The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-08-22
Councilmen Present Pc
tition Asking Him to
Run for Mayor.
WILL GIVE ANSWER
T Cd A Y A T N UON
Friends Fear He Will Again De-
cline for Reasons of Health and
Business Affairs-City Needs
Active Mayor at This
Important juno
ture.

Signed Jy a majority Of the members
/ elected 10 each branch OF the incoming
/ city Council. petition was presented
! 10 Colonel John 5 Harwood last nigh,
requesting that ne would again allow
the use ~ his name as q candidate
for the position OF Mayor OF Rich
mOnd. Col1ncl Harvood EXPRESSED his
gratitude 10 those who have been ac-
tl'e IN Sc..ins up the petition. and
took tine matter under consideration
stating that ne wou!d give final
answer By noon to-day-
Text Of Petition.
! Inc petition follows
Richmond. Va. august 1874
Hon John :. Harwood Richmond. Va.
Dea. sir.-We. the Undersigned. are
dts!ro~s thet ycu VIII pcriri, the use
OF your namc for the position OF
Mayor of the city u Richmond be-
Hev'ns hat YOU Al as saarse the
duties TO ;he sat!afaot.on or the com
/ muni'y that you nave served % oi,ta
and well ga the past
Respectfully.
Aldermen. John b Blney. Barton n.
Grrndy. Josepn T. Powers John J.
Mitchell, Oiaway Fuller. W j. Gil
man. T. II )onahoe. william II.
adams, Waveriy Melton. Jonn h.
Grimes. y. l. N.lson.
/ Counciim.n. Il l. Peters. Jacob I'm.
iaui W -. Butler Garter e Jones.
George " Rogers. CLYDE II Ratciire
y = Nondcrlchr. J.. 4 Fuller + II.
Powell, ! Cray Hidden. {. A sea,on.
/ Harvey Z. Atkinson.
Committee Disappointed
%" pcitipn vas presented TO Col
narwood last nlght at his home. 1000
MonufHtAt Avenue. by Presiden, y.
] Lee Peters. II the Common Council
! Councilman CLYDE Ratcllns and Alder.
man John j. Mitchell. the thre, MON.
/ pers or the incoming Council who hayc
Deeh active in securing signatures and
: pushing the candidacy OF Col uar-
I "oon They we're greatly disappointed
'nht '"eE I'D not receive an immed!-
axe IL Vorable decision but still nom
that after consulting business asSori-
a,es TO-DAY. col HARDWOOD viii allow
his name 10 be used
after announcement was made ~,
Mayor .. {. Richardson of his inton.
~" - Tesisning early in Scpteubei.
IN order 70 accept the position az
'uose OF the Hastings Court recently
/ rendered him by Governor Mann ~
two names mentioned Tor ,bn 49,. ,o ~
atty we're those OF Colonel Tarwood
ana Captain George Ainsi!e. tho latter
"a wei knorn attorney and forrn.r
member OF the Board OF Police Com.
missioners
Has Declined Once
Colonel Harwood gave 10 The Times.
Dispatch an interview published on
thursday, August u. announcing thar
/ ne would not be a candidate for tho
! position OF Mayor. both on accoun. Of
! his health and for business reasons
stating his position in that interview
clearly and finally.
/ since then Captain Ain.lie has been
( the only candidate and while he has
! made no active canvass his friends
( hal So cured pledge from a sutficont
! number 10 secure his election. ;hese
pledges Icing based on the assumpti,.
tnat Colonel Harwood was out Of ,he
race Should ne ~e-entcr. IAany Of
those no" pledged to Captain Ainslie
would r released from any obiisa-
ton.
I At Colonel Harwood's homs las,
night Alderman Mitchell President
/ Peters and Councilman Radcliffe, the
: latter close neighbor and personal
/ friend OF Colonel Harwood. each gave
reasons why In their Judgment he
should allow his name TO be used The
I city is embarkins on a new form Of
government which needs TO be watched
and aided. tho services OF strong
/ Mayor arc needed Colonel Harwood's
/ health has been largely restored by
/ recent treatment. and the position
coming as II does at tho request OF a
large number of members of the city
{ Council, is an honor which those Pre-.
scntins the petition felt should not
be lightly set aside
seed for Active Mayor.
Colonel HARDWOOD expressed his pro-
/ found gratitude 10 all who had signed
! the paper. and especially to the three
who had been active in its circula-
/ ton. He admitted that he had known
that such paper was in circulation
and had given the matter much thought
and had hoped to have his final answer
/ for the committee last night But he
had not received replies TO kilograms
sent to certain business associates. and
: there were other considerations which
would prevent any immediate deter
mutation. The utmost that the COM
mittcc could secure WAS promise to
( give the matter further consideration
I and to render final decision by mid
/ day to-day. Colonel Harwood said
that he appreciated deeply. especially
because of recent travel through va
! iious sections of the country. the inn
mcnse strides Richmond is making
and the need of the city at this time
( for an active and aggressive man as
Mayor.
! The reasons which had lmpelled his
former announcement were the fear
! that his health would not continue to
improve. and that business affairs
( might divert a portion OF his time when
/ the city needed all of the time and
thought OF an active and vigorous
man.
! Petition Largely signed.
! Messrs. Peters. Radcliffe and Mitchell
/ first BEGAN the circulation OF their pc
ution last Friday night at the adj
! Of hN
Gil. The signatures of twelve mem
bcrs of the incoming Council were
CONTINUED on Second Page.)