The Washington times., 1921-10-16
VA.|NDEPENDENT
URGED To ELECT
COL. ANDERSON
Fairfax Harrison, Prominent
Democrat, Makes State
wide Appeal.

RICHMOND, Va, Oct. 1.-Two
sensations were sprung this week In
the spectacular bipartisan campaign
for the governorship between Col.
Henry w. Anderson. Republican
standard bearer. and E. Lee Trinkle,
Democratic nominee.
The first was Fairfax Harrison's
announcement that he intended vot.
ing for Col. Anderson and his State
wide appeal TO all independent Dem
ocarts TO do likewise. Mr.. Harrison
In president of the Virginia State Fair
Association, is we'll known In agrt-
cultural and railroad circles through
out the State, and has been life
long Democrat. His family has been
Democratic for generations.
Not Turning Republican.
Mr.. Harrison, in his lengthy letter
to his fellow Virginians, says he Ia
not turning Republican and that other
Independent Democrats who support
Col. Anderson will not be making G..
o. p. men OF themselves by voting
for Anderson. He said in his appeal:
mo man is bound by a game OF
cards unless the rules are uniformly
enforced on all the players. In ths
high game OF politics at the recent
primary the rules, whatever they
were. were not uniformly enforced.
AS these determinations and variA-
tions on the point OF the utmost deli
cacy seemed to be dictated by mers
party expediency, they destroyed my
confidence in the primary. as they
did that OF many others, in the pri-
mary itself.
81 believe for these reasons that all
Of you are now free to express your
convictions at the approaching cleo
ton. For years / have heard many OF
you say that you were weary of ex.
isting political conditions. Here Is
your real opportunity to assert your
selves to vote independently. / urge
you, therefore, to vote for Anderson
and a change of administration i'm Vir-
ginia."
Because of Mr.. Harrison's State
wide influence and the prominent part
he has hitherto taken in Democratic
party affairs, his open appeal for
Colonel Anderson's election and the
consequent overthrow of the ma
chine" struck the camp Of the ring
leaders like a bombshell. 1t Is be-
lieved that this appeal will result in
thousands of independent anti-machine
Democrats voting for Colonel Ander-
son and thereby make the latter's
election practically certain.
.. 5000 Office Holders.
The second sensation came when
Joseph l.. Crupper, State Republican
chairman, answered Hal Floods state
ment that there are only 1000 office
holders in Virginia. Early in the
campaign 1t was charged by Colonel
Anderson that there are more than
As, 900 office holders in Virginia. and
the machine perpetuates itself by
constantly creating new Offices
Flood vehemently contradicted this
statement. The Republican leaders
have been busy since Flood denied the
truth Of Colonel Anderson's assertion,
and several days ago produced an
itemized list of officers, both State
and local. salaried and unsalaried,
showing that the actual number is
close to 10000.
This came as a startling surprise to
Hal Flood and the other machine"
leaders, as 1t was believed the argu-
ment over the number of office hold
almost Sc. 900.
Republican leaders followed up their
advantage by making public a re-
port made by a Democratic commits
sion on efficiency and economy, show.
ing that the State school system is
only a cog in the machine and that
unless the changes in the State con-
stitution urged by Colonel Anderson
are made, the condition can never be
remedied. Further surprises by the
managers of both campaigns are
promised before election day, Novem-
Der 8.