Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-08-07
NEXT GOVERNOR
Of VIRGINIA
Big Fight at Democratic Primaries
in State Today.
HARRY ST. GEORGE TUCKER
OR JUDGE W. H. MANN
The Campaign For The GubernatoIiai
Nomination Has Been One of The
Most Bitter in The History OF The
Old Dominion--Liquor Question Has
Entered Into The Contest,

EnkCfCQ tIto h1 SOnAGStt
Richmond, Va, August 5.--Before
tomorrow morning the people of yir-
ginia will undoubtedly know who Is to
be the next Governor OF the State. To-
day in every county ballots were being
cast in the democratic primary to de-
eide whether Harry st George Tucker.
of Roclzbridge, or Judge William H.
Mann. OF Nottoway county, shall head
the ticket to be voted for at the cleo
ton next November. The campaign
has been one of the most partisan In
the history of the commonwealth and
has attracted wide attention because
of the prominence OF the contestants
and also from the fact that the liquor
question is the liveliest State issue in
Virginia at the present time. The
question of Statewide prohibition has
been raised. Judge Mann favors local
option. out would probably sign a
Statewide Dill under certain cireum-
stances. kEr, Tucker is equally in
favor OF local option. but fundamental
| -ly opposed TO the Statewide prCposi-
ton. Judge Mann charges that Mr..
/ Tucker lis really wet sympathizer
and states that he was on that side
on two separate occasions when the
issue was up n his home town.
From a personal standpoint there Is
little for the voters to choose between
the two candidates, for 1t is generally
admitted that either is worthy to hold
the office OF chief executive. Judge
I5ann served for many years with dis
tinction in the State senate and was
the author of bill which his friends
claim was responsible for the annihi-
lation of hundreds OF saloons, particu-
larly in the rural sections. He was a
candidate for governor four years ago,
but was distanced in the primary by
the present chief executive, Claude A.
Swanson. He has the support of Sen
ator Martin, Of many of the Virginia
representatives in Congress and OF the
Anti-Saloon League.
Harry st. George Tucker Is equally
we'll known to all people Of the State.
He served eight years as member of
Congress. After period passed S a
professor of law, and later as field
agent for the Ogden educational move
ment. he served as president Of the
jamestown exposition. He is the son
of one of Virsiria's greatest states
men, the late John Randolph Tucker,
who was her encouragement during
che civil war. and for many years a
leader in the national hou Of repre-
sentatives.
Each aspirant for the nomination
has based his campaign upon what he
alleges to be his opponents unfitness
to be governor. Judge Mann charges
that Mr.. Tucker was a Gold Democrat
and bolter in 1896 and that he has
only recently returned to the fold,
and further that 1t was his lack Of
capacity as president Which was re-
sponsible for the troubles that over
took the jamestown exposition.
fuckers principal charge against
Judge Mann has to do with events
that transpired in 1ST9-S0. At that
time the Democratic party in Virginia
was rent in twain over the adjust
ment of the State debt. the regulars
being known as funders, the boilers as
readjusters. The latter under the lead
ership of Gen William Malone formed
combination with the radicals and
republicans and swept the state. The
opposition in the present campaign
has charged that Mann was elected
Judge of Nottoway county court by a
readiuster legislature, although he has
always stoutly maintained that he was
consistent funder and that conse-
quently his Democratic record Is
clean.
On the eve Of the primary both
candidates appear to be absolutely GER
tain OF winning and their friends are
making claims for their favorites In a
manner that indicates vote Of not
less than 100000 in the primary. The
best Informed politicians, however. do
not expect to see more than 10000
votes cast at the very outside. Judge
Maun's friends are sticking 30 their
figures o. a majority Of not less than