The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-25
Precedent in Case Of
Col. James Cited for
Immediate Action.
NO CANDIDATES
YET ANNOUNCED
Many Citizens Already Men
toned, but They Prefer to
Learn Method of Procedure
in Selecting Colonel Har-
woods Successor Before
Entering Race.

Nominations for the vacant seat In
the State Senate from the city of Rich
mond will probably be made By the
dent b. the State Democratic Commit
tee, in naming Colonel b. Q. James as
Secretary of the Commonwealth being
cited to show that there is no necessity
for L special primary at this time. The
only other precedent cited is the cleo
tion of City Treasurer Pace when a
special election was called following
the death of Treasurer Phillips No
primary was held, Democratic candi-
dates entering n free-for-all election.
No Candidates Out.
NO formal announcements by candi-
dates for the seat made vacant by the
resignation of Elben C. Folkes have
as yet been made. Those who were
considered as probable candidates last
night were Major Miles NJ. Martin, for
merly chairman of the City Democratic
Committee; James f. Cannon, for
mer member of the City Council, and
recently candidate for the House of
Delegates: General Charles j. Ander-
soH former member of the State
Senate; "A. Bierne Blair, n former mem
her of the City Council, and Samuel l..
Kelley. Mention was also made of r.
Lee Peters. president Of the Common
Council, as possibility, though no
announcement came from Mr. Peters.
The suggestion that there might he
independent candidates IN the event
OF nomination by the city commit
tee without opportunity for a popular
expression of preference within the
party, was generally discounted
The method OF nominating is for the
City Democratic Committee to deter
m>ne. The committee may itself make
i "a party selection, or it may provide
for nomination by convention pri-
mary or otherwise that organizat ton
having wide latitude in such emer-
gency.
Think Committee VIII Nominate.
The belief was generally expressed
last night that the committee would
nominate. the precedent being found
in the action OF the State Democratic
Committee four years ago D. Q.
Eggleston had been re-nominated by
the Democratic party for Secretary of
the Commonwealth, and died less than
sixty days before the general election.
They were several candidates before
the State Committee, which finally
nominated Colonel James, whose name
went on the ticket as the Democratic
nominee. and who was overwhelmingly
elected having recently been renomi-
ldteu without opposition.
In the absence of distinct an
nouncements from candidates, there
were many rumors current last night.
one which found much credit being
that the city committee was already
being polled in behalf of its former
chairman, Major Martin. who. il is ad-
mitted, would make a very strong
candidate If the party nomination.
which in Richmond is the equivalent OF
the election. is left in the hands of
the committee.
y considerable vote in the commit
tee is claimed for Mr.. Cannon, who
the recent primary for the House Of
Delegates. Some other names are
mentioned only in the event that a
primary is ordered.
VIII Call Special Election.
Whatever party procedure is adopt
ed, the resignation of Mr. Folkes,
making necessary an election of a
Senator at time not contemplated in
the statute. forces the Governor to
issue writ for a special election.
Several days ago Governor Mann asked
the Attorney-General for an opinion
on the question as to whether such n
special election to fill Senate va
cancy could be held on the day of the
general election.
Chairman James H. Price. Of the
CITY Democratic Committee, said yes
terday that probably no action would
be taken toward calling the commit
tee together until the Governor de-
ternines tho date of the special cleo
ton. Then. Mr.. Price said. it would
be for the committee to determine
what method it would pursue in MAX
ing party nomination prior to that
election. IL the senatorial election for
Richmond is set by the Governor on
the day Of the November general cleo
ton, the time. it is held, would be
too short for primary. and the nomi-
nation would probably be at the hands
OF the city committee--that is the old
committee still in office. the new City
Democratic Committee elected last
summer not taking office until Janu-
ary I.
Only in the event that the Governor
sets the special senatorial election for
Richmond late in December, which is
regarded as improbable, would II be
tNrrf fiOa hi a. l.