Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12
MAY INSTRUCT DELEGATES
Wilson Supporters Want Pledges at
Norfolk Convention.
ENATE FOR EX-PRESIDENTS
Gov. Mann Has Novel Plan to Pre-
vent Re-Election-Con-
victs for Hire.
Special DISPATCH to The Star.


RICHMOND. Va. May 11.-With the
congressional campaign just two months
off, the voters are paying so little atten-
ton to the affair that il is not thought
at this time that one-half the usual vote
will be polled. So far neither Capt.
Lamb nor Gov. Montague have made a
speech. They are getting their forces in
line and are organizing. and each ap-
pears to he confident that he will win,
The former governor is mixing up with
the voters, attending the county courts
and is engag ed in a lot of correspondence
with people all over the district. Appar-
emily satisfied with the condition of af-
fairs IN this city, the former governor
is extending his acquaintance into the
counties. where Capt. Lamb has always
had remarkable strength with the farm
ing element and with the business men.
lie is still strong there and he is not
without active supporters in Richmond,
but the consensus of opinion is that he
Will be bested in this city.
John A. Lamb of this city, son of the
representative, will have charge of the
campaign for his father. and he is not
by any means novice at the game. Then
there is a wide relationship and office
holding contingent which lends hand TO
Capt Lamb, and these have not relaxed
in their support of the man who is COM
plotting his eighth term in Congress from
the metropolitan district of Virginia
Speaker Richard r. Byrd, managing the
Virginia campaign of Gov. Woodrow Will
son. says that he will press for the cleo
ton of Harry NJ. Smith of this city as
Norfolk next month. That means that
the Wilson men are determined to force
the issue at all hazards and TO see If 1t is
not possible for them TO get what they
want in the way of instructions. 1ndi-
eating what may be expected at the Nor
folk convention, Senator Martin has been
elected TO lead the Albemarle delegation,
and Representative Jones, who opposed
Martin last year in the senatorial race.
has been named to lead the Richmond
county delegation. The Richmond coun-
ty delegation is instructed to vote for an
instructed Wilson delegation. Albemarle
refused TO instruct.
The outline of the contest Is seen right
there. Speaker Byrd finds the head of
the machine in the state against him, and
the speaker is aligned with one of the
lieutenants of the anti-machine crowd.
Thus the machine is split, and there is
nothing to indicate that 1t will heal itself
for some time. Mr.. Byrd is devoting some
time to getting in touch with the leaders
from all parts of the state.
Mann's Novel Proposition.
Gov. Mann has fallen in line with other
governors of the states, and is strong
for an amendment to the Constitution to
prevent Presidents from succeeding them
selves. but he favors the Taft idea to
make the term six years That is what
he declared here a day or two ago. and
he then added a word by suggesting that
the ex-Presidents should be made mem
hers of the United States Senate for life,
but should not be allowed to fill any other
Office whatsoever. He says that the in
fuence of ex-Presidents IN the Senate
would be conservative and wholesome
and that there would never be more than
two or three there at any time. Gov
Mann will, in case an amendment to the
Constitution Is proposed. urge that the
legislature shall approve II, and place Vir-
ginia on record as opposing the candidacy
of President while he is in office.
Now that the Confederate veterans at
Macon have placed the stamp of accept
ance on the invitation of the Grand Army
of the Republic to take part in the cele-
bration of the semi-centennial of the bat
tie of Gettysburg there is every reason
TO believe that on that occasion there
will be many thousands of wearers of the
gray there. Virginia has already made
provision whereby she will be represented
by many hundreds of the old men who
were there half century ago. The gen.
eral assembly accepted the invitation by
q formal vote. and later a bill was passed
which allows each county and city to
make such appropriation for the transpor-
tation of the old soldiers as they may see
81. The Grand Army will have the rations