The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-17
Ninth District Will Be
Scene of Great Po-
litical Battle.
STUART AND SLEMP
RIVAL T. Z A D e R S
Qualified Vote Much Heavier
Than Formerly, and Demo
Gratis Claim This Condition
Favors Their Candidate.
Enthusiasm Shown for
Farmer-Candidate.
---
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.

lSpeclal TO The TimeS-DiSpatch.l
Pulaski, Va, July 16.-with the re-
nomination of Representative c. Bas-
com Slemp by the Ninth District Re-
publican Convention at Abingdon next
Wednesday the lines will be drawn
and the issues Joined for the greatest
political battle fought in Southwest
Virginia in more than decade, and
there are indications that it will be-
come almost terrific in its herceness
before it ends at tho ballot box In
November.
1t is big game that is being played
in the Ninth District this year, and
SO heavy and attractive are the stakes
that each party is going to do Its level
best to win them.
The election of Mr.. Stuart would not
only mean the redemption of the Ninth
District from Republicanism and
Slemp domination, but 1t would mean
a solid Democratic delegation from
Virginia in the Sixty second Con-
gross. and an additional Representa-
tive to help reverse the Republican
policies that are now being so Sc
verely criticized throughout the coun-
try.
The defeat OF Mr.. Stuart. on the
other hand. would mean dsappoint-
ment for himself and his party
throughout the State, for Democratic
prospects are SO bright as to breed
the most sanguine hopes of victory.
VIII Continue "BiS Boss.'
II Mr.. Slen,p wins again, it is the
general opinion that he will just
keep on being the "big boss" of the
G. o. P. in Virginia, distributing pat
! ronase and Strengthening his hold on
the party organization, which is now
said to extend to every county and
city in the State while II he loses 1t
will most likely mean his permanent
retirement from public life, and the
sending of his old battered and pune
tured machine rumbling to the scrap
pile"
The campaign up to this time has
developed number OF unusual fea-
lures, most OF which are favorable to
the Democrats Among these may be
mentioned the remarkable interest and
activity on the part of the voters in
getting their poll taxes paid up and
otherwise qualifying themselves for
participating in the election this fall
The early nomination of Mr.. Stuar,
to make the race for the Democrats
had much to do with this. In recent
years the Democratic candidates have
| not been named until it was 100 late
1
been that little or no work was done
along this line. Mr.. Stuart was nomi
mated on the first day of March, ant
| a strong organization was thel
| formed which worked the entire dis
| trict systematically by precincts. urg
ing persons otherwise qualified t.
vote, to pay their taxes.
The Republicans did a great deal o
work along this same line. though
they We're in better shape to star
with than the Democrats, as their or
Eanization in the Ninth District ha
never been neglected since it came un
der the domination of the slemps.
Heavy Qualified Vote.
/ The result of all this is that TIL,
! qualified vote of the district Is mucl
heavier this year than at any TIM
since the new Constitution went int,
effect, and the Democrats are claim
ing that this condition is highly ia
vorable to their cause.
Up to this time the Republicans o