Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-08-16
Ayers Will Win


Washington, August Sc. Bas-
com Slemp, the lone Republican cong
ressman from Virginia, State Repub-
llcan chairman and intimate Southern
political friend and adviser of Pres-
dent Taft. notified his party leaders
in the Ninth Virginia district today
that he will not be candidate for
denomination and will retire from
congress after March 4 to devote his
entire time to his coal and timber
holdings in Kentucky, West Virginia
and Southwest Virginia.
The action of MIR. Slemp, in the
opinion of Virginiads at Washington.
means the Democratic redemption of
the Ninth district and solid Demo-
cratic delegation in congress from the
Old Dominion after March 4. This
district has been Republican for about
16 years, Mr.. Slemp having been in
congress for five years. He was
elected to succeed his father, the late
Campbell Slemp.
The Democrats have again and
again tried to beat the Semps. Two
years ago they nominated Henry c..
Stuart, former corporation commits
sioner and acknowledged to be one of
the strongest Democrats in Virginia.
MIR. Stuart himself, according to his
election expense statement, spent
SIT 600 and it is freely stated that
his friends spent SIS, 900 more in
order to beat Mr.. Slemp, who, with
his friends, is alleged to have spent
n like sum MIR. Stuart came within
200 votes of defeating the young
Republican leader, whose majorities
heretofore had ranged around 5000
and 1000
STRONGEST MAN IN HIS PARTY.
1t is not believed that another
Republican in the Ninth district ear
command the united support of the
Republicans as Slemp has done, es.
pecially in view of the third party
movement. The Roosevelt following
in the Ninth district is strong; il
TACT, II is so strong that the Bull
Moase partJ expects to nominate &
successor to Slemp. But in any event
a large Republican following will be
alienated and will support Gen. Ruff.
A. Ayers, of Big Stone Gap, the
Democratic nominee. These votes.
according to Democrats in Washing
ton, will insure General Ayers cleo
tion.
Mr.. Slemp will not resign as Stat,
Republican chairman. His retiremen,
as congressman, however, will in
crease the power in the Republican
State organization of Republican
National Committeeman Alvab Fl
Martin, member of the President,
advisory campaign committee. Mr.
Slemp has always been able to bol,
the party together, but there ar,
those in Washington who believe th,
ioosening of his grip upon the organi
cation will mean an insurgent out
break and probably reshaping of the
Republican leadership in the state. II
is known that the followers of Roose
welt Will try to get control of the
State machine and they are certain I,
redouble their efforts with Mr. Stem,
out of the way.
POPULAR WITH REPUBLICANS
Mr.. Slemp has been popular with
the Repubiicans in his State Dr.;
his coming to congress in 1907 he had
been Republican State chairman for
four years. About four years ago he
made an alliance with Republican
National Committeeman Martin and
the Slemp- Martin organization has
been the dominant influence in Virgil
MA Republican circles and has success
fuliy resisted all insurgent attacks led
by Royal. II. Cabell United States
commissioner of revenue, the late