The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-18

lieutenant governor, furnished few
thrills and then things Qnieted down
ter q while, local primaries In dif-
SfArent parts, CT the State furnishing
III the necessary food for political
gossip and speculation. Rumors that
one OF the four candidates would re-
tirc soon sprung up. however, and
I eathered Increasing currency. This
RAN ana then that was reported to
! be preparing to get out. of the race,
hut whenever the rumors became
Rrong enough to warrant III, the
sAndidate chiefly affected promptly
rpped forward with a denial.
It has cenae now, however, and the
race Ia between Samuel W. Williams,
tho Incumbent: s. Gordon Cumming.
1 at Hampton. and John Garland Pol
I ,Ard, OF Richmond and Henrico.
lSing,s Announcement.
Mr.. Kings announcement OF his
withdrawal follows in fnils
On the eSth day OF March. 1918.
announced my candidacy forfthe Of
Zee OF attorney general OF Virginia.
sitter conferences with and at the sug-
vestio- Of a number OF the political
Leaders or TIA State Democracy whose
Affiliations were with both factions of
the party.
IN all those conferences, I stated
that believed In Independence of
thought On the ranks OF the party,
Z. and that II made the campaign /
woul: do so as Democrat and not
as q candidate Of either faction, that
thought the party was greater than
any faction I'm 81 and that ! eagerly
leeked forward 20 tho time when
fActionalig,n would be forgotten and
nil would unite for the advancement
of Democratic principles in the inter
est OF Ola Virginia
immediately after tire announce
meut of my candidacy, some of the
leading newspapers OF the State or
both factions compEmented the peo-
pie upon having a candidate of In
+ dependent thought and ideas OF pro-
! xress, and 1t was etaeed N tho public
press. TO- wit the T1rnes-Dispatch OF
March 18th. that my announcement
had met w5th deep satisfaction on
tho part of those who believed that
the best and ehlests men@ should offer
& for kpublic servjce.'
InUver dreamedsatsthats tune that
!. fActlonal lines world be drawn in the
campaign, bot felt that the Demo-
#crats ct Virginia would welcome ar
Z cppcrtucdfy to center upon O. man
whose record had shown assneuch in
4 dependence as had my own, and this
I idea was daily strengthened By let
tiers and assurances OF support from
both fact.ons, and proceeded in q
i qufet way with my campaign and
complied with the law as to notice
Gnd Th9 payment sof thes entrance fee.
II came like a bolt from clear
Sky. when Just a few moments be-
fore the closing OF tho lists. cam
didaAe died his application and per-
lnitted the press 40 state without cor
rection or contradiction by him, that
he was the candidate Of what is
known AS the anti-machine wing OF
the Democratic party. whose cam
sdidacy was announced as result of
q conference with a coterie Of gentle
men IN Washington of unstated names
and nakionalties, thus .'Out Hercding
Herod' In machine methods.
b 6inco that announcement a num-
n bee Of Ao-callsd anh-machins men
4wa1hse Support had been pledged to
SmA, 1.-Two openly withdrawn their sup
port IA thu Interest of the eleventh,
sho~e candidate. nasing their action
supuupurely fractional grounds and not
Elupog141ny Question Of merit; some OF
astha psass have followed the same
3ceaQDaI and white heretofore ciamor-
IN 1nr Independence Of thought. are
ncw n4anc their efforts to destroy in
dspandent action I'd the Democratic
party and to- widen the breach be-
tween tha,two branches.
Ram Willing TO meet opposition fr
theSopen and as man to man. but
a1nsnoE willing to continue in a fight
where factlonalism and not merit
has been made the fssbe; where fac
tional strife and not Democracy Is be-
ing emphasized: where a vaunted
principle has been resolved into &
petty brajndtcs.
haTe therefore. determined, that
As uay candidacy has gotten to tbs
point ~whaaA Is la. embarrassing those
whose predictions are towards Mn
Pollard. but, who are too noble TO &C
back on their pledges 10 me, and
where 1t is embarrassing to me be-
csuea Of nv unsviningness TO be class.
ed 90 the candidate of any faction oi
the party to withdraw from the race
and leave thesfsght TO the other gen.
ft<xneu.
4 am sure the. people Of Virginia
will underEtand my action. 1t Is the
Dream OF my life TO see a united
Democracy In Virginia. With all fac.
Tticns uniting upon Henry c. Stuart
for governor. thought tho time ripe
for I'M 20 add my mite Of strength &c
further that sanie spirit OF good feel
ling. but as there seems to be a de-
sire upon the part of many to in
tenstfy rather than allay such feel
tngs Of strife. / believe 1t wise tina
~ should retire SO that I may d.
Justice to myself ny refusing to ba &
party to q campaign which must re-
suit m q facuonai fight rather than q
test OF strength upon merit alone.
Z / take thiS opportunity to expires.
nay heartfelt thanks to these loya
frfet1ds throughout the State. who
have 10 nobly and unselfishly giver
me their support, and who are stil
ready TO go to the last ditch for me
viii never forget thor loyalty and
the day Is not far distant I trust
when their influence MAY be exerted
upon an open field and in the interest
OF an independent Democracy.
T. ". KING.