The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-06-27
SPEAKER BYRD TO
give UP POLITICS
Former Legislator TO Devote Entire
Time TO Practicing Law-Wiu Go
10 Democratic invention.

~ i y II NJ " ~ ~ V a, GDSCldl-
speaker Richard Evelyn Byrd, who,
/ for the last four sessions OF the Legis-
| Iature, has been one OF the most con-
4 SpicuOuS and interesting figures of
the General Assembly, will not be
seen among the lawmakers " -ten next
| they convene.
Successful as has been his career,
ne announces a purpose to retire from
pubic life. In short. he has had
/ enough OF politics, and henceforth Will
I give his entire time TO his law prac-
Z ice.
Speaker Byrd is not unified" with
anybody, nor is he "peeVed" because
things haven't always gone his way
| On the contrary, he is well satisfied
| with his work and his experience
though he has awakened TO the fact
that the game is hardly worth the
candle.
To put it bluntly. politics has cost
MIN too much. With a professional
| income running annually into five
hgures, Speaker Byrd begins to realize
that there is much more in law than
/ IN politics for him.
Ana, while he is much enamored
OF public life and its necessary activi-
ties, he believes that the time has
ABOUT come for him to devote him
self to more selfish ends.
This does not mean. however, that
Mr.. Byrd's resolution will become eff
I
wilson forces in Virginia, he will see
Sne Jersey Governor through the
Democratic convention" And what
! Is more, he expects his man to be
nominated But that is another story.
Time was when Speaker Byrd used
10 confess an ambition to be Gov
| ernor of Virginia. And possibly that
/ ambition still remains with him. but
MS present announcement means that
the amblton Will be held in check,
| ~ least' Tor several years. So far as
lhe subernatorial campaign is con-
| cerned, the Speaker is known to be
pledged TO Henry Carter Stuart.
Mr.. Byrd assuredly has no reason
20 be dissatisfied with the honors that
nave come his way. or with the
thlnSs he has accomplished. He has
lhrlce been Speaker OF the House
ana Tor years has been an active and
ihueiatSable figure in the great legis-
lative mill
! A bold, quick thinker. with great
decision of character and courage I'M
bounded, he has not hesitated to ad-
vance his own opinions and to fight
/ Tor what he thought right
Nor has he been content to follow
lie Is a born leader. with highly de-
Neloped creative faculties. Some nub-
nc men are destructive in their ten
uencles. Richard Evelyn Byrd is lust
me opposite His work has been dis
l d.
! Naaced new ideas and developed nov,
! lnes OF thought. Every fiber of his
/ nelnS is against stagnation. He be
IeNes IN pushing ever ahead-in do
, ing things.
AS result of this tendency. which
an 700 rare these days. he has
| hau a marked influence on the laws
OF virginia. No work or obstacles
nave been able TO balk him. The hills
introduced by him i'm the House. if
not always pass~d, at least have at
tracted Widespread attention and
aroused Statewide interest.
And as a general thing tho lagis-
lation that had Byrd behind il has
gone through and become embodied
| IN the statutes of the Commonwealth
ms work IN connection with the liouor
pil hearing his name is still fresh
IN the public mind.
Whether rightly or wrongly. R,-rd
succeeded i'm preventing the Legislo-
/ lure from voting to ratify the Fed
erdI income tax amendment And
only Il few months ago he made a
Nalorous, but unsuccessful. struggle to
uiihg ABOUT a material alteration of
the tax laws.
Equally unsuccessful. but none tho
less notable, have been Byrd's efforts
I" induce the General Assembly ia
pHss legalized primary bill. In all
lhese contests, the Speaker has been
| "'AN'iAi ~ tllllSlnS, ana tiulpS "a
spectacular figure.
As an orator and debater. he has
| few superiors. while his facilit, viii
the pen has likewise been one of his
most important mental assets. BET
Ter sun, he is never COMMONPLACE in
methods or style. 80
-, BYRD sets people thinking. His is
me charm OF originality, combined
with scholarship and common sense
1t is difficult to think of him os
politically inactive. for his energies
require a wide sphere and he is ever
up and doing. Maybe he will ere
consider one of these days.