Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-10-13
Exerts More Influence Than
Any Other One Man in
Body, Says Colleague
STATE MUST NOT LOSE HIN
! legislator from Greene County
Snends Day in Stanton and
Talks on Sta.e Politics

Senator N. E. Early, OF Greene
county, spent several hours In Staun-
ton YESTERDAY. He represents the
Seventeenth Senatorial District, CON-
prising Greene and Albemarle coun-
ties and the city of Charlottesville,
and is one of the best known men
In the legislature, having served ten
years as a member of the House,
previous to his election to the Senate
in 1907. Towering head and should
ers above the man of average size.
he is a striking figure. Speaking
clearly, always compellingly, it is
not hard for one to understand, while
conversing with the big legislator
from Greene, his popularity and his
influence with his colleagues and his
constituents. It is a splendid tribute
to his worth that he is being sent
back to Richmond this term without
opposition.
When a newspaper man managed
to come up with Senator Early in
the lobby of one of the hotels here
yesterday the conversation naturally
turned to politics. II am greatly in
terested in the present contest" said
the Senator, "andI am particularly in
terested in the reelection of Sena-
tor Edward Echols" Having given
the reporter the very lead he was
seeking, the conversation progressed
with the Senator from Greene paying
a splendid tribute to his colleague
from Augusta.
IT am particularly interested in
seeing Ed Echols go back to the
Senate" said Mr.. Early, because I
believe him to be one of the strong
est men in that body. In fact, do
not known any other one man who
exerts as much influence in the Sen
ate as he does, and this always in a
quiet, non-spectacular way, which
has endeared him to the men who
have been associated with him in
the administration of the affairs of
the State.
Senator Echol's presence in the
Senate is practically a necessity at
this time" continued Senator EARLY.
1--WE have lost Keezell, the head of
our finance committee, and to lose
Echols too would be in the nature
of a calamity. In the years that he
has served as member of this most
important committee Senator Echols
has shown his qualifications for the
position at many times and in many.
ways. Speaking for myself indivi-
dually, do not know of any man
whose opinion would rather have
on questions pertaining to finance
than Senator Echol's, and I feel safe
in asserting that my faith in his good
judgment and in his ability is shar-
ed by every other member of the
legislature.
Eyes, it is a practical certainty
that Mr.. Echols will be made the
head of the finance committee if re-
elected" replied Senator Early in re-
ply to question. HE is the one man
in the body best suited for the place,
and there is little doubt that he will
be the man to fill it."
There is sill another great rea-
son, according to my judgment, which
should make the people of this dis
trict send Mr.. Echols back to Rich
mond," continued Mr.. Early. This
is to be practically new legislature,
1t is to be composed largely of men
not experienced in legislative duties,
and to deprive the body of such a
man as Echols just at this particu-
lar time would be a blow which
could not help but deprive the legis-
lature Of much of its efficiency. AS
l have said before, we have lost
Keezell, and if we lose Echols the
State will have suffered a loss, which
could hardly be made up for by any
new man, no matter how great the