The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-02
HELPING TO SWELL
DEMOCRATIC RANKS
Lee County an Example of
Political Revolution Which Is
Under Way in Ninth District,
Where slenp's Sun Is
Surely Set
ing.
ny ALEXANDER FORWARD,
Special Correspondent of The Times
Disuafch

Special Correspondent of The Times
Dispatch.
Jonesville, Va. April 1.--Here at the
count scat of Lee. in the eye of the
kEecling camel which Virginia is sup
posed to represent on the map of the
nation, and WITHIN gunshot of Ken
tucky round to-day the most strik-
ing Indications NJ a political revolu-
ton that I have encountered in the
Ninth District. There is distinct
drift .way from Republicanlsm. or
ther from pie-co-interlsm and to-
ward Democracy.
For the first time since ] came into
the district ! found this morning diff
ferences OF opinion among Democrats.
When talking of the changes whicn
are taking place politically in other
counties, Campaign Manager r. L..
remington was inclined to pooh-pooh
them as compared with his own baili-
wick.
Wait until you get the Lee county
vote In November" said Mr.. Penning.
ton. 1T will make the other counties
sick when they find out how we have
distanced them.''
Has the Figures.
What is better still, he has the hp-
ures. Mr.. Pennington Is not tho sort
OF man who talks for the pleasure OF
nearing the music of his own voice.
re mas counted noses, and is In touch
with every voter in this. the noost
westerly Virginia county.
county Chairman c. C. Boatwrirht
tells the same tale So does Secretary,
Cridlin. So does Judge C. T. Duncan.
VINO has grown gray fighting the bat
ties of his party These men agree
that not within their experience has
the party been SO thoroughly aroused,
SO earnestly at work and so confident
OF success It the polls.
Last Tuesday the party workers were
called togethcr- In former years such
meetings were attended by half a
dozen haf-hearted Democrats, who had
no hope of success, and who merely
kept the fires lit for the future. II
was very different on this occasion
Nearly every one of the TWENTY-FIVE
members of the county committee an
swered to the call. Not in many
years have l seen such interest and
enthusiasm" says Judge Duncan. II
have never seen anything like it," COM
ments Secretary Cridlln.
The leaders agree that lack of or
ganization and dearth of party spirit
has been the cause of the series of
Republican victories in Lee. The re.
suit has not always been the same. The
county now has Democratic treasurer
and a Democratic courty clerk. This
but indicates what can be done with a
strong man in nomination and with a
prospect of success. But in congress
sional elections the Democrats have
felt that there was no hope and that
any effort to get out the vote would be
useless.
Everybody Paid Up.
Last November nobody in Lee coun-
tv paid any attention to State politics.
All important and all absorbing was a
contest which was waged over pro-
posed change in the location OF theI
courthouse. Everybody in the
got himself on tho registration
books and paid his capitation taxes.
Out of the mountains and valleys and
bluegrass fields came voters who had
not been heard of for years and regis
tered their choice between Jonesville
and Pennington Gap.
That Kent carried the county by
a majority of about zoo was because
Of the previous Republican drift ofI
past years. for the voting on the gov
was merely incidental. For
his reason 1t will be unnecessary to
urge many voters in this county to
pay their poll taxes. Nobody owes
more than one year. and most of the
yoters are now imbued with the habit |
of qualifying for the suffrage.
Not Mere Twnddle.
A statement that a number of Re-
,ublicans in Lee county will vote for
Ir. Stuart is not mere campaign /
waddle. 1t is a fact. Their names are
veil known here Among them are
Republican officials, One may ns~et
H. 1T ~ Inp "a
VIII feel their loss aside from their
Individual votes, for in many cases
hey are the men who have been the
zone and sinew of the Republican
ause. There are, In addition, Republi
ans here who will not vote for a
Democrat, but who have already
ormed Imperative engagements with
hook and a line and can or a bot
lie of bait for November s on the
anks OF the beautiful Howells River.
Mr.. Stuart's personality plays an I'M
ortant part in this situation. Lee is
argely a cattle county. and Mr.. Stuart
as dealt with most Of the farmers.
hey know him. and they like him, and
nany Of them will vote for him.
lie appeals to many OF the Republl-
ans on personal grounds. AS for the
one of the party leaders
I'D me to-day that II there Is DEM
crat In Lee who will not vote for Mr..
tuart he has not heard OF him.
National Issues Figure. T.
But national issues are tiguring also.
I'd to a great extent. Business Is not
, good here as 1t was one time.
oney is not easy. While the cost OF
wing here has climbed steadily, pros
Gritty has failed to keep In touch with
There is a feeling among the Re-
lhlicans that MIR. Taft's admlnistra-
on has not kept UP With the advance {
offices. and at the second perform
zee next November there will be many
ats In the dress circle reserved for
70 Republicans of Lee. which will be
lcant,
Earnest work and a most commenda-
q spirit characterize the Democrats l
!. Lee. II the rest of the district does {
ryt.S n 1H3vN.. L