Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-22
TWO SEEKING CHAIR
Stuart and Tucker Are Out for
Virginia Governorship.
BULL MOOSE NOT FEARED
Progressive Party Not Expected to
Make Much of q Show
ing in State.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
RICHMOND, Va, September e1.-Al
though the primary for the democratic
nomination for the governorship OF Vir-
ginia will not take place for almost a
year. at least two men already have their
eyes on tho coveted honor while 1t Is not
unlikely that LIS many more have a
secret laundering for the job.
The two avowed candidates arc Henry
G. Stuart of Russell county and former
Representative Harry st. George Tucker,
who made such an aggressive fight
against tho present executive, William
Hodges Mann, three years ago.
Mr.. Tucker. ever since his last defeat,
has said that he would run again, while
Mr.. Stuart is equally frank in avowing
his intentions.
The third man spoken OF in the same
connection is Lieut.. Gov. Ellyson, who.
though rather reticent as to his future
plans, is believed to cherish ambitions for
the office.
Stuart's Health Restored.
y few months ago Mr.. Stuart's health
gave him much trouble, and he was COM
PEELED not only to cut loose from bust
ness, but to spend several weeks In
Richmond hospital, where he underwent
q serious operation. For time 1t look
e1 as il he would be permanently dis
abled. but his strength has now been
completely restored. Moreover, he has
been able to take part In the ninth dis
trict congressional campaign, where for
mer Attorney General Rufus A. Ayers is
making desperate fight to defeat Bas-
com c. Slemp, Nirginia's only republican
representative.
II has haen obyious for some months
past that Mr.. Stuart would have the sup
port of the major part of the "organlZa-
ton wing OF the democratic party, while
he also stands we'll with the faction
which heretofore has opposed the or
ganization. 1t would seem. therefore,
that his prospects for success are bright.
On the other hand. his opponent. Mr..
Tucker will enter the race with strong
organization which has not forgotten
how valiantly he opposed the ring
SOME three years ago. Mr.. Tucker is a
born "sturlper," and his methods as
speaker sain him friends everywhere AS
better of Mr.. Stuart, who. though most
sensible and forceful speaker, attempts
no tiiGhts of oratory.
Organization" Keeping Quiet.
Apropos of the organization" and
INSTRUMENTATION gossip. a deal of
speculation is heard about the attitude
OF the so-called ring" Since the Balt-
more convention. when all of the ring"
leaders save Speaker R E. Byrd favored
Champ Clark for President. this faction
has lain low" In the Lamb-Montague
congressional contest In this. the third dis
trict the Organization apparently kept
hands off. although it was known to be
no lover of the former governor. Monta-
que himself proclaimed that he was
fighting on strictly a merit basis, and
n inf tn
ton. He was about as discreet and
tactful as a candidate could well be, and
as a result he defeated the sterling old
ex-Confederate, whom he was opposing.
That victory astonished many through
out Virginia They could not understand
why the Organization" allowed it to come
to pass AS matter Of fact, the or
ganization" doesn't appear to have wor-
ried at all about the contest And Pc
sides. as one astute observer saio. MI.
Montague possibly was a more dangerous
man out of Office than in ofhce-that is,
from a ring standpoint.
The people of Virginia have unbounded
faith in the ability of Mr.. Montague and
great things are expected or him In Con-
gress, providing, of course, his party has
sufficient strength to give him a sphere OF
action.
So far as interparty fights are concerned
that between Montague and Lamb was
scarcely less interesting than the fourth
district contest between the incumbent,
Representative Robert Turnbull, and
Judge Walter A Watson. The question
of ring and "anti-ring' came up in this
fight before the fate of the two candi-
dates was settled at the polls. Whether
this had anything to do with yesterday s
result is a thing for political experts TO
decide Certain il is that Judge Watson
was most vigorous in his denials of any
intimate connection with the organiZa-
ton.