Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-03-02

ANTI-SALOON LEAGUE.
Prohibitionists in State Expected to
Take Prominent Part in Campaign
This Autumn.
Richmond, Va. March with the

Richmond, Va. March with the
reconvening of the legislature next
Monday. politics will again he live
subject about the capitol corridors
and hotel lobbies, and it is safe to
say that the high Offices will not be
the only positions discussed. With
three gubernatorea! hats in the ring
and several resting very lightly on
their owners heads. Of course the
governorship will come up strong
among the political gossips, but the
chances are that the humble positions
in the general assembly will come in
largely for the consideration of the
prognosticators in politics.
There are two important elections
before the governorship contest will
come before the people for decision,
and about these there promises to be
centered great deal of interest. The
entire general assembly will have to
be elected this fall and the primaries
may develop some hard battle. The
work of the special session Of the
assembly now III recess. which was
called for the purpose of revising the
present tax laws of the State. may
make very hard resting places for
many Of the members.
There is no other subject that gets
quite so close to the average citizen
as the question Of taxation. and no
other subject in connection with the
State government is less understood.
Anv rearrangement of the tax laws
will create dissatisfaction In some
quarters and the members Of the as
sembly will get the blame. 1t is hard
to make people realize that the rails
ing of assessments automatically
lowers the rate Of taxation, and the
minnie il is suggested that the owner
should assess horse worth Sl00 for
s75, he will begin to kick and say
his neighbor will put his horse down
for $40, when the animal IS easily
worth $50. You may tell him that the
assessments will be increased on
everybody and as result the rate
will come down and he will not pay
any more, that the forced assessment
are only for those people who own
large property and will not give in
fair returns, but he will tell you that
bo is from Missouri and Thomas OF
old was not more doubtful than VIII
he the man before the assessor.
These things will make many
changes in the legislature, it is now
thought. and another thing that Will
keep the political pot boiling is the
"dry" forces of the State. 1t Is safe
to say that this same dry party will
have a say in most contests through
ont the State. They know every man
who voted for Statewide prohibition
and il goes without saying that they
,.ro,r those who voted against it, and
the latter will not be forgotten when
the day of election comes
While the legislative election this
fall will be keenly interesting another
contest is being talked Of as likely to
he fought next year, and that is for
tho position of junior United States
Senator, now held by Claude A.
Swanson. The, only person likely TO
onpose Senator Swanson is Congress
man Carter Glass and he is undecid-
ed.
While there has been more than the
usual amount of gossip regarding the
gubernatorial contests so far ahead
! Of rhe voting the chances are that
this feature of politics in the State
vii, quiet down now and in its place
will be the fight. that will begin with
the adjournment of the extraordinary
session of the legislature. when ths
question of selecting new genera
assembly will be in the political spot
light for the next six months.