Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-08
DEMOCRATS WAGE
| BIENNIAL BATTLE
TO UNSEAT SLEMP
Mobilize From Pulaski to
Lee Under Wytheville
I Mans Banner.
POLITICAL MEN FORESEE
DEFEAT OF G. o. P. MEMBER
Point to Extraordinary Popu-
larity of Present Adrninistra-
ton in Southwest.
|TRINkLE HAS UNITED SUPPORT
Solid Front of Democracy and
WiIson-Marshail Prosperity
Counted On to Win.
POLITICAL MEN FORESEE
DEFEAT OF G. o. p. MEMBER
|TRINKLE HAS UNITED SUPPORT
solid Front of Democracy and
Marshall Prosperity
Counted On to Win.
ny LOUIS I. JArEE.

| OF Richmond rs the crow flies. wcdged
In on three sides by Tennessee, West
Virginia and Kentucky, lies tho Ninth
District of Virginia. 1t is noted for
It's bluegrass grazing lands. for its
grains. grasses and apples, for it's coal
and salt mines and for it's Buchanans.
Territorially. It occupies about one
third as much land ar the republic
of Switzerland. Digging bit further
into the office atlas. II appears that
the Ninth Congressional District of
Virginia is considerably larger than
the State OF Connecticut and two
thirds as large again as the States Of
Delaware and Rhode Island combined
Also II has 100000, more or less In
|dustrious inhabitants. whose chief out
door sport is politics All of which
may be CLEANED from any good school
|g geography.
In the ladylike sisterhood of Vir-
|ginia congressional districts. the Ninth
stands apart as a political termagant.
occasionally. as was the case recently
I'm the Seventh. the other districts de-
|ve!op family r!valries. Failing this.
they spend their congressional cam
paigns leisurely spanking the few Re-
|pu blican unbclicvcrs within their bor-
|ders.
SITUATION is COMPLICATED
~ ARMY OF 1000 FLOATER =
But to the Ninth, by n process of
|gerrymandering. inheritance and i'm
migration, have been given thirteen
counties in which the two major
parties have voting armies OF approx
nately the same strength The situa-
|,ion is complicated by the presence OF
e, N Hos Ia, "
soldiers Of the ballot who are ready
Ito fight on either side. asking only
the current market price.
These are the political ingredients
which have gained for the dis
+rct the sobriquet The Fighting
|Hinth." When all the State Is enjoy
Ing peace abundant there is always a
IL ght in the Ninth. Sometimes the
win. Sometimes victory
lis with the Democrats.
For fourteen years without break the
have sent TO Washington
IA Congressman OF their faith. Never
las IL been accomplished without a
bitter struggle. Never has the victory
|been so absolute AS TO render reversal
bat the next election beyond the pale
|of probability.
The Jubilee Wilson Marshall year OF
|lsls finds the fighting Ninth In the
|rhroes OF the greatest political struE-
lyle since 1910. when Henry Carter
Stuart, now Governor, forged his way
within ol7 votes of Congress in an cleo
|.iou that brought out $500 voters.
Riding on the crest of the unpre-'
|cedented wave OF prosperity that has
|swept the Ninth District under the
present administration, the Democrats
from Pulaski to Lee and from Bris-
60 =
this year to what good political
prophets believe IS certain victory.
fTRiNKLE JUMPS TO FAME
VIA LEGISLATIVE HALLS
| AS standard bearer, the Democrats
have sought out e. Lee Trinkle. of
|Wytheville, a lawyer known in every
nook and corner OF the district, al
forty. Except for single term In the
State Senate this year. he has never
held public Office. He entered the Cap
ftol at Richmond comparatively un-
known. The voters back in the Ninth
knew their man. but the east had
|Pnly meager information. When the
General Assembly adjourned. Lee
|rrinkle had made reputation big
Enough to insure his election as Demo
cratic elector-aI-large at the Roanoke
convention three months later.
Then came the rousing district con-
HentiOH at BrlSlOl on August II. Re-
publican Candidate Hughes was abroad
the land attacking the administra-
fion. and Democratic champions were
Everywhere rallying to the colors. The
Bpirit of militant Democracy was call
Ing to the clansmen of tho fighting
Ninth. and with one voice they de-
handed that Lee Trinkle, big of frame
fnd bigger still in mind and courage
lake the lead.
1t was call he could not refuse.
fVen though for weeks he had declined
70 listen to the urgings of his friends
Il want you TO get behind me as
POUR standard bearer in this district
Ind help me win this fight" he called
10 the assembled delegates at Bristol
II want you to tell everybody you
meet that Lee Trinkle made no mis-
AXE: that he believes he is going to
pc elected. and that you believe it. too.
we can and must win, but it will only
be by your complete cooperation"
Precisely that complete cooperation
candidate Trinkle is getting to a de-