Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-06-10
POLITICAL GOSSIP
OF OLD DOMINION
Tucker Victory Means Big Shake Up
Among The OfI1GShOlderS Of The
State-GilleSpie Will Head
Republican Ticket.

The Richmond correspondent of the
Washington Herald writing under date
OF June 9th, among other things, says:
Political gossip in Virginia these
days is taking speculative turn. Many
are wondering and asking the question
what will happen if Harry st. George
Tucker, the 'anti-machine" candidate,
is nominated and elected governor. This
question is answered by well-known
"anti-machine" Democrat, who asserts
that 1t will mean not only United States
Thomas S. Martin, recognized as the
head or the organization, but the
organization" Representatives in Con-
gress, will have opposition for renomin-
alton. Not only this, but the 400 office
holders appointed by the governor will
be hunting other ways of earning their
bread and butter; for Tucker is likely to
make clean sweep and turn out those
officeholders who are active in opposing
his nomination.
IF such things happen, it will be big
political revolution in Virginia, SO far
as the officeholders are concerned-al-
most as big as if a Republican were to
be chosen to sit in the chief executives
chair. The governor of Virginia, on ac-
count of the appointive power vested in
him by the new constitution, exerts a
powerful political influence. He not
only fills approximately 400 State offices,
o%s
of more or less political influence, should
such an influence be exerted.
I'm nutshell, it is generally believed
that Tucker victory will upset things
in Virginia, so far as the officeholders
are concerned, while a Mann victory
will mean the present crowd will be
more or less retained.
''It is the fear of many of the faith
full losing their jobs that is the cause,
according to reports, that the word has
been passed down the line'' by the
organization" that Tucker must be
defeated. Indeed, it is said that the
organization" is now actively at work
for Judge Mann. That means a big
vote for the Nottoway candidate. If
the Organization" presents an unbrok-
en- front, it is estimated that Judge
Mann will start the day on August 9TH
with 35 per cent of the Democratic vote
practically chalked up for him. There
are, however, some weak spots in the
organization" ranks. A number of
the county leaders have bolted Judge
Mann. Some of them are weakening.
but it is asserted that the majority of
them will stand firm by their original
announcement for Tucker.
The Republicans will name A. Z. Gil
lespie, of Tazewell. Mr.. Gillespie will
make no announcement until after the
Newport News convention, but if he is
nominated, it is said, he will not turn
down the nomination. Gillespie will
make the best race and be the strongest
candidate named by the Virginia Re
publicsns for years. He is an indepen-
dent man, Independent in worldly goods
and Independent in expressing his opin-
ions. He is Henry c. Stuart type of
man and comes from a section of Vir-
ginia which produces big men. He will
appeal to the Independent vote and the
dissatisfied Democrats.
Again, there will be Taft Demo-
crat' on the ticket. His name has
been suggested, and if he will make the
race he will be named by the Newport
News convention. He is a young man
and forceful speaker.
There will be another departure by
the Virginia Republicans. Not a Fed
eral officeholder, nor a man long identi-
fed with the old-line Republicanism in
the State will be put on the ticket. In
the past the Republican State ticket has
generally been made up of officeholders
or men looking for Federal offices. In
fact, if the men mentioned are nom-
mated, it will be the strongest State
ticket ever put forward in Southern
State for years. Whether it can win is
another question"