The Washington herald., 1909-07-08
50 . Nc - Herald.

Special to The Washington Herald.
Richmond, Va: July Light was
thrown upon the election of William
Hodges Mann as judge Of the County
Court OF NottOway by the readjUster leg
islature by letter received by Col James
Mann. Judge Mann's campaign manager.
from George E. Smith, Democratic treas
urer OF Lunenburg County.
Mr.. Sraith was the resdjuster Demo
cratic member OF the legislature who
nominated Judge Mann. He says in his
letter that Judge Mann had the support
OF the bar association and prominent re-
adjuster and Funder Democrats, that the
members Of the legislature from Motto
way County were Republicans. one a ne
gro and the other white man, and both
opposed Judge Mann and nominated
Republican for judge in caucus. Mr..
Smith says he was requested by the
white Democrats Of Noroway 10 nomi-
nate Judge Mann for reelection and he
did so.
The letter. which sheds a new light
upon the political career Of Judge Mann.
is interesting because OF the fact that
Judge Mann's election as judge by the
readjuster legislature has been referred
20 IN the present gubernatorial campaign
and because many persons in Virginia
have often wondered what conditions
brought the election about.
The letter or Mr.. Smith follows.
fuckers Statement Misleading,
I am just in receipt Of your letter re-
questing information in regard 10 the
election Of Judge Mann to the judgeship
OF Nottoway County, by the readjuster
legislature Of 1880; and as the state
ment made by Mr. Tucker. as reported
IN his recent speech at Amherst. is so
erroneous. misleading. and unjust 10
Judge Mann. I viii gladly give you the
facts in regard 70 Judge Mann's nomina-
ton by the readjuster caucus. and cleo
ton by that legislature. as well as 7 can
remember.
Since Mr.. Tucker insinuated in that
statement that the readJusters wished to
overthrow the white mans party or rule
In the state, 1 viii say that the State
ceot' question was the issue in that cam
paign and the only issue, and the parties
were aligned against each other as
'funders' and 're3djusters.' and not as
Democrats and Republicans. A majority
OF the readjuster caucus were Demo-
Gratis and there were Republicans In
both parties. II Mr.. Tucker. proposes 10
keep out OF the Democratic primary an
VINO were readjuster Democrats at that
JiiAe there viii be very small vote on
August 5
Negro Represented NOttOvvay,
7 was a Democrat then, as I have
been ever since. but was elected 10 the
house as a resdjuster and entered the re-
adjuster caucus. The delegate elected
from Eottoway was a negro Republican
Archer Scott, and the senator from that
county was d white Republican. B. F..
Williams. both Of whom were readjusters
and members Of the caucus. There were
also twelve other negroes elected TO that
legislature as readjusters.
When the election Of Judge for the
County Of Nottoway came I'D IN caucus
the delegate and senator from Nottoway
both opposed the election Of Judge Mann
and proposed TO nominate J. N. Morton,
Republican, and so did all the Repub-
hcans In the caucus, as Judge Mann
had always opposed the Republicans Do
Hucally and had voted against Williams
and Scott in the previous election. Judge
Mann had been a judge OF Nottoway
County for ten years. having been twice
elected by Democratic legislatures He
was indOrsed by the bar OF his county,
and there was a delegation OF representa-
tive white men, both funders and read
iusters. from NOttoway then In Richmond
TO urge his reelection
Named Over Negroes Protest.
L was requested by them to nominate
him In the caucus. and. as I knew him
well and knew that he had been an
able and efficient judge, I gladly con-
sented 10 do so. He was nominated by
the caucus. over the protest cf the ne
groes and Republicans. and when the
election came up IN the house and sen
ate. I requested Delegate Scott and SEN
ator Williams, from Nottoway. TO put
him IN nomination IN their respective
houses. but both refused TO do So and
I then requested Senator Wilcox. a re-
adjuster Democrat. to nominate him in
the senate He did so. and his nomina-
ton was seconded by Hon William Writ
Henry, Of Richmond a funder Democrat
II nominated him In the house. con-
ferred with the funder Democrats OF
both the senate and house, before Judge
Mann was nominated by the caucus. and
his nomination met with their hearty
approval, and they supported him when
the vote was taken in the house and
senate"
Mr.. Smith concludes by saying he had
charge OF Judge Manus night and he is
sure no promise was made to secure
his reelection. He says Judge Manns
election was first favored and afterward
opposed by Gen Malone, and an effort
was made 20 defeat him in the legisla-
ture by having the election passed by
IN the house and senate.