Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-30
.Inhn L. Harri. for Gorernor.


To he Eg,iitor Of the Dispatch:
Inasmuch as the columns OF tho Dispo'cl,
have been open for several months 10 cor
respondents advocating the claims of their
different friends for the Democratic GU
beruatorial nomination deem II proper in
the same way % call the attention
Of the Democrats Of the state 20 the
eminent fitness of the Hon. John
T. Harris, of Rockingham, for the Of
fee of Governor, without IN any wise
disparacing the claims II any other gen
tleman whose name has been mentioned IN
this connection. Judge Harris Is known
throughout the State. lie has served
many terms in ,he Federal Congress-
where by his indOmltable energy
and wise and sagacious statesmanship his
services were of great benefit, not alone 70
his immediate constituents, but also 70
the people Of the State at large. And
though lie has been ont Of public Office
now for several years, his services to
his people and his party did not cease with
his REIMBURSEMENT of Office, for IN every
campaign he has taken the stump in behalf
of the Democratic cause; and IN the last
presidential canYass-as one Of the electors
at large-he traversed every section Of the
State, speaking night and day, IN order that
the electoral vote of Virginia should be- cast
FOR Cleveland and Thurman. Indeed. for the
last ten years-eyer since his retirement
from public Ofiice-ln every campaign,
whether State or national, he has can
vasscd the. entire State at his individual
expense. q service cheerfully and cordially
rendered his party and his people.
Judge lIaTrls's record III public and prl-
vate lie is a sufficient evidence of tho fact
that the Office of Governor of Virginia If
committed u his keeping Will be a. wisely
and successfully administered as 10 over
has been by any Of the able and distln-
guished men who have held that office.
beginning his public career rs the Com
mOnWealth's attorney Of his county, re-
signing that Office to accept q seat IN the
national Congress; from thence TO the
Legislature of Virginia. After this he
served for three years as the judge OF this
judicia4 circuit. and again returning 20
Congress he served the decade from 1910
TO 1880 where for years he stood at the
head Of the Virginia delegation, serving a.
chairman of the Committee on Elections
and also az chairman of the Committee on
Revision of the Laws and as second upon
the Judiciary Committee, making ma
tiOnal reputation rs a deDater, parllamenta-
rian, and legislator. In addition 10 all this
Judge Harris, we believe, is as well ac-
qualnted as any man in the State with all
that is necessary TO promote her industrial
and material development, and by reason
OF his extensive acquaintance and we'll
known business qualifications in better
position than any other Of her public men
10 accelerate this industrial and material
development. The dissensiOns in the Re
publican party induced the belief last fall
that the State could easily be carried for
Mr.. Cleveland, and yet the State WAS car
ried for him by bare majority, and this
experience should teach those who are
trusting to present Republican dis
eensions for Democratic success that such
reliance IS vain aud delusiYe, and
that expectation and assurance OF sue
cess should be based alone upon our
own strength. In view, therefore, Of the
probable closcness OF the contest TINS
fall the nomination should not be given as
a mere consideration for party service, or
Us a concession 10 local or sectional de
mands. but the success of the party should
be the controlling consideration, and that
man alone receive the nomination who can
poll the most votes, who has no enemies
within his own party, but whose popularity
is such that he can draw votes from the
enemy: and such man We believe John L.
Harris 10 be. because Of his extensive ac-
auaintance. conservative views, and we'll
known political sagacity. If long expe-
rience, extensive acquaintance, executive
ability, individual popularity, superior Po-
litical wisdom, and availability are to be
considered by the convention, then we
think that Judge Harris should undoubted-
ly receive the nomination for the next
Democratic Governor of Virginia.
ROCKINGHAM.
1.-THE author of the above says we have
published no communication advocating
Judge HARRIs's nomination. We do not
desire to publish more than one for any
one candidate.l