The Washington times., 1922-07-16
VA. VOTERS To
END PRIMARY
FIGHTS AUG. |
Spirited Struggles for Senator
Ial Struggles and Congress-
ional Nominations Close.

RICHMOND. Va. July 15.--With
United States Senatorial nomina-
ton race and two Congressional
nomination contests to be decided at.
the polls by Virginia voters on Aug.
ust /. the well.known and Justly
famous political pot" is seething
throughout the Old Dominion.
Principal interest Of the voters
centers on the spirited primary fight
between United States Senator
Claude A. Swanson and Former
Governor westmoreland Davis who
aspires to succeed him.
Slemp Makes Democrats Jubilant.
Just at present. however. the chief
political topic of discussion is the re-
fusal of C. Bascomb Slemp. Republic,
an, to stand for reelection from the
Ninth Congressional District. Demo
cratic leaders insist that Slemp with.
drew from the race because he saw
defeat staring him In the face. There
Ia much confidence In Democratic
circles that all Of Virginia's ten Con-
gressmen In the next session will be
Democratic.
Two warm fights are being waged
for nominations for Congress.
Friends OF Judge c. A. Woodrum,
who is opposing Congressman James
p. Woods, of the Sixth district, for
denomination are already claiming
the nomination for him. In the
second District Congressman ]. T.
| Deal and Josiah d. Hank, are waging
merry battle. Impartial observers
predict that a few votes will decide
the primary in the Second. The
women voters are said to be lining
up solidly with Hank, while the
wet element In reported to he
standing by Deal.
The Issue In the United States
Senatorial campaign Ia very sharply
drawn. II Is admittedly a machine
versus anti.machine battle. with both
sides claiming victory. Davis is by
| far the strongest and most popular
candidate that could possibly be pit
ted against Senator Swanson. ons
of the machine leaders. Davis
announced his candidacy more than
a year ago and from the day Of
his announcement he and his sup
! porters have been working inces-
sanity to build up an invulnerable
organization which would Insure
victory on August l.
Strong with Farmers.
| Davis has served as President Of
the State Farmers Alliance, and other
agricultural organizations and Is ad-
| mitted to have tremendous strength
among the farmers. He has an.
! nounced that II he is nominated and
I elected he will immediately join the
| farm bloc" In the Senate. When
| no visited Senator Swanson's home
territory in southwestern Virginia
ne was accorded a remarkable re-
1 ception.
Senator Swanson recently fired his
opening gun in the campaign. He
pledged himself to an unremitting
fight for reduced taxation: unre.
served sppposition to the tariff, and
earliest support for greater Coy
ernment cooperation with farmers.
Both candidates are concentrating
their energies on the farmers.
Richmond Ia expected to give Da-
Wis a good majority and Norfolk IL
said to be swinging toward him.
Davis was one Of the originators and
chief supporters of the plan to make
Hampton Roads a world port, He
leading American port, because IL Of
fers more advantages to shippers
and shipping industries than any
! other port in America. He has al.
ways taken a deep interest in fur
thering the development Of the tide
water section. OF Virginia. He is
also deeply Interested In sgricul.
ture development and his friends
say he accomplished more for the
farmer in the four year he was gov.
ernor than was accomplished In
twenty years by any Of his prede-
cessors.
Davis also thinks the farmer
should be given more say In the
affairs OF the Government. He
thinks the hand that tills the soil
should also have a part in the max
ing Of laws for the nation; should
be freed from the greed of monop-
olies and should get a fair return
for its products. ~
Isle of Wight, Southampton and
Nansemond counties. in the Second
Congressional district. are Davis
, strongholds. Reports from the
southwest give the former governor
lead over Senator Swanson, his
supporters claim.
Another thing favorfng the former
governor Is the successful fight he
waged against the State Democratic
machine, which was almost com.
pletely routed by him four years ago.
The machine has never recovered
from the beating he gave 1t at that
time, and today is split in countless
pieces. In many sections Of the
State, former machine men have de.
serted the old organization and are
clamoring for seats on the Davis
band wagon.
Hot Fight In Norfolk.
In Norfolk. James v. Trehy and
James f. Prince, former machine
men and who fought side by side for
the success of the old machine, of
which the late Senator Thomas A.
Martin was the chief, are today fight.
ing each other. Trehy will support
Swanson and Prince will support
Davis. With Prince will be some Of
the most influential political men Of
Virginia. Davis has the best chance
Of carrying Norfolk because he will
have better organization behind his
candidacy.
Davis open opposition to fanati.
cism. especially with prohibition IA
naticism, has won him many votes