The Washington herald., 1910-11-06
Party Nay Make Clean Sweep
in Virginia This Year.
STUART MAKING HARD FIGHT
Ninth and Fifth Only Districts Com
sidered Close, with Chances Favor
Amendments tO the state COnstitu-
tiOn Up at This Election.

Norfolk. Va. Nov. Eight Congress
sional districts surely Democratic. Two
districts doubtful, with odds strongly ia.
voring Democrats, and the adoption OF
four amendments TO the state constitu'
ton are indicated tonight, upon the clos,
of the campaign in Virginia. Many un
biased political forecasts. however. give
the Democrats d clean sweep for Con
gress. which would mean the defeat ans
political destruction Of Representative
Bascom Slemp. of the Ninth district, thu
lone Republican from Virginia. and III,
G. o. P. State boss.
The only districts classed as doubtful
by both party leaders are the Ninth
Slemp's district, and the Fifth, Senator
Swanson's old district. which is now rep,
resented by Z. w Saunders. Democrat
Henry c. Stuart. Of Russell. former cor.
poTation commissioner. aligned In tbs
past with the anu-machine forces, but
slated 10 succeed Gov. Mann in the exec.
utive mansion. is opposing Slemp The
Democrats have concentrated all theil
strength In this district. consequently the
bitterest and costliest Congressional cam
paign in recent Virginia history has beer
waged there 1t is estimated tharat leas
SieC00 has been thrown into the night by
the two candidates and their friends.
Hard Fight by Stuart.
Bascom slemp and his father. the lat,
| Representative Campbell Slemp. hav,
dominated the Ninth district. in which
/ is located the great timber and Goa
land wealth of Virginia. for the past ter
years. Every Democratic candidate hai
led a forlorn hope seeking to Gust them
This year the Democrats force tie nom
ination upon Henry Stuart. rercsuized a.
The strongest individual Democrat IN Viz
ginia. Stuart has money and plenty o
it. He is one OF the cattle Aings o
Southwest Virginia.
number OF things have happened t,
injure Slemp in ViTginia's Republican
stronghold. First Siemp voted 10 re
duce the coal tariff, which caused mucl
dissatisfaction. Another antl-Slemp fac
tor is the disposition Of Federal patron
age, which has left many unhealed sores
The silent vote Is apparently against tn
Republicans this time. which in the pas
has gone for him, the high cost Of Twin;
having lis influence IN this regard Man,
OF Slemp's county leaders are lukewarn
and some OF them have told the writer
informant that Slemp viii be defeated
Influences in Stuarts favor are tn
| confidence the people of his district an,
| Virginia have for him and the fact tina
/ both factions of the Democratic part,
are supporting him, something which ha
( not been done since the days when botl
wings Of the party united upon JOIN
! Buchanan eighteen years ago.
Fifth Also Doubtful.
The Fifth district is rendered doubtful
/ because il has been neglected by tn
Democrats IN concentrating their fire II
/ the Ninth. Saunders is opposed by JOIN
/ NJ Parsons. who was defeated by saun
ders two years ago by Sc majority. Par
I sons contested, which the House has no
decided. There are two factors In Saun
/ ders' favor. one is senator Swanson
campaigning for him and the other Is tn
/ presence OF an Independent Republican
( In the field. Saunders, though an abb
| man, is ii poor mixer. Parsons is
splendid campaigner.
/ All present Democratic Representative
/ except Saunders and Harry L. Maynard
/ Of the Second district. are sure OF re
election. Maynard lost out in the ''pri
mary fraud" shuttle in the Second dis
/ trict. He will be succeeded by Edwar,
/ +. Holland. OF Suffolk. Democrat. The Re
/ publicans have candida es in six districts
/ two of which only are regarded as serious
Four Amendments Proposed.
( The only State issue is the four amend
mentS to the State constitution. Thes
provide for a ninety-day session of III
general assembly, a change in Legislative
procedure, and the election by the peopl
and unlimited terms of commissioners o
+ the revenue, and unlimited terms for cit
and county treasurers. Against the tw
/ last-named amendments there is stron
opposition. At present commissioners o
the revenue are appointed by the judges
named by the legislature, and all Demo
ratio. They can serve only two terms
/ Fhe treasurers also can serve only tw
terms. Republican votes will carry tn
amendments despite the fight on them b.
certain Democrats.
The election by the people of commits
| sioners of the revenue. who assessed tn
! poll taxes, the payment Of which is
prerequisite OF voting in Virginia. mean
/ twenty or more Republican commission
ers in Virginia, whereas now they hav
not one.
This contingency alone will give tn
amendments 200O0 Republican votes.
number regarded as moro than enough L
offset the Democratic opposition.
/ a small vote i'm ali districts except tn
Fifth and Ninth is expected
VIII Talk on Everglades.