The Washington herald., 1909-08-02

stan Correspondence The Washington Herald.
Norfolk. Va. Aug 1.-The approach Of
the Democratic gubernatorial primary,
now only four days or. finds political
conditions. especially in Norfolk. chaotic
in machine" circles. caused by a division
among the leaders over the governorship
and by an unusual alignment OF political
influences, which cannot be held to-
gother.
Here is the situation in a nutshell:
Influences Behind Mann.
For Mann - The anti-saloon leaders.
headed by J. W Hough, a sincere prohi-
bitionist and one Of the highest citizens
OF Norfolk: the bulk Of the antl-saloon
vote. a majority OF the ministers identi-
fed with anti-saloon work; the machine
liquor leaders. who will poll the bulk OF
the liquor vote; nearly all the office
holding trust" leaders. among whom are
James V. Trehy. NorfoIk's real political
leader and Capt. W. W. Dey, commits
sioner Of revenue. and acting with whom
is Capt. James f. Prince, a wholesale and
retail liquor dealer and politician: in
Norfolk County. the fusion Democratic
Republican ring" headed by National
Committeeman Alvah II. Martin, clerk Of
the county court: Sam w. Lyons. Repub-
llcan county treasurer; A. c. Cromwell
Democratic sheriff and member Of the
Democratic State central committee, and
John II. Lesner, State senator. former
president OF the Virginia Liquor Dealers
Association, and a power in State liquor
politics.
Influences Behind Tucker.
For Tucker-The nonofice-holding polit-
ical leaders, men like Walter II. Taylor.
Tazewell Taylor. and W. H. Venable, all
influential in politics. who have always
supported the state machine: many Of the
ministers; the bulk OF the silent, thinking
vote; majority OF the lawyers and bank
ers: the independent and wealthy liquor
dealers. wholesale and retail, Ike T. S.
Fitzgibbons and Michael McKevitt; the
sympathy OF the liquor voters, whether
they vote for him or not, and the editors,
nearly all Of whom were stanch support
ers Of Senator Martin in his race for the
Senate.
Combination Cannot Hold.
This alignment shows an unusual situa-
ton. The Anti-Saloon League leaders.
who will seek to make Norfolk dry" in
the next six months. and the machine
liquor leaders. who will combat the anti
saloon programme, are both for Judge
Mann for governor. This combination can
not stand for any length Of time and the
split viii come when the local option cleo
tion Is called.
The cause Of this unusual condition is
that the anti-saloon leaders are sincerely
for Judge Mann and have implicit con-
fdence In his sincerity on the temperance
question, while the machine liqdor lead
ers are for Judge Mann because, accord
ing TO their friends, Senator Thomas S.
Martin. recognized as the head Of the
State machine, is Judge Manns sup
porter. and he has requested them 10 line
up FOR the Nottoway candidate.
Reluctantly for Mann.
They are doing so unwnllngly, It must
be said. and there are many who do not
believe they can poll the bulk Of the vote
they control for Judge Mann. The rank
and file Of this vote is bitter against the
Nottoway candidate. although they say
they Will vote for Judge Mann because
Senator Martin Is the friend OF their local
leaders.
In recent years an election has never
been held in Virginia during which the
machine has been as much split up as is
the present gubernatorial 1ght. Every
time an attempt has been made to get
the machine TO work a cog breaks and
II stops with a jerk The leaders IN
Washington are working hard, the hard
est in their lives, according 10 statements
made here. TO get the machine running
smoothly for Judge Mann. bat they have
been unable TO do so up to the present
time.
Hope Now in Anti-saIOOn Vote.
II hos now become evident. on account
Of the split in tho machine In many sec
tions Of the State that Judge Mann's
hope for the nomination lays with the
anu-saloon vote, as Mr.. Tucker will get
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