The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-26
MAJOR ANDERSON
NOT TO .|:| ! AGAIN 4 ! | \!
Decides to Retire from Attorney
Generals Office at EndSof
Present Term.
FULL TIME 10 LAW PRACTICE
Many Lawyers May Enter Race
Speaker Byrd Being Urged
to Stand.

fklHAoNSA 80, u
to Stand. 4
Major VIM. "A. Anderson. Familiarity
known in political circles as the. Lame
Lion from Lexington will noe be y a.
candidate for denomination to the ONCE
OF Attorney-General In the Democratic
primary next year. Major AM
iderson, who is now spending his vaca 4
Etion at his home In Lexington, sent
an announcement to this effect to The
Times-Dispatchy yesterday His friends
had been pressing him for q decision In
the matter for some months. and ne ne y
told a representative OF this paper 4
before leaving the city that he would!
come to an early conclusion after ar
irving at his home, and would Mt once Y
make his announcement to the people
through the columns of The Times
Dispatch. Major Anderson has not
only made strong and faithful NJ
itorney General, but he has behind MIN
a most distinguished record as LAWYER:
soldier and statesman. AS an evidence
of his devotion to Virginia and the
South during the Civil War, lie bears
wounds which resulted In gripping him 3
for life and his record at the bar ms
been distinguished.
He served in the Legislature In Tn -
stormy days. when strong men were
needed to solve the perplexinE 1ues-&
tions arising out OF the war, and 8i ls..'
helped to frame the present State Con-
stitution Major Anderson was elected
Attorney General about seven years
ago,on the ticket with Governor Mon
tague. after a sharp contest for tins
nomination with former Senator; John
L. Jefrrles, then OF Culpeper, but now
OF Norfolk. Three years ago he 5w was
opposed by Judge s. w. Willtams, :. OF &.
Wytlle, but won out with comparative I
ease.
His Reasons Stated.
Major Anderson's reasons for not
standing for reelection next year are
clearly set out In the following state
ment:
cater careful consideration, I have
decided not to Lr a candidate fur &eiec-s
ton. a third time to the Office now
hold.
III gratefully appreciates the Kind
confederation which, have tSeA
from the people OF virxlnil in CONNIE &c
tIon with the discharge OF the duties
or the Office during tile past seven
frnther eventual years., and the Ecpcrosass
assurances of continued confidence and
renewed support which have come to {
me from every quarter OF the Stnte.
ait m,iy he fairly assumed thnt most
OF the Important eases In which 4 have
been called upon to REPRESENT the State
mot already decided will have beenSdi
posed of before February 4, 1910, when
my present term of Office will end.
"Evcry effort Is being made to briua
the suit witt, West Virginia to a CON.
clusion mt tho earliest practicable mos
ment, and itNi.5to be hoped TINT a sntis-
factory end Of that vcry important
fore that date. 85
"IIowevcr this may be, fter eight olE
nine ycnra OF continuous public ser-s
vice in tho Constitutional C0nventiORS
and in the office of Attorncy-C;ene1alss
find that flduciary, professional and
other duties, some OF them too lOnas
postponed, impcratively require my ate
tention.. Will therefore not offer foI
lre-clectIon.D II
Others May Kun.
Major Anderson expects at the end Of
his term to return to the. active sprac-
tice of law, and he will proba bly, open
mond. and practice In the Supreme
Court OF Appeals Of Virginia, In the
United States Supreme Court and in
| the circuit and corporation courts OF
the State and the United States circuit
courts, In special cases.
This decision not to stand Tor res
election leaves only ono avowed cam
|didatein the field for the place. Iud gei
s. wv. Williams who has aspired and
been defeated on two former occasions.
That others will enter. however. there
is hardlyn reasonable doubt. Some
prominent lawyers and Democratic
leaders here heard yesterday Of Major
Anderson's probable determination not
to run again, and a number OF them
turned at once to Speaker Richard Eve
Ign Byrd and urged him to enter the
race. Mr.. Byrd declared to all who
mentioned the matter that though hes
appreciated the kindness OF his friends
in mentioning his nama for chief law
officer OF the State, he had no present
intentions OF entering the race. Hon.
r. Tate Irvine. one of the strongest
lawyers In Southwest Virginia. was /
talked of. as were alsoS Hon. r.. B. Da-s
WIS., Of Petersburg and Major Tiles
NJ. Martin, Of this city. Another prom
inent Democrat freely mentioned Is 1
former Senator j. Boyd Sears, OF Ma
thews. who Is generally known as The
|sllver-tongued orator or Tidewate.s
Virginia. It Is more than likely thaEl
there will be some announcements IN Z
a few days.