The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-11-03

SOCIALISTS ARE BUSY
TRYING TO SECURE RECOGNITION
As MINORITY PARTY IN THE
srATE-FOR COMPULSORY
EDUCATION HERE.

/ Until the polls close at shutdown
/ tonight the Democracy OF virginia
will fight to send to Congress to the
support Of Woodrow Wilson soma
Democratic delegation. In nearly
eyery district speeches were made by
| candidates and their friends during
the closing day. and in the Ninth and
Tenth Districts, where only there Is
any real opposition to the Democratic
candidates, the stump campaign was
carried on UP to last night. the eve
of the election. All day today trained
workers will be at the polling places
4 in the Ninth District and every ef-
fort will be made to elect K. Tate
Irvine over c. Bascomb Slemp. the
| lone Republican Congressman from
Virginia.
The heavy artillery of the Demo-
! cratic party ceased firing Saturday
night. the leaders devoting themselves
to laying plans for the Anal assault
today on the hitherto tmpregnabie
breastworks OF the Ninth District Re
publicanism. but the lighter guns kept
up the attack until tho setting OF the
sun. last night. Several addresses
were made yesterday in different parts
! Of the Southwest and at Lexington,
Congressman Hal d. Flood and his
Republican opponent. George A. Kew
ercomb. engaged in a joint debate
| before the assembled Tenth District
| voters.
| Floods Election Certain.
! The reelection of Mr.. Flood is as
sured. but Mr. Revercomb processes
to believe that he will poll a good
vote and the friends of the Demo-
cratic Congressman have been work.
ling systematically to make the boast
! vain.
| Out in the Ninth. where the unter-
trffed Southwest Democracy fights
gameiy every two years. only TO go
down in defeat. the chances are
brighter than at any time in de-
cade. Mr.. Irvine. supported by the
strongest Democratic orators and pub
lie mes in Virginia. has made re-
markable campaign anu close ooser-
vers predict that Mr.. Slemp has the
hardest fight of his career on his
hands .Unprejudiced men. familiar
with the district, do not hesitate TO
say that even the great fight made by
Henry Stuart to redeem the district
in 1910 will be surpassed by that put
up by Irvine.
The Democratic Congressman has
two things In his favor that were lack
ing in the memorable campaign OF
four years ago. Then a Republican
was in the White House and the Re-
publicans controlled Congress. MI.
MP nad Inc pTt-AAEC IA
/ to the majority party and had an
limited support from his national or
/ ganlzation Now he Is in the mi
lnority. Is on the defensive and lacks
the power that goes with the distrt-
button of patronage. Moreover. the
/ Democrats are qualified in greater
numbers this year than ever before.
/ When Mr.. Stuart began his cam
patgn ne faced the task of cutting
| down a straight Republican majority
/ on the registration books OF 2.e0o.
To-day, of those qualified. majority
of 900 exclusive OF independents and
/ fioaters, are Democrats. Slemp must
| get a large proportion OF this indie
pendent vote If he wishes to win, and
there is a Progressive candidate in
| the field to dispute that vote with
him.
The Socialist Vote
An interesting feature of today s
election 10 the presence of a Socialist
candidate In every Congressional dis
trict. OF course. the Socialists do
not expect to elect q single candi-
date or even to make close hight
anywhere. but they do expect to ac-
complish their purpose. That pur-
pose is to Gust the Republican party
from It's position OF minority party IN
the State. BY placing a candidate
/ in every district and making fight
wherever the soil seems fertile they
hope to poll a larger vote in the State
than the Republicans. Two years ago
the Socialists placed a fun State ticket
| in the field, while the Republicans le,
all Offices go by default. and there
upon claimed rights as the minority
party in the State. However. they
had not shown their spurs. and to-
day they are determined to prove
that in truth the Socialist party IL
stronger IN Virginia than the Repub-
lican. Few believe they will sue
coed. for. though they may poll a
larger vote in one or two districts
than the Republicans. and will add to
their total In districts In which there
are no Republican candidates, ahe
large vote certain to be polled for
Siemp in the Ninth and the plurality
over the Socialist to be obtained In
the Tenth will more than make up
for the losses elsewhere.
For Compulsory Education.
In Richmond a great effort is being
made to secure large vote for the
adoption Of compulsory school at
tendance law. The referendum will
be held under the provisions Of the
so-called local option compulsory edu-
cation law. Under 1t any county or
city can adopt at any time. by an
affirmative vote OF the suffragans OF
the community. law requiring chill
dren between tho ages Of eight and
twelve to attend some public or pri-
vate school three months in the year.
There are various exceptions which
provide adequately against the work
ing of any injustice or hardehips The
county Of Henrico also win vote on
the question. and IL the voters 60 to
the polls there seems little doubt that
tho affirmativo win carry both vim
county and city.