Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-21
HON. J. HOGE TYLER.
Letter from Him on the Subject of the
Agricultural Society.
RICHMOND, VA January 20, 1891,
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RICHMOND, VA January 20. 1891.
To ne Editor of ne Dispatch:
The announcement this morning that
Major A. II. Drewry declines TO accept the
position of president of the Virginia Agri-
cultural and Mechanical Society permits
me to address Won upon the question
IN the election of gentleman to supply
spe vacancy thus created. As is known to
the readers of the Southern Planter L have
through the columns OF that journal adyo-
Gated the election of Lieutenant-Goyernor
J. Hoge Tyler to the position of president.
This did not merely as my own selection
of the fittest gentleman TO fill the position
at this peculiar crisis in the history of the
society, but as the mouthI iece of large
number of the leading farmers of the State
who thought with me that ii was of para
mount importance that the president of
the society should be himself a farmer and
one who, from his position and as the
representative of one Of the great agrlcul-
tural sections of the State, could help to
heal up the breach between city and coun-
try which undoubtedly has existed and
which. whilst it continued, could not fail
10 react disastrously on the fortunes of the
society and the success and progress Of the
agricultural interests of the State. Before
placing his name before the pub
lie / Rscertained from MIR. Tyler
that if elected he would consent to act
and read letter from him in which he
said that although he did not seek the po-
sition yet that, approaching the import
ance of the crisis, he would throw himself
with energy and devotion into the work,
and he believed that success could be
achieved. As 1 felt that the proposition
of his name would come with greater
weight from a citizen of Richmond than
from myself placed the matter in the
hands OF one of our leading citizens who
was prepared at the meeting last Thurs
day to have moved his election TO the Of
fee. The voice of reclamation, however,
with which the name of that tried and old
friend of the society. Major A. III. Drewry,
was received prevented any such presenta-
tion. 1t is exceedingly TO be regretted
that before presenting Major Drewry's
name the mover had not ascertained Gas |
had done) that he would not accept the
Office, and il is more TO be regretted that
his own public declination was not re-
ceived. No man could be found better
fitted than Major Drewry to fill the posi-
ton, but il was ungenerous to try to force
him into the Office. After the meeting
wrote Lieutenant-Governor Tyler explain
ing what had been done, and have to-day a
reply from him which venture (un-
known to him) to send you for pub
lication, es il so forcibly exhibits
his peculiar fitness TO fill the position of
president Of the society. / have no au-
thority now TO say that be will il elected
accept the Office. but do still feel that il
his services could be procured In that Gu
pacity they ought 10 be ayeiled of, and IN
the hope that other friends of the society
may see the subject in this light venture
to suggest action in that direction at the
meeting called TO deal with the subject.
Yours obediently, j. L. JACKSON,
Editor Southern Planter.