The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-06
No Opposition to Russell
County Man in Demo-
cratic Primary. i,
OTHERS AFRAID TO
RUN AGAINST HIM
Remarkable Tribute to Southwest
Leader Shown by Fact That
He Was Suitable to All Fac
tons in Virginia-Fine
Record on Corporation
Commission.

Henry Carter Stuart the unanimous
cnoice or the Democratic party, will
be elected Governor of Virginia on No
vember 4. and will take office on Feb
ruary i next for a term of four wears
The list Of nominations for the DNno-
cratic primary 4on August 5 closed yes
terday afternoon at 3 O'clock no one
Offering In opposition to Mr.. stuart
Inc absence OF any contest Is a re-
markable tribute to the man and rhe
great confidence which the people of
virginia have in him is shown By the
iact that no political leader was will
ing TO undertake at this juncture n
primary campaign against him before
the Democrats of the State
whether the Republican party will
put up an opposition candidate for
Governor is still in doubt. and will
MAKE no oinerence In the result, such
campaign. If made, being only to
gather the scattered fragments of that
party vote rather than with any hone
Of winning office.
n United Democracy.
Few men In public life are more
widely known and few, If any have
as clean record as Mr. Stuart That
MS term Of Office will add lustre to
the already distinguished line of men
who have held the office of Governor
OF virginia since Colonial days Is con-
ceded. Not in many years have the
various factions of the Democratic
party in Virginia been in such har-
mony. While not accused of being a
machine" man, MV. Stuart has proven
an acceptable candidate both to the
organization and to those who have
consistently opposed machine rule Ha
will poll the united vote of the Democ.
racy of Virginia, as no man has done
since the primary system was intro
duced.
Not since the convention Of 1897 In
Soanoke has the State been SO we'll
greed. onsits choice In advance OF tho
election. In that year Lieutenant Gov
ernor j. Taylor Ellyson was mentioned
as probable candidate against J.
Hoge Tyler of Radford. Before the
convention assembled it was apparent
that Mr. Tyler was the choice Of the
majority and Mr.. Ellyson himself sec s
onded his nomination, no other name
being offered The last time that a
Democratic candidate for Governor was
named In convention was In 1901 in
the memorable Swanson Montague
fight, In which Governor Montague was
declared the nominee. Four years later.
Messrs. Swanson, Mann and Willard
ran In triangular primary. the first
of it's kind ever held in this State
swanson winning the nomination
Retired from Race.
Four years ago Mr.. Stuart was prom
inently to the front a candidate for
Governor' Judge William Hodges
opposed by H. ST George Tucker Of
Lexington Mr. Stuart had Just closed
a successful term on the Corporation
commission. and was widely known
through the State as formidable cam
didate. His headquarters had been
opened and his campaign launched
when cablegram informed him of the
serious illness of his wife in Paris.
Without hesitation, Mr. Stuart dropped
his personal ambition. retired from the
ttt,t,, 1s,e.~ tr,--L
rope. and remained with his wife until
She was so far recovered that he could
bring her back to this country.
Three years ago the Democracy Of
the Ninth Congressional District called
on MIR. Stuart to aid in fight to re,
deem the Ninth District from Republi
can rule. With some personal regret,
he accepted the duty imposed upon him.
making a memorable though unsuc-
cessful campaign against Congressman
{. Bascom Slemp. which. though it did
not succeed in making a solid Demo-
cratic congressional delegation from
Virginia did win for him the graft
tude of the Democratic party in Vir-
GINA and cut down the Republican
majority below the safety point More
than year ago the State was greatly
alarmed at reports of the serious illness
of Mr.. Stuart, and he finally was ope-
rated on. and his recovery has been
complete
For u year past he has been regarded
as the logical candidate for the gov
ernorship-the standard bearer of De-
mocracy II. ST. George Tucker who
ran against Governor Mann four years
ago. waived his claims to preferment
at the hands of the party at this time.
though his friends believe he will bs
heard from in some future campaign
Westmoreland Davis, of Leesburg was
mentioned as Il possibility because OF
MS prominence In farmers organiza-
tion, but he has expressed himself as
content to go on raising fat cattle and
hshting for agricultural lime.
Active Business Mnn.
Mr. Stuart himself is something OF
a farmer. owning and operating one
OF the largest cattle ranches in South
west Virginia. covering a considerable
portion of Russell County. He initiated
the shipping of Virginia beef cattle to
England, and to-day Russell Beef
may be found on the menus of exclu.
sive London hotels.
Mr.. Stuart will be hfty-nine ovears
of ago when he takes the oath of office
on February 1 next. He was born at
Wytheville. Wythe County, Va. on
January is, 1855. His parents were
William Alexander Stuart and Mary
Taylor Carter. His father was de-
scended from Archibald Stuart. who
was of Scotch descent, but who came
land. In 1875, settled In Pennsylvania,
and in 1889 moved to Augusta County
Va. His son, Alexander Stuart, was
major In the Revolutionary War, and
had q son, Alexander Stuart, who was
territorial judge OF Missouri by aI-
pointment of President Thomas Jsfrer-
son. His son, Archibald Stuart, was
member of Congress- and a member of
the Constitutional Convention OF 1929
80 and 1860-bl. He married Elizabeth S