The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-04
HARRY N SMITH
JUMPS into FRAY.
Candidate for Elector Against
Montague and Diggs III
Third District.
HAS WALKovER, FRIENDS SAY
New Phase to Lively Contest,
Made So by Talk Of I2hea
Matter Again.

\ Permitting the use Of his name for
1.-THE honor after much persuasion, Mr..
Harry NJ. Smith. of this city, Will be d
candidate for elector on the Demo-
Icratic ticket in tho Third District and
.wise local leaders are saying that he
/ VIII win In a walk. From what could be
learned last night many delegates do
mot like the appearance of the fac
tional fight which has come on be-
Montague, and when the name OF Mr..
Smith. who is popular with all ele-
ments of the party, was mentioned,
there were assuranceseof support from
lawyer and an orator OF much popuari-
lty and distinction. and Is delegate
Ito the Roanoke Convention from the
First Precinct OF Monroe Ward Though
1T is understood on high authority that
the former Commemorative Attorney
in no way encouraged the suggestion
Icf his name for elector. he Informed
those wo. approached him that II he
was chosen he would take pleasure in
serving Delegates at once Joined in
ticket.
May Rc-cntcr Politics.
1t Is thought by some that the con-
sent of the Richmond lawyer to make
canvass Of the district as the official
kesman of his party this fall prob
the field of politics. though no one
seems in position to say that lie will
aspire to any particular office in the
for Congress or Atto torn .General some some
time later. but neither he nor his close
friends are discussing any such mat
tiers at present With few equals, and,
q criminal advocate. Mr.. Smith has won
fame In many forensic contests, though
he is still what might, be termed a
gpang man the py9e life He Is
Institute and of the University OF Vir-
,ginia. and is one OF Governor Swanson's
apprentices on the Blacksburg board.
was beardless youth he won fame
on the hustings in joint discussion
with Captain John s. Wise at Bon Air,
in Chesterfield county.
Captain Wise was u candidate for
Governor against the late General
Lee, and Mr.. Smith was sent
out on an emergency occasion to meet
him when some popular and well-cs-
tablished Democratic orator had MISC
ed his train.
MISUNDERSTANDING Reply.
Captain Wiseswas severe in his stric-
lures upon General Lee, and. among
other things declared that 'had Fitz-
hugh Lee been named Fitzhugh Smith,
he would have but little weight in Vir-
ginia politics." When Mr.. Smith came
an adroit and accomplished stump
speaker, though at that time he was
a mere boy. Shaking his finger in
Captain Wise's face, he pretended to
express great regret that the Smith
family had been drawn unnecessarily
into a political contest. but added that
If this was to be the policy of the Re-
publican candidate for Governor he
(AIr. Smith) would emphasize the injus-
tice and reflection from every stump
in the State, and he felt sure that the
family pride of the Smiths would be
to rally that numerous clan
solidly behind General Lee without ref
erence to color or party creed,
This piece of bright repartee cap
tured the crowd, and from that moment
Mr.. Smith was established as a pub
lie speaker who had to be rcckoned
with by his opponents.
The contest for elector will be set
tied by the Third District Convention.
which meets in Roanoke at 10 o'clock
on June 11th