was called by the pres
ecution to testify in connection with
letter written at the time OF the election
between Judge Rhea and Representative
Slemp. That Is the claim being made, but
no one doubts the honor or high character
of Mr.. Stuart. and it is hard to under
stand how the allegations of a scheme
are borne out.
Republican Protest Vain.
The general assembly has passed, by
strict party vote the bill to redistrict the
state for congressman. The bill anects
only four of the ten districts. Floyd coun-
ty. which has been in the NTH district and
Which has q republican majority Of some
200, is placed in the sixth. which Is lop-
sided, with democratic majority. This
will. it is contended. make the ffth dis
trict reasonably safe for the democrats
and give Representative Saunders more
margin. Crary county is taken from the
ninth and placed In the tenth, making the
ninth district more certainly republican
and adding to the democratic majority In
the tenth. The republicans, under the lead
Of Senator Parson. made, a fight against
the change.
In the course Of his remarks Senator
Parson, with some fervor,. declared: "The
cratic party and to thank God that the
negro voter has been reiagated to the
rear He declared that the democrats
should give the republicans fair show.
dangerous ground in gerrymandering ths
state in order to prevent the onward
march of republicanism in the state He
appealed to the senate to stand up and
ak,0 tt. 1nAn ~ H.
to vote to give the people Of the state the
right to elect congressman He said that
the population Of the fifth district wou d
be about 1G5. OOo under the change and
was passed as II came from the committee
by strict party vote.
Concerning Pilotage.
The general assembly has passed the
bill abolishing compulsory pilotage on
coasting vessels. The fight has been the
hottest and most interesting of all before
the general assembly. The opponents of
the pilots were the coal agents and repre-
sentatives Of foreign shipping concerns at
Norfolk and Newport News. Unlimited
wealth and capital were behind the antag-
onists Of the pilots. Capt. w. R. Boutwell,,
president OF the pilot organization. man.
aged the contest for his men, and he has
emerged from the fight most successfully.
nc Adu tue assistance OF some friends and
a lawyer, but the plan OF the campaign
was mapped by Capt. Boutwell,. and he is
receiving the congratulations of his
friends for the ability displayed in a life
and-death struggle. The pilots made many
concessions, but the war is being waped
with fury, and a move Is now afoot to
have the fees of the pilots regulated by
the state corporation commission. Mem
bers are saying that this looks like perse-
cution. when 1t is known that the pilots
have yielded some $4,000 a year in order
to have the ports of the state open to all
coasting vessels. which handle five-sixths
OF the commerce of the two ports. so far
as coal Is concerned
Inc physicians OF the state have been
engaged for some years in an effort to
have the license tax imposed on them re-
peaied. The bill has been in the senate
for nearly the entire time of the session. |
and was passed by that body. II went
to the house and there met defeat by
reason OF the fact that when the vote
was taken there was lacking q sufficient
NUMBER OF votes to repeal the tax. though |
a majority favored repeal The state will |
lose something like $4,000 If the tax is
repealed but there seems to be little dis |
position on the part Of the house to ex-
empt the doctors from the tax. An effort |
Is to be made to have the vote recon- |
sidered.
No More Hangings in Virginia.
There are to be no more hangings in |
Virginia. The general assembly has passed |
bill which provides that all persons
condemned to death shall be removed to |
stoto in, ni&,