Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-22
POLITICS IN VIRGINIA
JONES CHARGE AGAINST JUDGE
LEWIS THIS WEEKS TOPIC.


Special Dispatch TO The Star.
RICHMOND, Va, October 21.-Poiitcally
the only thing being discussed to any great
extent in the state today is the charge made
by Representative William A. Jones of the
first district against Judge Lunsford L..
Lewis, the republican candidate for gov
ernOr, that he Uewis) had said that he
would not vote against the bill prohibit
ing miscegenaton The speech is alleged
to have been made by Judge Lewis in 1881,
even the gentlemen engaged with him in
debate not being certain as to the exact
date
The charge has lain dormant TO this time.
Judge George j. Hundley asked the ques-
tion of Judge Lewis, and it is claimed the
reply was made by Judge Lewis to the eff
feet that were he a member of the general
assembly he would vote against such
bill prohibiting miscegenation) or would
not vote for ii till convinced that It was
not unconstitutional. and q that time many
of the lawyers of the state expressed the be-
lief that such law might conflict with the
federal Constitution pertaining to contracts.
Mr.. Jones said he was informed that
Judge Lewis made the speech and that he
could and would prove it if 1t were denied.
1t is understood that Judge Hundley made
the statement to Mr.. Ellyson and that in
that way II got to Mr.. Jones and was used
in his speech. s. S. p. Patteson, a mem
Der of the bar of the city, was present and
heard the debate between Judge Lewis
and Judge Hund!ey, and he prepared a re-
port of the speeches for a Richmond paper
which he gave to the paper. For some
reason the report was not printed, and the
manuscript of the speeches was not kept
Mr.. Patteson now says he is not willing
to say whether Judge Lewis was opposed
to the proposed law or doubted its con-
sttuuOnality.
Denial From Lewis.
Judge Lewis has entered an emphatic de-
NAL of the statements attributed to him
by Mr. Jones, and which were alleged to
have been made in a speech of twenty-four
years ago. He says that he had forgotten
the debate and does not recall anything in
connection with ii with sufficient clearness
10 undertake to again state it. He does
however. denounce as false any suggestion
that he has or does favor or countenance
miscegenation. and is at a loss to under
stand why. If he made the speech now at
trlbuted to him, that it so long with
held and not made known when he was
elected judge of the supreme court of ap-
peals, he having been elected to that posi-
ton by the legislature chosen in the fal
of 1881
Judge Lewis says that he may have de
clined TO say that he would vote for such
a measure until was assured that it
was not in conflict with the federal Con-
stitution, emphasizing the fact that mar
riage is founded upon contract and that if
an interference of contract was con-
tanned in the proposed law it might pos
sibly be that the law would be unconstitu-
tional.
Judge Hundley's Opinion.
Judge Hundley says that the information
on which the speech of Mr.. Jones was
based did not reach him (Jones) at his sug-
gestion or with his knowledge. Judge
Hundley said that the occurrence was long
ago. that IT is clear to him that Judge
Lewis replied that he was opposed to the
policy OF the law and favored allowing
blacks and whites to marry whom they
pleased.
To all of the foregoing Judge Lewis has
made one special and emphatic declaration
that the charge is false. He asks why the
question was not raised when he was made
a judge of the supreme court of appeals,
of the state or when he was candidate for
Congress a few years ago
The charge and the reply have served to
lot of life into affairs that did not exist
ten days ago Personally Judge Lewis is
popular in the city and state, and he has
scores of friends who deprecate the open
ing of a campaign of quarter of a CEN
fury ago. That Judge Lewis has ever-favor-
ed miscegenatiOn is not believed by the in
telligent people of the state, but he will be
defeated for the governOrship for no other
reason than that he is a republican, the
state having had one experience along that
line which is still fresh in the minds of the
people.
This charge will not have any appreciate
effect on the vote, for the democrats will
carry the state by at least 25,o00 majority.