The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-17
GOSSIP GA HERED
FROM LAWMAKERS
Mr.. Kelley's Fine Chance for Speaker
Boaz to Be IN the Convention Reforms
Are Brewing IN the State.
PRIMARY ELECTION SYSTEM is ONE THAT
LOOKS LIKE IT WILL SURELY COME.

TING elevation of Hon Il w. Saunders
TO The jldgeship of the Fourth Judicial
Rarcust opens the way FOR a great contest
next winter for tine position OF Speaker
of the House of Delegates.
VIII, the assembling of the body (which
has not Yet been chosen nearly twelve
months Off, of course. it is mere specula-
ton 10 say who viii probably succeed
10 the d.st tssuisaled honor; Yet, il present
indications are worth considering. the
zion. Samuel S. Kelley IS in a pretty posi-
aien 10 win out, provided he will consent
20 The use of his name.
AS soon as It became no.se3 about that
Speaker Saunders would so on the bench
the trends OF the brilliant young Rich
.nlnd leader began 10 boom INN for the
pace and IT looks very 1n,lcn like his
name VIII lead all 6hs rest Many
reasons are being urged why Mr.. Kelley
would make 4 most formidable candidate,
not Inc least among them being his SPLEEN
did ability. which is recognized on every
hand, What makes his boom look ali
the more Significant is that it was
: Launched by his colleagues from without
aaas own city and district, his name being
first suggested by q prominent. House
9eader from the Tidewater section Of The
State.
So far as Mr. K4Ile.'s ability TO return
10 the House is concerned no one doubts
that Tor "a moment. for, besides the mag
1liticent record he e1as made in ,tiie House,
There are few public men In the city who
are mora widely popular. His name has
been frequently mentioned for Mayor, the
State Senate. and the Constitutional Con-
1.sntion. and every one is willing to con-
..ede that he viii De returned to The House
IL, ~, isrjt I,a
e,e again in the body. Mr.. Keiley's course
in the House has been such as to COM
mend hlim TO the confidence and esteem
of his colleagues, and to imbue them with
thc 5s3ea that ne would make an admirable
presiding officer of the lower branch of
tho General Assembly. In the Judgment
ot This friends he possesses all the requi-
sites for a successful Speaker, and there
are many who believe that the caucus
of the next regular session will nonlinate
him for the distinguished position
In connection with the 5,rol>ablc per-
sonnet of the coming Constitutional Con-
vcntionr it is interesting to note that the
b.oat county of Albernnrle will most likely
he represented in part, by the present dis
tinsuished chairman of the House Com
uaittee on Finance, Hon. William II Boaz.
MIR. Boaz was an original convention mas
and stood with the rank and file'' or the
party up there, in their fight TO make the
matter a parity issue at the Norfolk Con-
veution. He was opposed by nearly every
soffice-holder i'm the county, and now The
.'plain people" are 1Hllying to his stand
ard. and demanding that he shall be one
OF their representatives in the convention.
There is no more clearheaded or CONVEX
sative business man i'm Piedmont Virginia
than Mr.. Boaz, and no man stands higher
d., the esteem and confidence of the peo-
pie of -AFbenlnrle. He has served his peo-
pie for a. number of years in the House.
and during the sessions Of the present
Legislature. has been the very able chair
man OF the Finance Committee, and ex-
pf,1cio the watchdog of the treas
airy. He has demonstrated in all his Of
fetal career that he was a man of the
people and his constituents refuse to be-
Eiere that either corporate power and i'm
fluence or the alluring promises of the Of
dce-holGing class would swerve him from
The ppth OF duty in the convention. They
contend that he would go in for real re-
form. and would adopt as his motto: -'Hew
TO the line; Jet the chips tall where they
may This has BEEN his record in the
Virginia Legislature. and they believe he
will continue it in the high and important
station to which they are now about to