Evening star., 1909-04-18
PAYING THE POLL TAX
Signs Of a Big Vote at vir-
ginia Primaries.
LIQUOR ISSUE THE FIRST
Candidates a Secondary Considera-
ton Before the People.
SIX TO DIE IN ELECTRIC CHAIR
Busy Week. Ahead for State Peni-
tentiary Warden-Richmond City
Councilmen Criticised.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

| Will De heavier than II Was In the primary
of four years ago. There Is reason for this
in the fact that voters are paying their
poll taxes and getting ready to participate
in the election more generally than for
several years past. There Is not so much
| interest In the contest between Mann and
| Tucker, but the voters are beginning to
realize that there is possibility that an
issue may be forced in the more popu-
lous cities looking to driving the saloons
from the territory which Is now regarded
as debatable ground for the invasion by
the temperance forces. The voters are
paying up as never before. and they have
until May / in which to qualify them
selves for the right of suffrage.
While 1t is true that Judge Mann and
Mr.. Tucker have been on the stump now
/ for a month, there Is less interest in the
struggle between these two candidates
than has been witnessed at any time
since the days of readjusterism, when
| the democrats were given decisive de-
feat at the polls. People now are taking
absolutely no interest. but the candidates
are workingeas hard as any two men
who have offered for that position.
There are many of the voters who are
| waiting for the republicans to meet and
name ticket. That party will name a
full set of aspirants for all state Offices.
and the general impression is that the
party will take advantage of the position
of Mann and Tucker, both of whom are
1 for local option, and make straight
| declaration against any further interfer-
ence with the liquor laws, against prohi-
bition and for reasonable regulation Of
the liquor traffic. That Is the belief at
this time. and If such a thing is done it
| will result In putting the state in the
doubtful column.
Politicians are somewhat at sea. What
is known as the machine is much di-
vided between Mann and Tucker. Lines
| have been broken as they have not been
| for years. The erstwhile leaders are not
| leaders in the sense that they are all
| for one candidate. Each has his fol-
| lowers. and there is a good deal of the
old Monta que Martin factionaI fight be-
ing injected into the campaign.
Cabell Coming to the Front.
Several weeks ago there was a good
deal of talk about naming A. p. Gillespie
of Tazewell for the governorship by the
republicans. Since that time the friends
of Royal e. Cabell, postmaster of this
city. have begun to boom that gentle
| man for the nomination. 1t is certain
that the prominent men of the party will
not let the nomination go by default but
that they will make a fight and then
| make a campaign with an idea of win
| ming. Mr.. Cabell Is strong in this section
of the state. He is a member of one of
the oldest families, a lawyer, belongs to
the swell clubs, and Is one of the most
affable of gentlemen. He is a good speak
| er. and If his friends can have their way
he will go to the convention with solid
delegation from this district. and with
strong following from the tenth, the
| fourth and the eighth districts.
w. c. Barker, the sixty-year-old farmer
| of Henrico, the one-armed ex-Confeder-
ate who several months ago eloped to
North Carolina with fourteen-year-old
Martha Husselman of Henrico. has been
acquitted by a jury in Henrico circuit
court. Barker was infatuated with the
| girl, took her riding one Sunday and
then came to the city and boarded
| train for North Carolina. The license
| clerks refused to give him a license to
wed the girl. and they returned to this
| city. He took her home. and was at
| once arrested by the girls father and
| taken to the county Jail, where he re-
mained for several months. He an
| nounced that it was his intention to
| marry the girl. and declares that he will
| yet win her. He is wealthy, has made
| the child many valuable presents and
| says he will wait till she is old enough
| to marry him.
Burke May Go Free.
Frank P. Burke of this city. for long
| time superintendent Of the carrier service
here, arrested about a year ago for
| stealing letters from the post Office, may
| go free. He has bee ntwice tried for
his crime. the jury in each instance be-
! ing unable to agree. The defense is re-
flying almost wholly on the plea that
| Burke, py reason of his bibulous habits
was ''rum-dumb' employe, and that he
| had no idea of the crime he was commit
| ting. One of the freakish things he did
was to select his pallbearers some two
years ago, and putting only bald headed
men on the list.
| Walter Turpin and Frank Seybold have
been convicted of counterfeiting in Judge
Waddill's court and will go to the federal
prison at Atlanta. Turpin has been in
broken away from the institution and
been returned. Last year he decided to
change his life. and began TO attend
the Sunday school and to take an interest
In the affairs OF the church. He joined a
church. and the Prisoners Aid Society.
composed of leading men and women
succeeded in obtaining conditional par
don for him. Within two weeks after
his release lie was at his old habits and
engaged in counterfeiting while a guest
at charitable home. When taken into
custody counterfeit money was found in
his possession. and the dies for making
the queer were found in his room. After
he has served his term in Atlanta he will
be brought back here and will go in for
life. Seybold. his partner, will go to
Atlanta with him.
Councilmen of the city are being criti-
| cised for failure to appropriate $4,000 to
establish home for cOnsumptives in ad-
vanced stages Of the disease. 1t Is being
pointed out that they have appropriated
| funds with which to buy street car tickets
| for themselves, have provided smooth
pavements for the blocks in which the
| members of the council and their friends
| live at cost Of $1,000 block, have given
$l25.OOO for a new armOry for a pet mill
tary organization. and have in various
ways expended the money of the tax
payers. but when they were called on to
provide a home for sufferers from tuber-
culosis they were quick to say that no
funds are available. The city already
| owns a farm that would accommodate
several hundred of such persons. butt the
| buildings are lacking.
Successful Musical Festival.
| The Wednesday Club. local musical
organization, has completed its usual
spring musical festival. Walter Damrosch
came here and directed the concerts,
bringing his own orchestra of some fifty
pieces. The concerts were given in the
City Auditorium, with a seating capacity
| of some 5000 persons. The building was
were denied admission. For the first time
in theshistory of the organization it more
than made expenses, and the Indebtedness
will be considerably reduced by the rev.
enues from the concerts. The programs
were OF a very high order. The chorus
work was by selected corps from local
singers. 500 children from the public
congratulated by Mr.. Damrosch on their
excellent performance. The children were
trained by Prof. Walter c. Mercer Of this
city.