The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-12
FIGHTING FORCED
BY NINTH DISTRICT
Committee Endorses ST. Clair,
Who Is Fought by Friends
of President.
sHoW-D DOWN NOW INEVITABLE
Hart May Get Collectorship-No
Word From Washington as
to Appointments.
SHOW DOWN NOW INEVITABLE

Further complications In Virginia
politics. particularly In the matter OF
appointments to Federal Office will re-
suit beyond question from the action
OF the Ninth District Democratic Com
mittee. which, in session in Bristol
Saturday, voted unanimously to in
Sorse the candidacy OF former senator
Peyton +. st. Clair, OF Giles, for the
Office OF collector OF internal revenue
for the Sixth or Western District or
Virginia.
The name Of Mr.. ST. Clair has been
that be in Washington by the men
who are regarded as closest to Presi
dent Wilson and Secretary Of the
Treasury McAdoo. There is no indi-
cation that the veto will be with
drawn 1t was based on the IDEA that
the Giles County man not only fought
Mr.. Wilson in the preconvention cam
paign of last year, but that, besides,
he represents the old element of Vir-
sinia political leadership. which the
administration Is supposed to intend
to discourage.
Looks Like Hart.
1t Is supposed here that this action
on the part OF the Ninth District Com
mittee is likely to promote the candi-
dacy Of Senator John NJ Hart, of Roa-
noke. who has the Endorsement OF Car
ter Glass. Andrew Jackson Montague
and other leaders associated with
them. II is also stated that Senator
Hart has received the approval OF
Richard Evelyn Byrd, Speaker of the
House of Delegates, and manager OF
President Wilson's campaign In Nir-
ginia, In consideration OF the fact that
the Roanoke man stood consistently
hn
folk and in Baltimore. This action
may be regarded as the more signih-
cant when 1t IL recalled that in days
gone by. there was supposed to be no
love lost between Mr.. Byrd and Sena-
tor Hart
Apparently tho Ninth District will
lose this, the most important Federal
ofhce-the one that carries the largest
patronage-in the state. by failure to
get together on some one acceptable
to some of the party leaders An eff
fort was made to secure this lndorse-
ment for former Attorney &c neral
Rufus a. Ayers, the Democratic nomi-
nee for Congress in the Ninth District
last year. Other candidates for the
collectorship In the Ninth were How
ard G. Miller, of Wise: David A. Pres
ton. of Washington County. and W.
l.. Dennis, OF Buchanan
Mems Fight to Finish.
Still the fight is not over. 1T cannot
be said with authority what the Prcsi-
dent would do If the two United states
Senators feel that they must now in
dorse Mr. st. Glare. The show down,
it seems. between the two forces, mus,
now inevitably come over this appoint
ment. and IT may affect Virginia poll
tics for a decade. Mr.. Wilson may not
sustain the veto referred to.
There is only one thing certain
about the matter of Federal appoint
ments in Virginia and elsewhere. ana
That is that nobody really knows any
thing. President Wilson Is Keeping
MS own counsel-that is, n he has ac-
tually given any consideration to the
question at all. Nothing can. be said
rs to when selections will be made.
nor as to who will be named.
Some of the candidates are becom-
Ing rather FESTIVE 1t is somewhat
calling to see the Republicans, after
twenty years OF clover. still smiling
behind post office bars and other Fed
eral centres. drawing pay checks from
Washington, and feasting on what tho
Democratic aspirants think they are
entitled to after the victory OF last
year. But considering all signs from
washington. or, rather. the lack there
OF. IL seems the restivencss will con-
tinue for an appreciable time.
Actively at Work.
No sooner had Mr.. Wilson been
nominated at Baltimore than those
who desire Federal offices began 10
be Interested in the situation. The
desire grew in intensity as the cam
paign progressed, and Democratic sue
cess became more and more OF a Ger
tainty. Hardly had the election news
lett the wires before active work be-
gan. the candidates and their friends
organizing and getting up petitions
and Endorsements New and old Con-
gressmen were seen with great regu-
larity and remarkable pertinacity, and
their lives made miserable Soon af-
forwards, the excitement was lessened.
awaiting the change Of administra-
ton.
With the Inauguration, activity
was resumed. Many people went to
Washington TO judge of the prospects.
Some OF them are there still. many
others have friends there, while the
rest keep In touch through the medium
of tho United States mail 1t has be-
COMB moro and more apparent that
there are no prospects of any sort,
and that nobody knows anything about
the situation
Some people think tho President is
waiting until the tariff bill Is law SO
that he will antagonize no one by an
appointment. and make no enemies
among party men, putting his policies
above patronage. Others believe he
has not really given consideration to
appointments. keeping his mind free
of that situation for the present, save