Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-06-04

Attorneys Phillips and semmes Asked
Candidates for Senate and House to
Agree to Abide by Result Of Prl.
mary, But They Have Received only
One Favorable Answer.

one Favorable Answer
Mr.. Louis G.. Phillips, chairman of
the city. Democratic committee and Il
well known member of the bar, an
nounced yesterday that he would be
candidate for the Corporation Court
Judgeship, and during the day he and
MI. b. b. Semmes, another avowed
candidate for the office, addressed IL
Joint letter to the various candidates
for the Senate and House of Dele.
gates. In the letter the candidates
are asked TO state whether or not
they will abide by the result of pri,
mary should one be held, to give the
voters an opportunity to express n
preference In the matter of the judg.
ship.
While only ono of the candidates
has replied 10 the letter, It seems prac-
acnlly certain that there will be no
1udgeshlp primary. Messrs. Holt,
Ashly, Barrett and Moss had nothing
to say on the subject yesterday, but 1t
is understood that all of them will
decline to make the promise desired
of them.
The Joint Letter.
Following ia the letter to the can
didates:
Newport News. Va.
June |. 1907.
Messrs. s. w. Holt, C. A. Ashby,
w. y. Barrett. A. A Moss and
G II. Fellows,
Newport News, Va.
Gentlemen: The undersigned dc.
sire that the people of this city be
pfynn
preference for Judge of the Corpora.
tion Court We consider 1t much
desirable that there should be clean
cut expression of the will OF the PEG.
pie upon this point, than that the
matter should be SO involved with
other personalities and issues, us 1t
now is.
We do not believe that there Isl
any established policy of the Com.
monwealth or OF the Democratic party
upon this question which rmalses this
reaaeat improper. The primary Bys'
tom is one peculiar to the Democratic
party and should be observed b. the
party whenever possible. The faith
of the party In this system mas re.
Gently been conclusively snow by the
extension of the primary system to
the selection of candidates for the
United States Senate and State Off
GERS. The electorate of this city ut
this time IS conservative and intel.
ligent and we believe that they are
not willing to admit that they are
not competent To select an ncrm-
bent for this high office. The judges
of the courts In New York State are
elected by the people ami the de-
cisions of the courts of that State
are recognized by the bench and bar
OF the country as being among State
courts of the highest authority. Judg
es are also elected by the people OF
many other States whose courts rank
almost as high. Are the people OF
Virginia less competent to select
their judges than the people OF New
York?
IN We feel that primary for the
judgeship. In which ample time shall
be given for all aspirants to enter
and IN which your own constituents
are the voters. should be as binding
upon YOU rs your own primary, and
also upon those who then or Mt a
subsequent time, desire TO enter the
contest. We, therefore, ask You to
give us an early specific answer TO
the following question.
If the voters of this city are given
an opportunity to express their pref.
erencG for this office at the primary
to be held on the 29th day of June,
will YOU, on the floor of the Senate
or House Of Delegates. rs the case
may be. ard before tho joint Demo,
cratic Caucus of both Houses, sup.
port the candidatc for the judgeship
thus chosen?
Respectfully yours,
tSlgnedD