The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-03-19
mr.. JAS, gordon [ Q
\. Trace FOR.NAYO.R.
Continued From First Page n
Tor his services would he consent 10
permit tile use Of his name. 5s, n

b HE1-.
for his ! services would he3 consent to
permit the use OF his name. gss IL
ss When called upon yesterday by a freI'-
resentative OF Tho Times-Dispntcll ard
asked IL he had any formal announce
ment to make on tho subject, NJ y
don replied In the negative nd sadtlet
simply thatsslf he were y left to consult ,'''l.
his own wishes irsl tho ma tier, he should
Infinitely prefer to remain VI In private
life, and that Z tho only cons Iteration
which could induce him to enter the
race was the flattering and persistent
call which had been M de upon him by
his fellow-c ltizens. for which S8 he felt tsll
profoundly grateful, and which, az m
I3citizcll 5of the community .S he did not
IfeelShe had u right to ignore. s Il, 3tSi
| There is mo clenner-or higher MARIN
Richmond to-day than James F. Gor-.
don nor is there one who has or de-
serves a fuller measure II Of the punlic
confidence. ~ lie has 10 cquaintanaa with
tho modern arts or devices OF the politi-i
caldstle1nago gle, but - \ u plain, honest,
high toned, Christian gentleman, Who
having made a success Of his own ibu 81
ness affairs, has demonstrated Il by MS
splendid service In the Council a keel.
insight irto municipal government. ant.
an earnest desire to place the AFFAIRS OF
his clty l1pon as strong business basis
and to lend honor and dignity to her
every department.
His Recompense.
Those who have been instrumental IN
bringing Mr. Goltaon into the race--nnd
thcy%are confined 40 no class or section
OF tho yoters-bel! eve that so earnest
and business-like would be his admins
Ktratlons or the high Office OF Mayor that
the returns through the channel OF bet
Sterments In the various departments
would SO crafty the citizens at large MS
Ito compensate him for any su sac nc
may have made in leaving the paths OF
QUIET, business life for public preferment.
THAT he vii &be u most Formidable caudl-
date III the primary is demonstrated by
tho almost universal sa tisfactl tor, With
which the 4Inerest mention OF his name
Fin this connection has been received
ana IT is the better opinion that no NIL
be strongly backed III every sectio''5 q q
the a.. ely y /. M Ina years or a.
and is d native OF Essex county. Va
having been born In the town Of IappH :,
hammock In 1915. 4 In February 1862, he
entered the Confederate States army and
served gullantly until tho close OF the
war as a private In the Ninth Virginia
regiment OF Cavalry. When the wal
Was over he returned to his natl co
ity and entered the mercantile business
In which he continued until 1873. when
be came to this city and accented the
position Of bools-keeper and confidential
clerk with tho late Charles T.. NNhitlocls,
fwhoswas engaged In the wholesale llm-
Der business lIe held this place until
January / i. 1856, when he was adNitte ed TO
partnership Will, Mr., Whitlock, the style
Of tho firm being changed to James X.
Gordon and Company. Mi, Whitlock died
in 1896. and the business was continued
by I'M. Gordon until 1907.
Has Handled the Estate.
Upon tho death of Mr.. Whitlock. Mr..
Gordon WAS made co-cXecutor of the
estate, along With Mr., James g. Whit
lock but Mr.. Gordon has all along been
The acting executor and has handled the
enormous estate to tho utmost satlstac-
ton of all concerned, Upon the Or
ganizatlon OF the Cardwell Machine Com
Dany lii 1890, Mr. Gordon was made one
Of thp directors OF the company. and upon
the death of President Samuel Freedley
some years ago, he was chosen presl-
dent, which position lie now fills With
marked success and ability,
While always a popular man. and en-
toying tho public confidence to q high
degree, Mr., Gordon never had any aspl-
rations for public office, and was placed
IN his first public position, practically
over Ills protest in 1900, when he was
elected to tho Board OF Aldermen from
Monroe Ward, 1t was in tho Board that
Mr. Gordon demonstrated his great fa-
miliar!ty with municipal affairs and that
he enshrined himself more strongly in
the hearts Of his people Ills chiee COM
n.ittces were Finance and Water, per-
haps the most Important in the Coun-
ell. 1t was not long before he vas els
sated to tho head OF the FORMER, and It
lis d proyerb now that he made one Of the
atlest and most clear-Neaded chairmen
the committee ever had 5sBG
Fight for Clear Water.
His hand was IN all the Important
| work leading in to the clear water
scheme, now 50 nearly contaminated. and N
Eat was largely his brain thar conceiYed
the plan az Financing II oas 70 make AZ
bear least heavily upon the. ItaHpaSe ~
Il ON bSOlufG