Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-19
PUZZLES DEMOCRATS
Republican Activity Takes
New Turn in Virginia.
BUSINESSLIKE MOVEMENT
This Seasons Oysters Are Plentiful
and Fine.
LOBBYISTS TO KEEP OFF FLOOR
Battleship Figurehead to Be Placed
on xhibition-Supreme Court
Passes on Churchman Case.
LOBBYISTS TO KEEP OFF FLOOR
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
RICHMOND, Va, September IS, 1909.
The fact that the republicans of the
state have opened headquarters at Roa-
noke. and in many of the cities have done
the same thing for local effect, is puzzling
the democrats. 1t was believed that there
would be an active campaign, but it was
not thought that there would be such
buslnesslike movement at the very out
set, and on the scale that has developed.
The speakers of the republicans are on
the stump, and 1t takes money to rent
halls, pay the expenses of speakers and
! 10 defray the costs of a vigorous stamping
campaign. Just where this money is COM
ing from is causing good deal of specu-
laton, but the republicans seem to be
beautifully supplied with ready cash. 1t
may be that the Office holders of the state
have deemed it eXpedient to contribute to
the good of the cause, but 1t is not
thought that they could have raised the
amount that has already been expended
and JUSTIFIED the opening of headquarters
| for so long a time before the election
There remain about six weeks of the
campaign, and if there is an increase In
the number of speakers, as is intimated
| and expected, the minority party in Viz
ginia will succeed in turning loose
large sum in Virginia before the day of
election. That money is coming into the
state for the purpose of aiding the repub-
licans in the effort to capture the Old Do
miniOn is generally accepted but Just who
may be responsible for the liberal remit
tanl- that has come to gladden. the hearts
anG hopes of the members OF the party
and to inspire confidence in the hearts
of the nominees of the convention which
met in the city Of Newport News the lat
| ter part of July is conjectural
| No date has been fixed tor the formal
opening OF the democratic campaign, and
! 1t is understood that all the republican
orators will be allowed to get on the
stump and to give vent to their views and
opinions, and to be left to go undisputed
The democrats are taking advantage OF
the situation and stenographers are taking
full and complete reports Of the speeches.
SO that when the democrats get on the
stump they will be able to make full reply
to what has been said.
Ihe republicans have SO far made some
claims which the democrats say are very
wide of the mark, and the copies of the
eral gentlemen who have already an
nounced that they will go on the stump,
and there will be some hot exchanges.
Oyster Outlook.
Virginia oysters are plentiful and fine
this year. according to Fish Commission
er Mcdonald Lee, who has been making
an Inspection Of the beds of the state
The oyster navy has been active during
the summer in preventing depredations,
and the result is that there is supply
that Will meet every demand. The
dredgers and tongers began work last
Wednesday. and the stock already re-
ceived verifies the claims made by Com
missioner Lee. The FISHERMAN have begun
work In earnest, but the season will not
be In full swing before the middle Of Oc-
tober, the warm weather serving to pre-
vent the collection of any large quaint
ties.
DR.. Allen W. Freeman, assistant state
health commissioner, has completed his
report on the inspection of the oyster beds,
and with one or two exceptions he de-
clares that the reports that the beds of
the state were contaminated and danger
GUS are groundless. He found that the
beds at Hampton adjacent to the SOL
diers Home and the city proper. where
the sewage empties, are exceedingly pois-
onous, and the beds have been closed and
the use of the oysters therefrom pro-
nloited. close watch is kept to prevent
the taking of the oysters from the beds
Members OF the general assembly will
at the next session take steps to prohibit
other than members of the body from get
ing On the floor of the house and senate
The principal objection comes from the
senate, where last winter the floor was
invaded by persons who were interested
in legislation. This is particularly true
OF the fight which was made on the
liquor laws, when there were some of the
active supporters of the Byrd-M Mann bill
who got on the floor by claiming to be
members of the press, when they were
connected with religious publications,
though they exercised the privilege grant
ed to the representatives of the press
1t was when the Byrd-Mann bill had
passed the senate and the Rev James
Cannon, jr., editor of the Christian Adj
vocate. the head and front of the tenn
perance and prohibition forces in the
state, was seated on the floor of the SEN
ate and a motion was made by one of the
senators that Senator's Mann and Lesner,
representing the temperance and liquor
forces in the body, be made a committee
to inform the Rev. James Cannon that
the liquor bill had been passed. The
two gentlemen locked arms ana walked
over to where the reverend Mr.. Cannon
was seated and performed the duty with
due solemnity. This time there will be
rigid resolution forbidding others than
members OF the senate and house. men,
bers of the daily press and officers from
entering the place while the bodies are
in session.
Battleship Figurehead.
The adjutant general has in his GUS
tody the tigurehead of the battleship
Virginia. removed from that vessel I'M
der the regulations recently issued
moved. The figurehead weighs more
than ton. is Of solid brass and is a
handsome piece Of work. Just what
will be done with 1t is not known. but
1t is to be placed in position where
1T can be seen by the visitors to the
city. most likely In the rotunda Of the
state capitol, near the statue of Wash
ington. The gift to the state is highly
priced. The figurehead was on the shin
when she went around the world with
Admiral Sperry's fleet
Under instructions from Judge John II.
ingram. or the law and equity court, a
verdict was rendered for the defense in
the case OF Lowry VS.. Forbes Lowry
was employed in the packing plant of
Forbes. and his duties took him near a
piece of machinery which was defective.
and which was known by the plaintiff to
nave been defective. In some way Lowry
got caught i'm the machinery, his arm
being badly mashed, amputation be-
ing necessary. Counsel for Lowry
brought suit for $4,000. and when the
cause had been heard by Judge Ingram.
argument submitted. he directed the turv