The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-19

DECISION NO BAR
TO CANDIDATES
Miller Opposes Idea of Commit
tees Recommendation as
Being Final.
IN RACE FOR coLLEcToRsHIP
Would Appreciate Endorsement,
but Will Not Promise to
Retire ii Not Given.
IN RACE FOR CoLLECToRsHIP
Especial to The 7imes-Dispatch.l

Especial to The Times Dispatch.l
Bristol. Va. February 1S.-Howard
c. Miller. of Norton. editor OF the Wise
Virginian, having entered the contest
for the collectorship of internal rev.
enue for the Sixth Collecting District.
is the first man to openly oppose the
idea of granting the District Com
mittee the privilege of making its de-
cision with reference to the availa-
bility of candidates nnal He takes
the view that the committee has n
perfect right to recommend. but that
it's Endorsement should not act as a
bar TO the future candidacy OF any man
for any OF the positions TO be filed.
Mr.. Miller.' who arrived here from
Norton to-day. has been honored with
position on the Inaugural Reception
Committee as IA representative OF Nir-
ginia. This afternoon he made pub
| nc an open letter TO Secretary Wysor
Of the Democratic Committees of the
Ninth District. Among other things
he says:
Il recognize the right and propriety
OF the Democratic Committee. as n
regular organized political unit, TO
make such Endorsements as it may
deem tit and proper. DuJ dissent most
. emphntically from the position that
the action of the committee should, or
In justice ought to be, regarded as
final by all candidates concerned It
seems to me that your committee lacks
confidence in Its own Endorsement when
1T demands as the one stipulation that
every candidate not receiving it's APP
prevail shall retire from the race
Since the Ninth District Committee
has nothing TO hestow, and since its
legitimate functions are purely advis-
Dry and supplementary, ] fail to see
on what grounds the committee bases
the assumption that il can practically
put one man in Office and deny the
same office to another man, and even
his right to apply for it, That atti-
tude does not appeal TO me as en-
! bodying either the substance or form
OF Democratic precept. and / for one
I refuse to accept 1t rs such IT is diff
hcult to see why the right of appeal
should not be granted in party adj
ministration affairs as we'll as in other
matters OF civil and governmental
character.
The recommendations of any COM
mittee. county. city, town, district or
State ought TO count for their exact
worth with the appointive power and
no more. And l am inclined TO the
belief that the next President of the
( United States will emphasize that the
DRY iii n very decisive manner. 1t is
entirely possible that Mr.. Wilson. when
/ have transported with him 10 the
/ White House a few ideas which he
exhibited more or less freely in New
Jersey, and that he will not be dis
/ posed TO look upon the Judgment and
/ recommendations of various district
and State organizations as all-power-
/ full and unfailingly conclusive Ger
tairly he has reason in view OF past
experiences, to investigate with some
degree of care, projections OF that
, kind from Virginia.
i need hardly say that / would be
pleased TO have an Endorsement from
I your committee for the position here
/ in referred to, because ] believe II
would have weight. but could nsither
ask nor accept an Endorsement at your
hands that would debar any oth6r can
/ dioate from other prosecution of his
/ claims nor prevent him, If he so de-
sired from carrying lis case TO the
7 court OF last resort