Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-22
Coleman. Livingston; camn Patterson.

Scottsvile. Leonard Marbury. Alexan-
dria; Claude a. Swanson, Chatham; a.
p. Thorn. Norfolk.
WORK BEFORE THE BODY.
The General Assembly TO be elected in
November will meet on the first We'd
nesday IN December, and will have q
good deal OF important work TO DO Be-
sides electing State officers. there are
such questions to be considered as call
ing a constitutional conventions: the re-
duction OF criminal expenses: amending
the election laws; securing better roads;
etc. 1t is not likely that any changes
will be made in the State officers whose
terms expire. There is no Limitation to
the official terms Of the Clerk of the Sem
ate and Clerk OF the House OF Dele
gates; but II has been customary for a
partly new Senate and n new House TO
give their approval Of the faithfulness Of
these officials by roll-cali I'm their favor.
OF course. each house has an undoubt-
ed right TO elect these officers at the
beginning Of each regular session, but IL
they do not choose 10 do so. the incum-
bents are bona fide officials just the
same. Experience In these positions Is
naturally of value TO the lawmakers
and public generally.
LARGELY OF NEW MATERIAL.
II is evident that the next Legislature
VIII be composed largely OF new material.
An unusually large number OF those VINO
have become prominent rs lawmakers
viii be missed this winter. Some have
been called to higher stations In official
life some have answered the final roll
call on earth. and yet others have de-
clned to serve longer.
Yet there will be many familiar faces
in both halls. One half OF the members
OF the Senate hold over for two years.
and Senators Wickham. Of Hanover;
Southall, of Amelia: Mushbach, OF Alex
andria Barnes, of New Kent; Flood, OF
Appomattox: Watts. of Roanoke ana
others as well known are expected back
Hon. John l., Hurt, of Pittsylvania, Tor
so long president pro TEN. or the Senate'
DR.. Barnes. OF Nensemond. ana senator
Washington, Of Westmoreland, declined
reelection, as did also Delegates Crump
and Ryrne. of Richmond. Mr.. Eugene
Withers. Of Danville who has led the
fight for the constitutional amendment,
goes from the House 10 the Senate, ana
il is said that Dr. J. d. Pretlow VIII DO
likewise.
Hon. John +. Ryan, Speaker OF the
House. is renominated from Loudoun,
and will feel great pride In handilng
the gavel again. Other members OF the
last House expected back this WINTER
ore Messrs. Saunders. OF Franklin; Boy
kin. of Isle OF Wight; Booker OF Nahse-
mond: Cooke, OF Norfolk; Lee, OF lamp
ton: Smith, Of Northampton. se8ar' Oh
Middlesex; Digs. of King William anu
Koiner. OF Augusta. Messrs. Bryah''
Caben. and Harwood. OF Richmond are
also candidates for denomination ~
" u ouesenberry. whose long service
l,.ll. xplt ~.
viii occupy a seat in the House having
been nominated by the Democrats or
caroline TO fill II. Caroline Is tickle
maid having on one or more occasions
nirted with unworthy suitors; put she
has now become faithful 70 her nrst-loVe'
Democracy. General George J. Hundley'
an ex-senator from Amelia, viii probably
be the Democratic nominee for the House
and viii ably fill q seat In that BODY
Cc,onel J. Catlett Gibson, or Cuipeper'
who has been one of the Democratic leat-
ers in the House for many years, WILL IL
:. renorted run this year as an independ-
ont He will hardly be elected on tnat
t,cke, but IL he is the Democracy. when
,,o,nr into conference, will hum him that
cotcbv chorus: "You shant play In our
backyard"
CHAIRMAN ELLYsoN.
In Hon. ]. Taylor Ellyson the Virginia
Democracy has State chairman Oh
s,Innd,d qualifications and successful ex-
perience. lie has been in pohticai me
for seventeen years ard has never lost
n fight. Mr.. Ellysor has had occasion
TO study politics both from the stahdpoiht
of n party leader and as an aspliaht
for official honors, and In both respects
his efforts have ever been crowned win
success He began his active parucipatioh
IN political affairs as memper ot
Wat was then known as the MONROE
Ward Democratic Club, ana was heiNin me
as president of that organization IN 1910
when first called upon 10 represent MS
fellow-citizens in the Common Council
Ue served in the Council for four success
slVe terms, and was president OF that
body for two terms. lie went from lhe
Council to the State Senate in lSS5, ana
remained in the upper branch or the
Legislature until the spring OF 1888, Wheh
he became q candidate for Mayor OF the
city. Mayor Darlington being Withdrawn
NV his friends, Mir. George q. Ainslle
entered the mayorality race, and Mr.
Tuyson defeated him in the spirited con-
test for the nomination. Mr.. Ellyson
served for three terms. and in 1894 de-
clined TO run again. Since then he mas
not been an aspirant for any once
Mr.. Ellyson has served as a delegate
I'm district, State, end national cohVeh-
lions. and 1885, yielding to the solicitation
OF the City Committee, became chalI-
man OF a Citizens Auxiliary Committee
which rendered valuable assistance IN the
local campaign. lie was first mace cha'r
man OF the State Committee OF which
he had previously served as member,
in lime. 1880. when Ill health forced Hon.
Basil b. Gordon to resign. lie was
unanimously elected. and conducted the
campaiens Of 1890 and 1891. but in lss2
retired from the craftsmanship. having
written TO Mr. Gordon signlfying mat
under the peculiar circumstances uhuer
which he had retired. he was then en-
tilted TO be reinstated by the conVeh-
lion Mr.. Gordon being again chosen
served one year, and when he resigned IN
1892 the convention unanimously elected
Mr.. Ellyson, who has served ever since.
He has directed two congressional one
gubernatorial. and two legislative cam
paigns. 1t was in his hrst campaign
that Virginia elected solid delegation
Of ten congressman. -.----
SECRETARY J. BELL BIGGER
Co,onel John Bell Bigger. the aftable
and efficient secretary OF the State COM
,nittee was born OF Democratic parenIdge
in the city OF Richmond on the day before
the FIRST inauguration OF President An
drew Jackson. He has been stauhch
Democrat ever since he first saw the hsht
OF day. and his zeal In the cause VIII
only cease when his feeting breath shaH
sion He is a gentleman or most pieas'hs
address, and has had long experience
I'm legislative matters. He has been con-
nsr.sd with the office of Clerk OF the
House OF Delegates for nearly forty years
lie