Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-09-01
PROBABLY WILL BE
NO CONTEST TONIGHT
All Efforts OF Members Anxious to
Defeat Present Presiding officer to
Get Standard-bearer Have Failed
Lonoan probably Next Board Presi-
dent.

That d. S. Jones will be reelected
president of the common council wnen
that body meets tonight at 1880
O'clock 10 perfect its bi-annual reor-
ganization seems almost a certainty.
His opponents have been WORKING
hard To get a man in the field VINO
could possibly bring about his defeat
hut. with the election less than fifteen
hours distant. they have not yet Deeh
able 10 find that man and 1t wouiu
not be at all surprising if Mr.. Jones
is elected without opposition as he
was two years ago.
During the past few weeks there
has been great interest in the elec'lon
OF the president of the lower Drahcn
and reports of all kinds have been
soing the rounds concerning the hsh''
Councilman L. l. Ford, of the FIRST
ward, is the "one best bet OF 'he
so-called insurgents" but he not
only declines to becomes a 'candiia'e
hut even declines. to accept me presi-
dency if elected so long as Mr.. JONES
is a candidate for the office.
Mr.. Nelson Won't Have once
After they had about become con-
WINGED that Mr.. Ford would not ac-
cept the job. the insurgents lh'i-
mated something about dark horse
for the eleventh hour OF the fight ana
u deyelops that the dark horse Is
p NJ Nelson, enc of the newly eiect-
Cd councilman from the Fourth ward
/ When seen last night. MIR. Nelson
stated with much emphasis that ne
is not candidate for the presidency
that he wouldn't want the job even
IL ne could have II and that under no
circumstances will ne accept the nom
nation should any effort be made ~
force 1t upon him.
| Councilman Ford said last nigh'
that as long as Mr. Jones is cahu'-
date for the presidency he VIII ho'
accept the nomination for the Once
as he is pledged to support Mr.. Jones
and that he proposes to stand by 'na'
nledge. while | appreciate the non
or done me by my colleagues in oner-
ing me the nomination. | cannot 81
hack on my pledge to Mr.. Jones am
must. therefore, decline to accep'
the nomination" declared Mr.. Ford.
! Mr.. Jones' Statement.
In discussing the situation las'
night President d. s. Jones said that
he is a candidate for the presidency
fer the reason that he believe he can
serve the city better as the president
Of the common council than he can IN
any other capacity. With the excep-
, ton of four years when he was OUT
of the council and one year when
James Dougherty was the president
Of the body. Mr. jones has been the
president Of the lower branch ever
5 since the city ives Incorporated ana
nine years q experience as president
of the council stands him in good
/ stead.
Comparatively little interest is be
ling shown in the fight for the presi-
dency Of the board OF aldermen, but
the concensus OF opinion among me
city soians seems to he that Dr.
Frank b. Longan. of the Third ward
will be elected over Alderman c. g.
helms. Of the First ward.
: The nine new members OF the up
per end lower branches OF the council
went into Office at midnight last night
and nine Of the old members retired
Three members began their new term
at the same time.