The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-11-28
sTAUNToN VIRGINIA. THURSDAY NOVEMBER 49, 1912.
Hon. j. Ambler Smith.

j. Amber Smith has been elected to Con
gress from the Metropoita u District, Vir
glnia, by majority ranging from 500 to g.
co. He will be the youn.est member in the
next Congress, as he has just passed his 25th
year From the State Journal We copy the
| following notice Of him
Our CONGRESSMAN ELEor.-Ths election
Of John Amber Smith from this Congress
sional District is a triumph of which the Re-
publicans may we'll be proud. His competi-
| tor, Geo D. Wise, was entirely confident, as
| we're his political friends, of his success in
| the District. and claimed that he would go
out Of Richmond with from FIVE hundred to
one thousand majority. The result shows
that he sadly mstook the popular sentiment
| in the city, as we'll as his own popularity as
weighed against that Of Johu Amber Smith
It is true that no personal unpopularity of
his own has. weighed him down III the fight,
but he has simply sunk beneath the most dis
astrous rtidal wavs" that ever swept over
Virginia.
The result also shows that even many par
sons in our own party mistook the personal
popularity of our candidate. He runs con-
sldcrably ahead of the Presidential ticket in
this city, as we'll as throughout the district
It was impossible that this result should have
achieved, except as strong personal claims
pressed in his favor. Hundreds Of young
men lnathe city rallied enthusiastically to His
support aud worked with will for his cleo
ton. He also had strong vote from the
mechanics and white workingmen Of Rich.
mond, many of whom Mr.. Wise might have
retained lad he avowod himself fried of
Protection. We. pressed this question upon
him early in the campaign, but the local
journals pooh. poohed it down as preposter-
Gus issue to be raised at this time, ard Mr..
Wise was satisfied to let the question slide.
We happen to know that it lost him many
more votes than he had any idea was possi-
Bile u.der the circumstances. He lost more
votes by holding his mouth on this question
than II, gained by all the speeches he mads
in the district
Mr.. Smith is young man Of line personal
address, Of atfable and courteous manners, yet
commanding in appearance, and has abilities
Of high order. He will be a popular mem
Der Of Congress, and his personal influence
will win much more for the State than even
more commanding abilities without his popu
lar address. We anticipate successful Con-
.sressional career for Mr.. Smith, and no small
advancement to the interests of our city and
State from his election.
The Enquirer says Of Mr.. Smith There
is some compensation, however, for tie loss
Of this district in the fact that Mr. Smith.
the successful conpctltor of Mr.. Wise, Is
gentleman, and will make representative OF
whon Richmond need not be ashamed; and
while we regret deeply the defeat Of the Con-
servative candidate, we must congratulate eur
people upon their good fortune in escaping so
we'll The successful candidate is nativ- Of
this city and young man OF good character,
who will, no doubt, take care Of the interests
of the district and by way encouragement
for him we will suggest that few men as
young as j. Amber Smith have ever had
better opportuaity of making reputation
and winning the esteem aud conddeno Of
their fellow citizens. ~-3ds