The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-16
HON. L. p. SIEARNEs' REPLY
TO HON. D. GARDINER TYLER
TO the Members of the General Assem-.

To the Members uf the General Assem-
bly,:
AS erroneous and misleading statements
Fave appeared in the press IN regard TO
TIE status OF the contest for the Judge
slip of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit.
desire to cal, your attention to the true
conditions surrounding the matter from
my standpoint,
When the new judicial circuits were
being formed By the !4te Constitutional
Convention (of which body the Hon.
Manly II. Barnes was j meInoer), It was
a well understood fact that Alr. Barnes
aspired 10 the Office of Judge of the Four
tenth circuit. beins at the tim. the
representative In the General Assembly
OK the counties composing said circuit
favored the nominatior and election Of
Mr.. Barnes as against the lat. Judge
Hubbard. Immediately. upon the avn
nouncement to me BY Mr.. Barnes that,
o. account OF his berg a member Of
tie body creating the office, he fe,. IT
would be Improper for him to stand for
,i.s office, T., fully appreciatins the keen
scrse OF propr ETY. which actuated him
In the matter, voluntarily assured him OF
MY support should snv future contin-
gtncy arise, and then Mr.. Barnes being
Cui Of tho race, | heartily endorsed the
candidacy OF Mr.. Hubbard.
That /, was their pn,rosative. no one
CT ubts (and that !: was their boundcn
duty others empkatically aver, under the
Con = luton. that lhe representatives In
The General Assembi; from the Four
tenth Judicial Circuit, shou.l have pro-
cccded Immediately. Upon the death Of
Judge Hubbard. TO tnn nomination and
election of his SUCCESSOR BY the last Cen
, oral Assembly but Il. Il spirit of falrn =
and In order that all aspirants might
have an equal opportunity, in their most
| reasonable and laudable aspirations to
| succeed Judge Hubbard and, more espc-
! cia"y desiring that tho !tications
| WIDER tho new Constitution should not
work a hardship upon the Hon. D Gardi,
/ ner Tyler Che then beng "A member Of
| Ito State Senate, n.,d consequently nell
| glbe at that time). and recognizing also
! our long personal and political friend
! ship, ] deemed that owed him the
! courtesy TO-, as far az possible, remove
(; t3e technical diiiicu,tiej surrounding his
i candidacy, | think | 81 expressed myself
! to various gentlemen. who were support
| as him. Hence, | positively declined to
either inauguratc Or sign caucus call
during the latter DAYS Of the General AS
I semby, which has just expired.
NOW shall not pretend To say (but
/ shaH rather leave II to the impartial
End conscious Judgment OF my fellow
rs;mbers of this General Assembly,
whether or not 1t comes with the best
OF grace from Mr.. Tyiol to assert that
/ ] am no more en,ltle to considerations
than are ''the delegates from Gloucester
Richmond, or amy other part Of tn:
State" And this assn ton, too, In face
Of the we'll known fact that vast pro
portion of the VOL. Of the courts OF
Warwick, York, James City and Williams
burg, Is done by the bar of the city OF
Newport News (Which city ! have thc
honor to represent. The abov, asser
ton, coup,ad with tbe fact that Mr.
1?lers supporters showed an unmistak
able disposition to rush tho nomination
at the Wednesday night caucus. Shove,
rne scant courtesy, IL. my opinion, fte
NY courteous consideration of his claims
! have no criticisms to make OF Mr.
Ty.er's statement that he is supportc'
h. the Hon. Julian Biyont. senator nov
representing the counties of New Ken
Charles City, James Lily and the city o
Williamsburg, exccpt tc remind him tina
however faithfully and satisfactorily HI
(Mr Bryant may represent them, sucl
representation Is by legislative enact
ment and not by the ballots of thos
Iecrle.
] trust that this General Assembly VII
stand by the local representation froI
: Tho Fourteenth Julicla. Circuit
Very respectfully,
Il 4, STEARNES.