Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-21

After strenuous year. both In state
ana local politics. those who speak
the language OF the tribe" are look
Ing forward to lean period The year
1918 VIII be one of those when Mr.
Good Citizen will forget politics. and
so closely attend to business that when
In years to come he would express his
opinion at the polls, he will find his
poll taxes not paid and his name
dropped from those In good and regu-
lar standing in the dominant party.
Last year was one OF the greatest
voting years Richmondcrs ever saw
Six times the faithful went 10 the polls
and cast their ballots--all for the price
or one poll tax payment. There was n
spring primary and q spring election
Tor Mayor and members OF the City
Council; there was n June primary for
congress- and n July primary for Ad-
ininistratire Board; n November cleo
ton, when these primaries were rati-
lied. ana compulsory education was
adopted; and there was n day In Sep
temhcr when the voters OF Virginia
expressed their preferences by n sub
stantini majority against the licensed
sale Of liquor within the borders Of
the Commonwealth.
Outlook for 1918 In Light.
For the coming year the outlook Is
light. and there Is n noticeable lack OF
enthusiasm about the payment Of those
poll taxes which have to be paid six
months before one would vote There
VIII be no spring election In. 1915 tho
Mayor and City Council holding over
for another year. In November Rich
Wond must choose two members OF her
Administrative BOARD. and the first out
look for real contest Is In the
primary before that election. Besides
the Interest In the election. that pri-
mary Will have the peculiar interest Of
being the first to be held under the
new state primary law adopted by the
last General Assembly. and effective on
January !. MeBsrs. Eolkes and Beck
are the two members OF the board
whose terms expire at the end OF
another year. Both will stand FOR re-
election, and up to this time there has
been no announced opposition, though
more than one prominent citizen is
dabbling his toes in the water with n
view OF seeing how cold It is.
For the Administrative nonrd
In the famous election in which the
Administrative Board was established
Mr.. Folkcs easily led the ticket. His
former service in the State Senate and
his ahiliation with organized labor had
made him we'll known. lie Is the
lawyer member Of the board.
Mr.. Beck's remarkable record as
Building Inspector OF Richmond was
the basis OF his election. AS a civil
engineer by profession. he has been
regarded as bringing to the service
specialized knowledge than any mem
Der OF the board
Alderman Marx Gunst IL freely
spoken OF az an opponent. His long
service In the City Council. coupled
with his recent patronage OF the street
paving bond issue. Will to large
extent be made the basis OF his cam
paign. Former Councilman John w
Moore, OF South Richmond, IL n pos
sible candidate South Richmond has
wanted representation on this boa rd
since its creation
In the November election Richmond
will also choose five members Of the
House of Delegates. The lineup for
this contest will probably not be APP
parent until after the special tax ses-
sion In January.
Old AnlmositIcs Have Been Buried.
In state politics 1915 promises to be
barren year. with only those pre-
liminary shiftings OF position--thosc
lcng thoning OF cords and strengthening
OF stakes of the ma chine" and the
antlmachine- machine" A good deal
has been done in recent years to bury
Old animosities between wings OF the
Democratic party In Virginia, so that
when Stuart. the cattle king of Rus
sell. came out of the West as n can
didatc for the Tovernorship there was
neither machine nor antima chine.
With the approval of all Democrats and
ProGressives he became tho Governor
Of all Virginia. In the only contest
in which the machine issue was raised
for the attorney-gcneralship
Garland Pollard Of the antimachine
faction. won over Judge Samuel w.
Williams. the incumbent. who had the
support of the Senator'S.
Senntornhip Next Real Fight.
The first real test OF strength will
come over the selection OF junior
Senator from Virginia. The term OF
Claude a. Swanson expires on March
4, 1917. Under the amendment to the
Federal Constitution. mis- successor
must DO elected in November, 1916, and
1t Is to be presumed that there will
be a primary year from next summer.
In the State primaries of 1911, former
Governor Swanson, who was elected
for the short term. was opposed by
Congressman Carter Glass, of Lynch
burg. Who will oppose Senator Swan
son in 1916? IT is just a little early
to say. For one. Mr. Glass has not
altogether gotten over his desire To
represent Virginia in the Senate, and
has greatly strengthened his position
In the state and nation BY his success
full fight for currency reform. which
has labeled him AZ one Of the real
statesmen OF the present Congress.
Then there is one Henry Carter
Stuart, Of Russell, whose term as Gov
ernor' will be drawing TO Its close.
Stunrt Laughs mt SugscHtioa.
The Governor is so busy governing
just now that he !auYhs good aturedly
at the suggestion OF running for any
thing. Hut there are those wise ones
who hint that when tho Governors
term Is ended, and no feels free to
devote himself to politics again, he
might not prove averse to crossing
swords with the senior Senator,
Thomas Staples Martin. whose term cx-
plres in 1919. There arc also those