Evening star., 1919-11-30
VIRGINIA VOTERS
PLAN SURPRISES
Unusual Number Paying Poll
Taxes; Gov. Davis Likely
to Oppose Mr.. Swanson.
Special Dispatch to Tie Star.

RICHMOND. Va. November %
Voters of the state have the candi-
dates and the near-candidates puzzled
and amazed. The people of the state
are paying poll taxes in fashion
that makes it plain that surprises
are in store for men in public office
one of the factors in the puzzle is
that there are no state officers to be
chosen the coming year. There is
To he an election for members of Con-
cress, however, and it may be that
the voters are getting ready to have
an accounting. But no one hears any
thing regarding state politics just
at this time except regarding the
successor to Senator Claude a. Swan
son. which will not be before the
people for more than two years. Yet
that contest is engaging attention.
1t is accepted generally that Gov.
Davis. who will retire from office just
in full time to make the race, Will
oppose Senator Swanson.
Fight Predicted
This promises to be a fight and it
means that the bitter struggle of
several years ago viii be repeated,
with lines drawn between new fac
tional lines. Senator swanson always
has been strong "fore the people, he
is hard campa~ ner. is an organizer
and has broad acquaintance. Gov.
Davis viii appeal to the people in
his own behalf and his strong card
will he to seek the vote of the farm
erS The farmers unions of the state
are growing and they are being kept
well Informed of what is Transporting
in state affairs, and the officers of
that organization are friendly to the
governor at this time.
ii. NJ. Colvin Endorsed.
One of the indications that there
will he brisk times for the congress
sional nominations this year is the
public announcement made by the
Central Trade and Labor Council of
this city that they have indorsed
Howard NJ. Colvin of Richmond, for
the nomination from the third dis
trict against Representative A. j.
Montague. This opposition is largely
due to the refusal of Mr.. Montague
to meet an advocate of the Plumb
railroad control plan in discussion Of
that measure.
Registration Heavy.
For a long time the vote in this city
has been light, never more than so
per cent of the total that should be
cast. Today there are more than 90
Oo0 of the 10000 voters already regis
tered. Taxes are being paid in i'm
menSe nun hers daily. The time limit
expires December s.
Where will the support of the Fir-
ginia delegation go in the national
convention next year, when the time
comes for naming candidates for
President and Vice President? 1t may
be that the workingmen of the state
will support William G. McAdoo. and
if they make common cause with the
railroad workers they will be in a
position to WELD such influence that
they can name the delegates from this
state.
"Wets" Hopeful.
There is hope among the anti-drys
of the state that something will hap
pen in the coming session of the
legislature to make it possible to
abolish the department of prohibition,
but the most conservative men in
the halls of legislation declare that
such viii not be done. There is much
opposition to the way in which DR..
Peters has enforced the law, although
he has been we'll within the pro-
visions of the act which prescribed
his duties.
Mr.. Flood May Oppose Mr.. Glass.
Reported candidacy of Representa-
tive II. d. Flood of the tenth dis
trict, in opposition to Senator Carter
Glass of Lynchburg has confused
many of the voters. Many hope that
he will make the race. He is well
known the breadth and length of the
state has a wide circle of friends
and is the one man. in the belief of
his friends. who would make the best
showing of all the men who have
been mentioned. The majority of the
people at this time. however. incline
to the belief that Senator Glass will
not have opposition in the primary.
Lady Astor's Election Encourages.
With the announcement of the cleo
tion of Lady Astor to the house of
commons, friends of the Equal Suf-
fraSe League in Virginia have taken
fresh courage, and they say that the
honor Of being a member of the oldest
legislative body in the world has
fallen to a Virginia woman in the
motherland. 1t is rather unusual
that with the election of Lady Astor
to the house of commons her brother
should have been declared a member
of the Virginia house of delegates
Delegate Buck Langhorne of Abe
marie. The Equal Suffrage League
is basing much hope on the ratifica-
ton of the federal amendment at the
session this winter. and the members
ars saying that there is no question
that they will have a vote in Virginia
within a year.