Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-09
THE CAMPAIGN LATE.
sDrIng Politics IN RlClmondS hot as
LlYsly as THO Years Ago.
ron ooMmoswEALrHs ATTORNEY
Mace tor This ONCE VIII lie '"e
Mast Important-The cry
scancy VIII lie C"nfcstc"
,i,apts for the Council.

Tho biennial spring poliiioa. ca'npa't"
Ga rather late In being started this year
IN IN the present very few persons out
side OF those who nave pfae"e"'S
ronnced themselves for the Two oi"0'' i''
,vb,ch there will be contests. nave "'""'
tested any Interest whatever In TIE '"p'
preaching city elections
February. 1884, found the clubs holding
meetings almost every night and the as
p,rants for the city "jobs' circulating
among the people day and night. ms
apathy. It IS possible, Is due to the oe-
pressed condition OF business.
However. there will at least be two
very interesting fights one VIII be the
contest for the Office Of Commonwealth
Attorney. and the other that for the posi-
ton Of City Sergeant. In all the other
Offices tho present incumbents VIII
have no opposition, Judging from present
indications. OF course. this Is indepena'
ont OF the election OF city counciinen'
and the officers and employees TO be SO
lected BY them after their organization
next July,
II Is thought that a great many OF the
present members Of the Board OF Alder
men and Common Council VIII stand Tor
reelection this spring, and that many
others w.Hl be Out Tor seats In those
bOdiez
The CITY Treasurer does not hays to
be reelected this year, az his term OF
Office Is for three years lie runs alone
next spring.
FIGHT IN PARTY LINES,
The Democratic primary always deter
mines who are 10 hold the general Offices
OF the city OF Richmond. hence the cand!-
dates DO oil their battling within party
lines For the office of City Sergeant cap
tain Charles III. Epps. the present inclih-
bent: Mir. James G. Smith. proprietor or
tho Commercial Hotel ana junk-dealer'
and Mr. John u. Epps a member OF ihe
Common Council from Jefferson WARD
and foreman Of the foundry OF lalOott
Sons Machine Works are the CANDIDATES.
These gentlemen arc well-known to the
voting population Of Richmond, ond the
race between them win be vigorous one.
Those who are seeking the othco u
Commonwealth Attorney are MI h. NJ.
smith. Jr. who has held the position no"
nearly four years having been '"'ce
elected 70 Il: Mr.. David 9. RICHARDSON,
formerly Police Justice OF the CITY ana
one Of the best known lawyers III H'cu-
~
her OF the bar who has done mu'h parry
work and who stands high in his protest.
sion. This fight will be the one OF great
cot interest The Office Is a lucrative one
ana the candidates are gentlemen who
have boon prominently before the Rlcn-
moud public for number Of years.
sketch of MIR. Pntteson.
Mr.. S. S. p. Patteson comes Of a well
i-uo,yn family Of buckingham. IN which
county he was born I'm 1856. After study
ing a short time at Randolph-Macon Coz
lege he came 10 this city in 1876 ana
year later was admitted TO the bar. A4ter
practicing four years. he removed 70
Liberty, now Bedford CITY. and practced
there until 1885. Desiring larger field.
he made a Journey 10 the far West but
came to the conclusion that no spot Is
so good for a Nirgnian as virginia 80
lie returned and opened an office In this
city where he has ever since practiced,
with constantly increasing success. While
asslduously devoted TO his profession. he
has yet found time TO serve IN three mile
tary organizatiOns-tho Blues, the Howit-
zers, and the Stuart Horse Guard-as wen
as TO act as chairman Of the city Demo
cratic Committee In one Of the most
successful campaigns ever conducted IN
Richmond
INTERESTED IN Law hLfCIN-H'
MIR PattesOn has also given much time
and attention 10 the subject OF law re-
form, which he hopes 10 see adopted one
Of these days. lie has written for va
ious journals on this and kindred topics.
As a lawyer. Mr Patteson Is known as
an aggressive opponent who is neverthe-
less scrupulously fair, and as a man who
never goes into courtroom without
having thoroughly mastered all the law
bearing on bis case. In other words, be
IS a rare combination OF a student and
man OF action. lie has one. OF the largest