The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-13
V|RGIN|ANS At WAR
AMONG THEMSELVES
OVER PATRONAGE
Organization and nti-Organ-
ization Fight Put Up to
President
WILLARD AGAINST
PAGE is DIVISION
Jones Glass Montague Fac
ton for Former and Sena-
tors Favor the Vir-
ginia Author

WASHINGTON. March 12.-~Anti-
organization Democrats from Virginia
swarmed around the White House to-
day Their presence, like that OF
stormy petrels at sea, hetokened seri-
Gus patronage troubles ahead for the
administration both in that State and
in a dozen or two others.
representative Montague, former
governor of Virginia; Representative
Jones. who tried ta take the SENATOR
ship away from Senator Martin; Harry
St George Tucker who has sought
to break into the governorshlp against
the organization on several occasions,
and "A number of others were ambnng
through the executive offices.
There is unquestionably war on.
The first battle is over whether
Thomas Nelson Page or Colonel JOS
eph T. Willard shall be named for a
prominent place in the diplomatic SER
vice. The lineup is as plain as day.
Senators Martin and Swanson and the
old guard in Virginia are back of Mr..
Page. The Jones-Glass-M Montague
people. long hostile to the other fac
ton, are behind Colonel Joseph E.
Willard for a post abroad.
Bryan Gets Letters.
Their troubles are being aired at
the White House and state depart
ment. Secretary Bryan has already
received a number of letters indicat-
ing that Mr.. Page is not a progress
sive; that he made some saucy re-
marks after the Baltimore conven-
tion. about Mr.. Bryan's seeking to
chase Thomas r.. Ryan out Of the
convention as a delegate, and that
Colonel Willard is Il true progressive.
having long contributed his time and
money to that cause in Virginia and
the nation at large,
Representative Montague is a cousin
of Mrs Willard. Representative Glass
liz a strong friend of the ex-governor.
Representative Jones, while not OPP
posing Mr.. Page for any position. is
earnestly for Willard for as good a
place as can be found fer him.
The anti machine men from Vir-
ginia ufFhesitatingly charge that Sena-
tors Martin and Swanson have never
been friends of the president, and will
not be his friends, and that 1t will
not be fair to permit them to control
the patronage in the State.
Arc Saying Nothing.
The two senators say nothing. saw
wood and Will await development.
They feel that if the president adopts
the general policy Of making nomi-
nations upon congressional recorn-
mendation he must give recognition
to them. They disclaim any intention
Of not recognizing Democrats who
have opposed them in the State, and
viii attempt to distribute the patron
age fairly
The PaGe-NiIard fight is pfeIiHai-
nary to one all along the line as to
the distribution of patronage in Nir-
sinia- The anti" people fear they
will he Disseminated against in all
directions. They are appealing to the
White House direct TO protect the pro-
gressives.
Mr. Wilson's campaign managers
have believed that he should have
had the vote of the solid Virginia
delegation to the Baltimore conven-
ton on the first ballot, They declared
after the Virginia State convention at
Norfolk that the majority of the
voters of their candidates home State
were for him, and it was Senator
Thomas s. Martins firm grasp upon
the Democratic organization In Nir-
sinia that deprived him of these dele
gates Speaker Byrd, OF the Virginia
house Of representatives. who man
aged Mr.. Wilson's pre-convention
campaign in Virginia, has also recon-
mended Colonel Willard, provided the
president should see fit TO bestow
such an appointment on Vir-
ginian.
The patronage situation In Ken
lucky is simplified by the fact that
the State has only one Democratic
senator, Ollie NJ. James. While he
WIS an original Champ clark IuaTT.
and hts fight for the speaker resnlt-
ed in securing Kentucky's delegate
vote for Mr.. Clark, Senator James
was permanent chairman Of the con-
vention that nominated Wilson. and
made the notification speech. These
activities resulted in his identification
with the campaign He was time
and again the only Democrat not a
member of the campaign executive
committee who was admitted to the
councils in New York and Chicago
Through his service in the house
with Secretaries Burleson, Wilson
and Redfieid and his long and close
association with Secretary Bryan. Sem
ator James II indisputably I'm control
of the patronage situation. But, as In
other States, Original Wilson men,
are inclined TO dispute his leadership
in that. falling his Endorsement. they
are attempting TO carry matters to
the president over his head.
Conditions lin Kentucky.
Desha breckenridge. editor of the
Lexington Herald, who seeks a COLI
lectorship of internal revenue; S. w.
HaCpr, of Owenshoro, the Wilson KEN
lucky manager, who wants another
collectorshir, and one or two others
are involved. Former Governor j. G.
w Beckham. with whom Senator
James is net intimately associated.
was an original Wilson man and a
candidate Tor Uritei States senator.
I His friends have claimed that
Beckham will coatrci portion Of the
patronage. but this claim is NOT taken
seriously hv those familiar with the
power of :. senator in patronage mat
ters
Senator Bradley. the Kentucky Re-
publican senator. was able TO COM
troll all the State patronage AGAINST
his rivals during the Taft adrainistra-
/ ton.