The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-02
PROFESSED FRIEND, OF FARMER OPPOSES. SENATOR SWANSON.
Senatorial Race in Virginia Grows Warmer as Primary Approaches, When Hard
 Fight Is Expected
By ROBERT GLASS Special Dispatch to The Ags-Heraid (Copyrixht, 1922, by The AEe-HeraId)


 Copyright, 1922. by The Age -HeraId)
 Lynchburg, Va, July 1.-The farm bloc in the United States Senate, just strengthened by the result of the republican primary in North Da- kota, will receive further encourage ment if former Gov. Westmoreland Davis succeeds in his ambition to replace Claude A. Swanson, senior United States senator from Virginia.
 MT. Davis is oontesting for the democratic nomination. which is equivalent to election. in the pri- mary of August 1. Hs Is the only op- ponent of Senator Swanson, who has held his seat since he succeeded the late Major John W Daniel in 1920. In 1911, Senator Swanson won the democratic nomination over then Representative Carter Glass. now his colleague in the Senate.
 Friend of Farmer
 MT. Davis is making an appeal to the farmers of Virginia for their sup port, having been known when he ran for governor five years ago as "a friend of the, farmer" and being af- filiated for several years with the Farmers Cooperative and Education union. He owns a farm in Fauquier county. In announcing his candidacy. MT. Davis declared that land is still the fundamental source of wealth. the foundation of the nations pros perity," and in answer to ques- tion said he would affiliate with the so-called farm bloc in the Senate on Agricultural questions if elected. He announced also in favor of extending the time of farm and cattle paper and declared that the industrial de- pression through which the country has been passing was largely due to the limited purchasing power of the farmers, who should have the same opportunities for securing credit as have other groups of endeavor." He favors placing a representative of the farmers upon the federal reserve board.
 Swanson, Too
 But the hope of the Virginia far mer doesn't hang upon the election of Mir. Davis, 1t appears, for Senator Swanson,s friends claim that he also Is the farmers friend" The senator does not avow utilization with the farm bloc, but does hold that he has helped the farmers in the Senate on more that one occasion. He points to his work for federal appropriations for roads; his work in behalf or the parcel post, his vote for the federal farm loan act. for the Kenyon Ken drick bill to regulate the packers and his speech for the bill providing for cooperative marketing for far mers. 4f
 feature of the campaign of which supporters of both men are taking note is the large, registration in the cities O. women. Payment of capita ton taxes six months prior to the election is a prerequisite to voting in Virginia, and in cities of the state male and female taxpayers are ap- proximately equally divided. In Rich mond, Lynchburg and several other cities the women who have paid their taxes in time to register and vote m the November election, and there fore in the primary, outnumper the men.
 Women to Front
 As a consequence both factions or the party are appealing to the wom- en. and the unusual sight for Vir- einia of women around headquarters | in large numbers is beheld. Another unusual feature of the campaign IS wife actively canvassing for her nus l. band, Mrs. Westmoreland Davis max ing the rounds building up an organ ization of men and of women Tor her husband. In her travels she Is ac- companied by women leaders who were so effectively active in the cam paign to elect E. Lee Trinkle gov | ernor. When the former governor first announced his candidacy 1t was not 1 taken very seriously by politicians l of the state, but as tho dly of the pri- mary approaches they confess that warm battle will be fought petore l the result is ascertained.