The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-08-25
REPUBLICANS To
SUPPORT PARSONS
Then Another Contest Will Be
Made on Ground of nlegality
of Redistricting Measure.
Same as Fight of Two
Years Ago.
RIG MOND -Sroo,o,

X H NJ o N d, v A.-Special-
hepuDlicans of the county of FLOYD.
which is, by legislative enactment. i'm
Sne SlAtn District, will vote for John
M; PARSONS in the Fifth District. They
will do what they did two wears 40
erasing from the ballots the word
sixth District, the name of the can
Qldate for Congress therein. and write
Slttn District and the name of John
Nj. Parsons. In that way they hone
TO nullify the action of the General
assembly and to increase the vote
Tor Parsons over Saunders.
-Four years ago the Legislature re-
olstricted the State and placed Floyd
county, which was in the Fifth Dis
trict. in the Sixth District. That coun-
~ is Overwhelmingly Republican. and
the gerrymander is not different from
that which obtains in other States.
me Ice puoHcans, however, went to the
paIlot boxes and voted for Parsons
over the nominee In the Sixth District.
In which Floyd county had been plac-
ed, and substituted Fifth for
sixth thus setting aside, so far as
they could individually, the action of
the Legislature.
The last Legislature made no
change in the congressional districts
OF the State. and the contest of Par
sons against Saunders, from the Fifth
Virginia District, has been reported
by the committee as favoring Parsons
1t will not he decided until during
the coming winter. 1t remains to be
seen If the Congress will interfere in
the work of the States in making up
the congressional districts. Saunders
had majority ample to reflect the
sentiments of the people of that dis
trict. but with Floyd county included
In the district Parsons would have had
a majority of some 500 or more, which
would have given him the district.
There is no question that the same
tactics as those of two years ago will
be followed this year, and if Saunders
should win, ii is the manifest inten-
ton of Parsons TO again make con-
test, hoping to have the committee
seat him in place of Saunders.
The decision of State Senator Par
sons to again enter politics following
his statement of last winter that he
thought he would retire and devote
his time to business. created no sur
prise in Virginia. He is a popular
man, is wealthy and is ambitious. AS
an organizer and mixer he is one of
the best TO be found. When he was
defeated for Congress two years ago
he talked then that he would make
a contest, and it is known that he
retained former Governor Andrew J.
Montague to represent him in the
matter, and il was on his advice that
the contest was made, all the allega-
lions and declarations being based on
the legality of the act which redis-
tricted the State. 1t is also recalled
that few years ago Mr.. Montague.
then Governor, vetoed a bill which
had for its object the changing of
the boundary lines of the First, Sec
ond and Third Districts. which might
have meant that his friend, Congress
man William a. Jones, would have
had to fight for his seat in Congress.
The veto was sent in to the Senate
just few hours before the final ad-
journment, after many members had
gone 10 their homes, and the meas
ure could not be considered on the
veto by the Governor