The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-14
SWANSON LIKELY
TO HAVE CLEAR FIELD
WASHINGTON Correspondent fluids No
Prospective Opponent For Him
For Senate Fight.
GLASS TOO BUSY TO RUN
Attorney General William 2. Ander-
son Is Mentioned AS y Possible
Candidate. As Most Available Anti
Organization Timber.


The Baltimore Sun of yesterday
carried the following gossipy political
story relative to the political situation
~ Virginia, under a Washington date
line:
An unusual and unexpected situa-
ton is developing In Virginia politics,
which is causing considerable COM
ment in Washington among the Old
Dominion leaders.
"For the first time in its twenty
year control OF Virginia politics the
supremacy Of the Democratic State
organization" dominated by Senator
Thomas s. Martin. Senator Claude A.
Swanson and Representative ii. ID.
Flood, will go unchallenged in next
years big Statewide political contest,
when Senator Swanson comes up for
denomination and reelection. Here
tofore the 'anti-machine' faction,
under the leadership OF Representa-
tives Carter Glass. A. j. Montague. w.
A. Jones. Acknowledgement Pollard
and Harry st. George Tucker, have
had candidates against the "organiza-
ton ticket, especially against the two
senator's. Today everything points to
the denomination OF Senator Swanson
without n contest. a situation without
a parallel since the Democratic party
was split into two factions.
Representative Carter Glass. author
Of the Federal reserve act, is the man
the anti-organization had groomed
for the race against Senator Swanson.
He opposed Senator Swanson in 1911
and was defeated in the primaries.
There Is every reason to believe now
that Representative Glass will not
enter the contest His health will not
stand q Kruelling Statewide campaign.
Besides he rs chairman of the COM
mission which IS working out the
rural credits bill to be presented to
Congress as the administration meas
ure this winter. and TO enter the
Senatorial contest he would be conf
PEELED to neglect this task, which
President Wilson is unwilling that he
should do.
Anderson Only Other Available.
"Mr. Glass apparent refusal TO
enter the race leaves the 'anu-organ-
ixat!on' faction without available
timber, unless former Attorney-Gen-
cral william A. Anderson can be pre-
vailed upon 10 make the contest. Rep
resentative Jones' health Is too poor
for such a contest: Attorney-General
Pollard Is a candidate for governor;
Harry st, George Tucker has lost
strength through his uncompromising
stand against Statewide prohibition,
and Representative Montague Is salts
fed to remain in the House.
senator Martin Is the leader of the
organization He has been elected to
the Senate four times and every time
had bitter opposition. Senator swan
son. his chief lieutenant. has been op-
posed every time he ran for A state
wide office and was defeated the trst
time fer governor. when Representa-
tive Montague was nominated.
1T aIvays has been the policy or
the characterization faction 70 op
pose the organization ticket, notwith-
standing they knew they were max
ing a hopeless fight. Representatives
Tones aud Glass entered the last sem
atorfai race against Senators Martin
and Swanson. when they never enter
tanned the least hope Of success. They
made the fight with the hope OF bring
ing about certain reforms in the eiec-
ton laws and In political conditions
in the State. In q measure they were
successful along this line. The Nor
folk County fusion machine. one OF
the issues In their campaign, mas been
put ont of business since they mace
this contest The Norfolk city ma
chine another issue they raised. has
been badly shattered. In a number
OF other instances there have been
taken steps TO correct political abuses
in other sections Of the State.
Swanson Prepared for Fight.
aSenator Swanson has thoroughly
organixed Virginia for contest next
year for the Senate. He has written
$4,000 personal letters. lining up ms
friends in every county in the state.
While many statements are MADE that
the organization is not as strong as
II vas several years ago. It Is not he
lieved that it's ranks have become
10 disintegrated as to pave the way
for its defeat.
'.The 'antI-machine' faction tn N1r-
ginia is not thoroughly organized. II
lacks workers In many counties upon
whom 1t counts on primary day. AZ
IL not a cohesive force. None OF the
mon classed as Its leaders will as
sumo the leadership OF the faction. An
instance Of this was shown IN lsls,
when candidates for State Office were
nominated. At that time the anti
orranization' leaders were making a
nrht for q share OF the Virginia Fed
eral patronage and making no head
way, although they constituted VIII
sons real friends in tho pre-convention
battle. The ANTS had practically
made up their minds to leave the
state primary plums to the 'organiza-
Anfis Won With Pollard.
sAn outsider suggested to several
of the leaders that they had no right
/ Ia expect recognition at the hands OF
President Wilson IL they did not make
an attempt to gain control of the po-
litical affairs Of Virginia. just as Will
son himself routed the bosses In New
Jersey. AZ a result Of this suggestion
4 conference was held in washington
the day before the primary lists closed
and John Garland Pollard was pre-
vailed upon to run for Attorney-Gen-
eral. Mr.. Pollard won by marrow
margin, making the first Statewide. OF
Ace the 'antis' had captured in ten
years.
tine handspring Of the 'organixa-
Ton il Senator Martin. While he Is
one OF the best political organizers
& The state has ever known, his real
strength lies In his readiness to take
care OF interests Of virginians. In this
way he has made countless staunch
friends, who win stand by him In any
political fight he may make"
TO PIIIIn ANNEX To