The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-31
Mayor Makes Positive
Statement He'll Not
Decline Honor.
MANY ASK HIM
TO GO ON BENCH
Protest Made by Attorneys, Who
Thought He Should Not Ac-
cept Under Circumstances.
Yields. He Says, to Ma
jority of Lawyers and
Many Citizens.

Mayor D. c. Richardson gave Tho
Times Dispatch last night the follow
ing statement, which sets at rest re-
ports that he might not accept tre
'udgsh!p of the Hastings Court ot tho
city of Richmond:
'Th~ situation has nct changed In
any manner since the statements mnde
In the pnpcrs this afternoon. The Gov
ernor. through mutual friend, In
formed TINT he would appoint mo
judge of the Hastings Court IL de
sired the position. After duly con-
siderinS the matter. 1 sent him word
through the snmc source that 1 would
nccept the appointment.
The Governor has not yet official
'Iy appointed me, but should he do so.
will accept.
Several members Of the bar hive
mcnt under the circumstances. but Ave
times that number of the lawyers or
Richmond have urged to accept.
and hundreds of the citizens of Rich
mond. personally, by phone md by
letter. have nskcd me 20 accept, nnd
feel TINT II is my duty TO the Gov
crnor aud TO the people of Richmond TO
do so.
(sisncd) ID. c. RICHARDSON.
"Tuesdny night. July 80. 1912"
The reference to the fact thar no
has not been officially appointed oYi-
OF the Governor tina, the commission
will not be issued fer at least a week.
Governor Mann reiterated last nigh,
his positive declaration. Il shall an
point Mayor Richardson's" And he
added significantly: For the rc-
malnder OF my term shall he tha
Governor OF Virginia."
Thought of Declining.
Although Mayor Richardson told
Secretary Ben 2. Owen In reply to
the message from tin Governor. that
he would accept the appointment IL
felt later in the day that ne might
reconsider and decline. In view OF re-
iquests made to him by various mem
bers OF the bar These protests cana
nocauso OF the action OF the Gover-
nor in choosing a Judge without wau
ing for nomination by caucus OF tn"
lawyers Of Richmond Naturally. tho
Mayor was unwilling to go on tho
bench without the hearty Co cooperation
OF the bar OF tho city. OF which ha
has been a member for many years
He indicates. however that many
more attorneys asked him 20 accept
than the number OF those who request
ed him to decline. and he feels that
most OF the lawyers are satisfied 1t is
probable that they realized that even
should Mayor Richardson refuse. tina
bar viii be no better of IN its selec-
ton of a Judge since IT Is very evident
that the Governor will never again
recognize nomination made in This
manner. and would simply appoint
some one else 10 forestall action by III,
bar
But there remained deeper reason
why the Mayor hesitated to accept He
has been elected for new term as.the
citys executive, and his new term has
not yet begun. To give up his post a.
such a time. while the city is abou, to-
undergo the most important govern
mental change in its history, he felt
60 he unfortunate. II seems. however.
that after considering this feature tho
Mayor still determined to accent tha
judgeshin
The appointment was without nv
solicitation or Knowledge said Mayor
Richardson Il have not seen tho Gov
ernor IN several weeks save al sudgs
Wits funeral when was in the car
riase with him and Judge Prentis. OF
the Corporation Commission No word
OF the appointment was passed am
equally certain that no friend OF min.
solicited the appointment on my be-
half Tile announcement this morning
was much a surprise TO mo as it
was 10 any one"