The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-08
JOHN THOMPSON BROWN FOR
COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE

Hon John Thompson Brown, OF Bed
ford County, announces that he is
candidate for the Democratic nomina-
ton for Commissioner of Agriculture
in the primary August 5th
Mr. Brown made the race four years
ago, and was defeated by the present
commissioner by about 100 votes in
total of over 10000 ballots.
Mr.. Brown has always been farm
err and as such has been in many move
rnents looking 10 a betterment of agri-
cultural conditions.
He was interested in. and member
OF the executive committee OF the
Farmers Assembly. voluntary gath
ering OF Virginia farmers for discus
sions helpful TO their vocation. which
ante dated the Farmers Alliance in
Virginia, of which latter organiza ton
Mr.. Brown was one OF the most con-
servative members
He was a life member OF the old
State Agricultural Society. and a mem
Der of its executive committee. and he
was on three occasions commissioned
by the Governor OF Virginia n dele
gate to the Farmers National Con-
gress.
1t was the Farmers Assembly that
first voiced the demand that the State
Agricultural College should be made
real force for the upbuildins of the
interests of agriculture.
In 1880 Mr.. Brown was a member
of the board of visitors of this insti-
tuition. He served till 1896, and was
reappointed in 1898, becoming the rec
tor of the board that year. After be-
ing off the board for a short term. he
was reappointed by Governor Mann.
and was promptly and unanimously
elected rector again.
Mr.. Brown acted president of this
institution. without pay, during the
illness and absence of President Nc
Bryde in 1906 and 1906.
Mr.. Brown was instrumental in Sc
curing the creation by the Legisla
ture of the Board of Crop Pest Com
missioners. of which he was a mem
Der from its organization, and for ten
years its chairman. The work of this
board s well known.
Some years ago the United States
government placed the entire State of
the Texas fever tick. When this order
was promulgated. Dr. McBryde, then
president, and Mr.. Brown, then rector,
of the board of visitors of Virginia
Polytechnic Institute, went Immediate
~ to Washington and laid the situa-
ton before the Secretary of Agricul-
ture, who agreed to withhold his proc
lamation to give an opportunity for
the Legislature of Virginia to act. as
without such action no line could be
run through the State.
The result of this prompt action was
the creation by the Legislature of the
Board of Cattle Quarantine Commits
sioners-since designated the State
Live Stock Sanitary Board-of which
Mr.. Brown was made chairman, serv-
ing for the next ten years. The result
of the work of this board is that vir-
tually the whole State is out of quar-
antine.
Mr.. Brown was active too. in the
establishment of the Virginia Truck
Experiment Station. near Norfolk,
under joint control OF representatives
of the local trucking interests, the
Board Of Agriculture, and the Virginia
Polytechnic Institute. and with the CO.
operation of the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture. and he served as
a member Of the first governing board
that put the station In operation. He
Is now again member of this board.
Mr.. Brown was a member of the
General Assembly Of 1S91-1902, and