The Washington herald., 1909-08-04
Special to The Washington Herald.

Special TO The Washington Herald.
Richmond, Va. Aug. 3.-With the pri-
mary day now only twenty-four hours
on, the contest for the Democratic guber-
Material nomination overshadows all
other contests for places on the state
ticket. due to the indications that the
race is a very close one. The headquar-
ters Of both Mann and Tucker. however.
are still claiming everything, and are
standing pat on their predictions.
Despite the Dispatch forecast.
published to-day. indicating fuckers
nomination by a small majority. more
confidence apparently exists among
Mann's friends than there does among
the close friends OF Tucker. BY friends
It is not meant those around the head
quarters Of either candidate but those
persons on the outside who keep IN
touch with political conditions.
Fifth District Close.
The situation IS muddled by reports
from the Fifth district This district was
relied upon early in the campaign 10 give
Judge Mann from 1,0o0 TO 1000 majority.
AT "a recent conference or Informal
gathering" Of Mann's friends. the per
son representing the Fifth district. and
that person is one high in the Democratic
party. who has recently toured the dis
trict. declared that he could not see more
than 100 majority for Mann. This
news was quite a shock 20 tho Mann fol-
lowers at the informal gathering"
All indications tonight are that the
primary is in doubt very much in doubt.
and IN fact. the result is regarded as
so close that careful persons do not care
TO be quoted on the probable result.
Below Normal.
The indications are further that there
will be a below-norrpal vote. which is not
regarded as n good sign for Tucker. The
Democratic press. however. has been
hammering at the independent and indif-
ferent vote. trying to impress upon II
the importance Of going to the polls
Thursday. The Times Dispatch this
morning set forth the claim that the
real election is the primary Thursday.
for the nominee viii undoubtedly be
the next governor. This Indifferent vote
will go TO Tucker II it goes to the polls;
in fact, fuckers greatest danger Is that
his vote may not be polled.
The absence of figures from the fore
casts that have been and are being made
Is the subject Of much speculation. The
Tucker men declare that the reports do
not coincide with the reports which have
come TO them. holding that there are as
many as twelve counties and four cities
which are in the Mann column that will
b. found aligned for Tucker when the
vote Is counted
Judge Mann is certain OF v,inni,, +bo
nomination. according to recent reports
he has received. or, rather. which have
been received at his headquarters He
has Increased the minimum majority to
1900.
The governorship is claimed by Mr.
Tucker as a dead sure thing. He is be-e
tonight. and made two speeches In an
interview given out to-day, he declared
that there was not the least question ~
bis winning.
Below Normal Vote.
The best information obtainaoIe is that
the vote will not exceed 7O.0OO. though
there are some who contend that # will
be very much below that figure
The situation is one that is stul ner-
picking, confusing and uncertain Tho
repeated statements that the machine"
- Tor Judge Mann are incorrect The
TACT Is that the organization is very much
split as between Tucker and Mann MFR
great many voters refusing to 20 into
the primary for the reason that tbev
do not want 10 vote for either.
Inc majority OF the Democrats who will
so into the primary are Tucker men and
they are hrm that they will not vote. for
the reason that they will not Dladpa
themselves to vote for Mann in case ba
is the nominee.
On whole, the prospect TODAY Is m
certain; but that the victor will have a
small majority is certain.
The total vote Of the State will fan far
below the normal Many thousands OF
Democrats will scratch both candidates
for governor, voting for the rest OF the
ticket
CriticiseS Newspaper Forecast.
Col. James Mann says he is not the
slightest disturbed by the Times-Dls-
patch forecast Of this morning.
1T IS significant" he said. "that No
figures were given. A forecast that
AbN0 AlcN bAfo any AEAAtn IS OF course
Of no value whatever IN determining rho
vote IN a primary where every vote
counts. The Times-Dispatch forecast
itself is the best evidence Of this. II We
take from the Mann column all OF tho
counties claimed by our local friends that
are given Tucker IN the forecast. and
place them In the Tucker column by the
same majoritles that our friends are
claiming them for Judge Mann. II still
leaves Judge Mann a majority OF 600
votes. II the Times-Dispatch wants its
forecast 10 have any value II should give
the figures. They are the things that
tell
Correspondents NOt Good Judges.
Some Of the counties given Tucker by
the Times Dispatch are claimed by our
friends by as much as 300 majority. Our
estimates are made by experienced men.
who have made Il a business 70 ascertain.
not just the sentiment as shown on the
surface in one community in a county as
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