Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-28
GOVERNORSH|P GOSSIP
Virginia Campaign Lacks
Spice Since Stuart Quit.
PAPERS FURNISH LEAvEN
Candidates Position Alike on All
Subjects.
CRITICISM OVER RATE ISSUE
Sentiment for Popular Election Of
Commission Grows-Pythians to
Establish Temple in Richmond.
Special Correspondence Of The star.


since the gubernatorial campaign open
ed and while both the candidates
have been on the hastings in va
rious parts of the state, they have not
succeeded In making the campaign worthy
the name, and were the papers to quit
discussing the issues the general public
would soon forget the primary to be held
this summer. The candidates for the head
of the ticket occupy almost the same po-
sition on the liquor question, and that
appears to be the sole topic of interest
The truth of the matter is that great
many OF the voters are hoping and wish
ing for some other man to enter for the
place. but 1t is not believed at all likely
that such a thing will be done.
III. G. Stuart's withdrawal developed a
following which he even did not dream
of. He was held in high esteem in all
parts OF the state, and from what can be
gathered from newspaper reports 1t is
pretty certain that had he remained In
the struggle the contest would by this
time have attained a condition that Is to
the liking of the people of Virginia. As
IL Is, the candidates go and make their
who hear them, but they are both of the
same general tenor. The declarations OF
both Judge Mann and Mr.. Tucker are al
most identical on all subjects They stand
for betterment of the highways and the
schools they advocate care of the old
soldiers and their dependent widows. they
favor a reduction of taxes.
Right here is where the strength of Mr..
Stuart is showing. He was the man who
wrote the two-cent decision of the cor
man who stood right up and said. after
making a careful study of the matter.
that two-cent rate was fair and just
and reasonable He went over much of
rf.n T,f tItn .NS and foy q ri 0o
himself with conditions, and his opinion
in that matter was one of the ablest
papers to be found. Had he remained in
the contest he would have had a powerful
of the state and would have been so near
the top that the winner would have had
to defeat him.
Right on the heels of the withdrawal
of Mr.. Stuart from the race the roads
made a demand on the corporation COM
mission for a hearing of the rate ques-
ton. The hearing was granted, and after
celebrating for some three weeks an
opinion was handed down I'm which the
commission ordered a 2L-cent rate for
passengers. That rate is effective on and
after April I of this year. The increase
does not appeal to the people of the state
as being the right and proper thing at
this time. They are pointing out that
under the most adverse conditions the
roads have not lost very heavily. and the
decrease in freight earnings is even
greater than that of the passenger reve-
nues Because Of this. the papers in the
state. a great many of them, are begin
ming to hint that 1t would be we'll for the
people of the state to elect the commits
sioners by popular vote. They are now
appointed by the governor for term of
six years. No one intimates that any
member of the commission acted other
than as the matter appeared to him. and
no one has said a word to indicate that
the commission Is not a high body. But
they are pointing out that II the people
elected them they could, to some extent,
become acquainted with the candidates
and their views on matters in which the
people are interested. The last senate
of commissioners. but it was defeated in
the house 1t is certain to come up again
in the next legislature.
Proposed Prohibition Paper.
Certain of the anti-saloon people OF the
to the capital stock OIL a proposed new
newspaper for this city. Several gentle
men are said to have made contribu-
tions. and the names of Gov. Swanson
and Senator Martin are mentioned as
those VINO have produced good sums to
establish the paper. Gov. Swanson de-
MES that he has subscribed, as do sew
eral others. but all the same. the worl, is
are responding. The paper as projected
is to be a morning daily for FIVE days in
theh week. and to issue an afternoon edi-
ton on Mondays in lieu of the Sunday
morning edition. 1t is planned to raise
100000. and the money is to come from
all parts of the state. with stockholders
and patrons in every county and city.
the scattering Of the stock to mean that
each person interested is to solicit SUBJ
scriptions and TO add to the volume of
business The ncwspaper of the city
apparently are encouraging the idea,
taking the ground that to have a real
thing for the people Of Virginia The
press has not yet been ordered, nor has
any other part of the equipment been
purchased.
Tramps are giving this city the So-by
as they wander back and forth between
the north and the south. The vagrancy
laws are being enforced, and many OF
the roadsters are spending time on the
highways. that is, some of them have
and when they were released they did
not fall to let the information go TO
those who might expect to come this
way. The result has been beneficial, but
occasionally hobo drops in and is at
once rounded UP and sent to the roads.
Sixty days at hard work is more than
they want, though they claim to be seek
ing work
a
the police, however, and the crowd of idle
loafing whites and blacks-the home nrod
uct-is not diminished by the round-up
begun some time ago. At that time some
one hundred or more were nabbed and
were made to hustle, but they are back.
and with them have come many others
who are standing on the streets and wait
ing for something to do.
The Grand Lodge of Pythians in Eir-
Sin!a has authorized the purchase of q
building in this city to be devoted 10 the
use of the order and 10 be d meeting
place for the several lodges of this city
The building will be known as the Hines
Memorial Hall. to be dedicated In memory
OF Samuel Holder Hines. member of the
order who lost his life in a hotel fire
here many years ago in trying to save the
life of a fellow-member The matter has
been under way for some years and the
fact that the hall is TO be dedicated 10
the purposes of the order meets with gen-
eral approval throughout the state. The
building when completed will cost on
proximately some $4,000 and will have
ample space for the meeting of several
lodges at one time. The ground floor is
TO be devoted 10 business places the nm
per floors to lodge uses. The hall is in
the center of the city and within half a
of the shopping district. Col. Charles IT
Loehr. past grand chancellor, Is the man
who has been actively at work on the
matter for. years.
Richmond Building Boom.
Bricklayers. carpenters. concrete men,
roofers. skaters, painters, plumbers and
xashtters, metal workers and all classes
Of 0ood yuacI, I'm 20 THAT