Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-18

ure as an acute issue in the campaign Inc
republican plank is to all intents and pur-
poses practically the existing law Wnich
was framed by a democratic legislature.
You see the democrats, by conducting
their nominations for state Offices through
the primary system escaped the penaity
! of platform commitment. They have no
roll or principles and policies further
than may be enunciated by the dlnereh.
speakers, who will be trusted to say the
pleasing thing to the proper audiences:
There are advantages in that KIND Oh
campaign.
Judge Mann. the democratic nominee
10 in avowed sympathy with the tenn
perance movement. He has said, how
ever that he would not sign law i'm
posing statewide prohibition unless 1t
had been passed by legislature IN the
election of which that question had been
submitted to popular vote. There 10 no
thought of proposing statewide prohibi-
tion at this time, and. indeed, 1t Is ques,,
tionable whether the next legislature VIII
vote upon submitting the question to the
nrirna ries. The temperance forces them
selves are not fully determined upon that
course.
The republicans nominated their men
in convention and consequently adopted
a platform. The liquor plank was az FOL
lows:
I'VE favor the traditional republican
doctrine of local option, counties and
cities to be the unit In all elections TO de-
and demand rigid regulation and strict
enforcement of the law.
It is thought that the chances are that
both parties will slosh around In this
campaign, side-step and straddle. tote
water on one shoulder and liquor on the
other and do the best they can. 1t IS
a. difficult situation for every one: any
how, the question will not be an acute Is
sue.
Extravaganza Charged.
The keystone of the republican arch in
the campaign will be this plank in their
platform:
I'VE declare that the vital issues in
volved in the campaign embrace wide'
patriotic. honest. economic and business
like administration of our state govern
ment, whereby useless offices created by
the democratic party may be abolished.
officers salaries reduced to reasonable
figures and the expenses of the govern
ment curtailed. And. in this connection.
we charge that the democratic party. by
its mismana cement Of our public affairs.
has Increased the ordinary expenses Of
the state government from IS, .5OI IN
1908. to the enormous sum OF $3.50, 4So
in 1907. This. we charge, was q useless
expenditure Of the peoples money. re-
suting in the almost complete depletion
OF the treasury of the state.
The democratic reply to this charge
vii, be mainly that it isn't so," In so
far as the increase spells extravagance;
that 1t was only progress and growth
and then they will go ahead to paint
their own rosy picture of democratic rule
Good Impression by Kent.
William P. Kent, the republican candi-
date for governor, is now going about the
state getting acquainted with the people.
He is a csean-cut, conservative. likeable
man. He is not a brilliant orator; he will
not set any rivers on fire with his speech
making. but he is making q good impress
sion. The republicans have an efficient
organization. Their chairman, Repre-
sentative Slemp, is man of ability, as
well as character. The democrats like
him as an antagonist; he plays fair" and
he plays sagacfously, too.
Republicans here say that he deserves
help from the national administration.
and that with help he can make the
campaign count for the future. Virginia
has shown remarkable growth of repub-
licanism, more 50 than any other SOUTH
ern state. Starting from the nucleus OF
Union sentiment, where Tennessee, Ken
lucky and Virginia touch elbows. repub-
licanism has spread steadily eastward in
Virginia and promises to take trend
northward under right fostering condi-
tons.
Democrats feel more than reasonably
assured of a democratic victory In the
coming state elections. They have every
practical reason for their confidence.
They work under q favorable election law
that throws all the weight of benefit upon
their side. They have absolute control
of the election machinery, with all the
tremendous advantage that control carries
in a state where one portion of the vote
Is regarded as rightful prey. They have
q splendid organization, the heritage Of
John 8. Barbour's constructive ability, a
machine that has withstood the storms
of politics since 1883. These considera-
tions constitute the heart-breaking handi-
cap under which the republicans have
worked and yet have made progress.
N. o. NJ