The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-27
WITH RALLOTING NEAR BOTH
THE VICTORY.
NO ISSUE AT STAKE
PRESENT CONGRESSMAN WILL GET
RIGHT INTO FIGHT now THAT
CONGRESS HAS Nd
JOtRNED.
JOI RNED.

Ties IN washington and leaves him
free to begin his active campaign for
denomination to congress from the
Fourth district.
Judge Watson has been ma king a
quiet, Misunderstanding campaign for
several months. travers.ng the dis
trict several times, and has now OPEN
ed mp headquarters in Petersburg,
where the fight Is said to be the clos
est. Heretofore his canvass has been
made intermittentiy, without any Or
ganized plan of procedure, but With
the opening of headquarters the fight
Will be systematized and from now
on will be carried on from one cen
trail point
While Congressman Turnbuil nas
been kept out Of the district for the
greater part of the time by his du-
ties in Washington. and has been pre-
vented from taking personal charge
of the work of mend!ng his fences,
his cause is said to have suffered
rittle I'm account OF his enforced
absence. His friends are many aad
enthusiastic and have taken care Of
his interests In the d strict
In Petersburg Major Harrison aud
Nathaniel Harrison, young men, but
determined and aggressive and with
considerable experience in campaign
ing, are looking after his interests
in Brunswick, Congressman Turnbull
numbers friends by the hundreds,
four-ffths OF the voters, 81 not more,
being active workers far the con-
gresham and the vast atcrity of
them being his supporters. In the
four-cornered race three years ago
Congressman Turnbui polled all but
twenty-eight of the 600 votes, or
thereabouts. his three opponents d.
viding these twenty eigh among them
In other sections of the district the
incumbent has workers ~ the score,
and while. of course. his presence
would have helped matters consid-
erably, what little time ne has had
to devote to his own affairs Congress
man TurnbulI has used to good J.
vantage,
Watson Well known.
Judge Watson has numerous
friends who are working hard for.
him and with him Judge Watson
made a name for himself by his mas
terful conduct of the famous Beattie
triad, and many people who are but
slightly acquainted with Congressme u
Turnbull and his record viii vote for
Watson on this account Moreover
Judge Watson is Well known and
greatly liked and respected in Motto
way, where he lived for some time
prior to his removal to Forest Hill,
In Chesterfield county. and where he
now makes his home. He has al
ways voted at Jennings Ordinary. ia
that county, and is known as a
staunch friend OF the governor, His
years OF service az Judge OF Fourth
judicial district. containing many of
t,as Il
trict. made him well known. particu-
larry in Amelia and Dinwiddie eoun.
ties.
Advantage of Presence.
Being IN the district, Judge Watson
has had a slight advantage over con.
gresham Turnbul1. but despite this
fact the incumbent has more than
held hts own within the last few
weeks. In that time there has be@li
little change iii the situation. In the
early days Of the campo Ign the dis-
trict was almost universally conceded
ta7Ludge Watson. but early In June
Turnbulfs stock began To show an
upward tendency. mounting until the
race became SO close as TO keep tho
political viseacres guessing OF
course. Watson men WI tell you that
he will surely win. while Turnbuli
their all on their favorite candidate.
Those who take interest In the tight
only as iookerS%on, however, are
chary of expressing an opinion, con-
ceding the victory to neither and eX-
pressing the belief that whichever
wins will go 10 congress with "A meaGer
majority behind him.
Predict Close Fight.
A number of Petershurgers were in
the city Saturday and yesterday on
business and all or them predicted
that the flsht would be close. Sidney
Fischer. shrewd political observer
of the cockade city. said Turnhulls
charaes had improved. but would
venture no prediction as To the out
come. 8 n. Rodeer. Petersburg
newspape man. was of the opinion
that the fight would be close one.
hut that Watson would Win out by a
small majority He believes that there
has been another swing or the pen
duIum I'm Petersburg, and that while
Turnbuil gained ground rapidly for
a time. Judge Watson has won back 81
part of his lost strength since opening
his headquarters in that city. and that
he will carry Petersburg by com
Portable majority
Others would not agree with thus
view OF the SITUATION, HoNeNti, an"
claimed the Cockade city for the
brunswick man. The more conserva-
tive said they would know all about
Il on the morning Of September 23d.
Few important issues have entered
into the canvass. the fight being more
or less a personal one. Not that there
have been any personalities employed
hy either side, but the appeals of the
workers for both candidates have been
largely of Il personal nature CON
gresham Turnbull declined 10 meet
Iudre Watson in debate partly on
the ground of lack of issues, it IS
said and partly on the ground that
cxceDt under extraordinary cifeum-
stances he was doubtful of the expe-
dieney OF PUNT debates in party pri-
varies Judge Watson Is said to have
been willing To meet his opponent on
the stump. hut the incumbent's re-
fusal robbed the people Of Pefers'
burg. where the debate was 10 have
been held. Of the entertainments ana
saved off the possibility OF enGend"r
inc III feeling.
Has Machine support.
In the early days of the tampai @n
The SO called machine issue ,terdct-
ed more than passing attention. maa%
expressing the belief that JUDI Vat
sons candidacy was inaugur;.ted for
the purpose of Furnishing Congress
man Turnbull for voting agaips. the
two candidates backed by the state
organization in the senatorial cGm-
naiCn OF last September. INC fact
that large number OF those ,nost