The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-07
CHIEF INTEREST
IN TWO SECTIONS
NORFOLK AND ROCKINGHAM
COUNTIES BATTTEx;ROUNDS
IN THE ELECTION,
FEW MINOR CONTESTS
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
TO BE VOTED ON Is OF I'M
PORTANCE TO CITIES
OF THE State

This being election day and lega
holiday, there win be little doing a.
the City Hall and the Capitol.
Many OF the State officials left FOL
home yesterday. some on the day be.
fore. and 1t will be one dull, gloomy
day around the State House.
While the election Is a general one
30 far as members Of the Legislature
and county otfi Gals are concerned
there will, with few exceptions be lit
tie interest and little excitement
In Richmond there In no opposition
The ticket will embrace the names OF
seven citizens who will at the mex,
meeting OF the Legislature represen,
this city-Messrs. Harman and Folk s
for the Senate; Messrs. HARDWOOD, Cur
tia, Dreamer. Cox and Montague for
the House There will be no mark
ing. except in isolated instances. l,
has occurred before and will probably
occur again. Some one who did no,
vote for some one who was nominated
may in grouchy moment scratch tina,
name. and place another in its place
which - entirely constitutional, bu,
not ethical
In one or two corners of the State
there viii be some excitement.
intsrsst in Aivah Martin.
This will come out strongly in the
Norfolk county contest where County
Clerk Alvah II. Martin, Is being OPP
posed by c. w. Coleman. the so-called
straightout candidate. Martin is hav-
ing the hardest fight OF hts career. but
II was said around the Capitol yes
terday that the chances favored his re-
election.
Martin Is Il strong man." said the
gentleman who made the remark thai
he would probably pull through. He
has done so many fayors and has al
ways been a charitable man. and Is
always looking out for the interests OF
his community, and this is going to
catch him lot Of votes. He may be
Republican. but there are lot OF
people who are not Republicans who
will vote for him"
On the other hand there are a lot
Of people who feel that the Democratic
party has an immediate great fu-
ture. and that victory will count. who
Will do everything in their power to
defeat the Republican National Com
mitteemaa. II Is also said that. be-
cause Of the unsettled condition OF Re
publican politics in the State. princi-
paliy concerning the National Commit
teeship. there will be some opposition
own party.
Fight on keexeli
Be this as 1t may, one eye of the
people OF the state is focused upon
Norfolk county, and another is point
ed straight at Rockingham county.
This L. because Senator George b.
keezeil. for 80 many years a promi-
nant figure In the affairs of state. is
now dropping into county politics.
with strenuous opposition from a
rival faction. He Ia a candidate for
the county treasuryshtp. and has run
ap against great opposition.
Senator keezeli has served as treas
nrer since last January by appoint
ment. his predecessor having passed
way.
He Ia opposed by Mr. J. r. Re-
hard. and the campaign has been
fast and furious. But this Is not the
only contest, for that between John
Paul. Repu hlican. and George n. Con-
rad. Democrat, for the Senate Senate
Is hot.
The temperance question deals with
this contest TO q large extent. and 1t
has estranged many Republicans and
Democrats from their lifelong poIit.-
cal association.
Conrad favors referendum, while
Paul has not committed himself, and
10 believed to be against It, while Re-
hard 10 said to have worked in the
interests OF the saloon.
Aside from these TWO fights. tho
next most interesting contest Is that
In Alexandria county. There Is A
little county fight on the Common
wealth's attorneyship. which Is free
for all. as no primary was held.
With the exception of a stray con-
test or two In the Ninth district,
which will amount to little OF interest
will be one OF the most quiet held In
the State for q long time.
Minor Contese.
Two Republicans will be on the
ticket in Henrico county. They are
both running for supervisor. John
McQuillan Is opposing r. T. Wilson,
incumbent. and N. E. Griffin Ia op-
posing Walter r. Grant, recently APP
pointed by Judge Scott to I'LL an un-
expired term.
or the forty Senatorial positions
being fought for. the Democrats have
thirty-two. without opposition. One
Republican has no opposition, while
Republican II opposed by an
Independent The others are In the
Ninth district. where there IL oppo-
sition.
Seventy-three candidates for the
House from the Democratic ranks
have no opposition. while two Re
pubftc1ns will get IN without opiso-
sition. Republicans and Democrats
are contestiEy in seventeen districts;
two independents are lighting Repub-
licans and the remaining six districts
vii have Democrats and independ-
ents facing each other.
Constitutional Amendment.
In addition to the vote for candi-
dates throughout the State. the voter
win have the right to vote for an
to the constitution, which
provides that the Legislature NAV
upon q majority vote from any CITY
amend the constitution so that the
local charter may be amended.
Richmond's vote to-day. it is be-
lieved. will be ANAL. But It behooves
the voter to get to the polls and cast
his vote on the amendment, for with
the work of the City Council along
charter amendments. the Representa-
tion by commission government NAV
como later. and then with the con-
stttutionAl amendment the Legisla-
ture may act. at the request OF q ma
jority vote.