The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-14
STAND
ON ALLEN APPEALS
Majority of Members of Legisla-
ture Did Not Answer Request
of House Clerk.
OPINIONS VARIED GREATLY
Half Of the Respondents Favored
and Half Opposed Commute
ton of Sentence.

] One Of the most interesting chapters
! in the history of the attempts to Sc
cure executive clemency for Flayd and
Claude Swanson Allen, IS to be found
In the efforts made to interest mem
| bers of the General Assembly, with
| their results. This part of the pro-
ceedings has never been published. eX-
cept the announcement that Legislators
had been approached on the subject.
George o. Greene. of Clifton Forge,
| assistant clerk OF the House of Dele
gates, was the moving spirit In the
unusual proposal TO have the law
makers express themselves to the
Governor in behalf of the Aliens.
The fact that members OF the Legis-
lature were approached as such, writes
new page in Virginia public affairs.
II seems that sixty three of the 1873
members responded. with varying re-
suits. majority-seventy- tive-ap-
pears not to have answered the cir
ular letters sent out by Mr. Greene.
There are two vacancies.
Green Is Rebukcd.
Some of them were made indignant
by the proceedings. {. Nj Lunsford.
of Botetourt, wrote the assistant
clerk that he was very much surprised
AZ his action in trying to get legisla-
tors to express themselves in such a
matter. w. a. Willcroy. of King Will
liam, said he was sorry to see Mr..
Greene take such part
1t was not fair to the Governor nor
consistent with the duty OF citizen
and iawmaker to take n hand, said
John rutherford, of Goochland L.
j. Balm. OF Southampton. said it was
not right for members to ask for elem
ency, In matter left to the Governor.
Senator j. Powell Royal, of Tazc-
we'll. replied that the law should take
its course, and that he believed the
good people of his section were of this
opinion. +. B. Roberts, of Mccklen-
burg, thought there should he some
sympathy with the victims of the
Hillsville tragedy, who seem to have
been forgotten.
Thought II Improper.
Senator j, Randolph Tucker. of Bed
ford; senator w. n. Blanks. of Neck
lenburg. and Hill Montague. OF Rich
mond. said plainly il was not proper
for members of the Legislature TO in
terfere. John Roberts, of Washing
ton. took much the same position
c. j. Meetze, of Prince William re-
piled that he was attending to his
own business. and not seeking par
dons. j. r. Kcmper. of Augusta, de-
clincd to express himself. So did
Curtis l. Old, of Norfolk County
Senator Edmund parr. of Patrick
believed the Carroll shooting the
worst crime ever committed. and was
rather indignant at the efforts put
forth for the men s. T. RalSes. mem
Der of the House from the same coun-
", said he had not heard the Allen
case discussed among his people.
The reply of Senator Charles u
GraVatt, of Caroline was to the effect
that he could not subscribe to the doc
Urine of the recall OF court decisions
John w Chalkley. of Wise. expressed
the opinion that IL would he "A mistake
TO commute the sentences Senator
Howell c. Fcatherston, of Campbell
deplorcd the sentiment aroused for the
Aliens as likely TO bring laws into
uiSrepute.
"Riackcst Page"
The Hillsville shooting was the
blacklist page in the history of the
Commonwealth. in the Judgment of =.
y. Martin. OF Campbell Senator j. r.
West. of Suffolk, said emphatlcally that
he would have nothing TO do with cf-
lortS for Communication Senator John
Paul. of Rockingham, and Senator
Island Massic. of Nelson, said they pre-
fcrred to leave the decision TO the Gov
crnor, the constitutional officer, who
had the matter under consideration and
was familiar with the facts. An un-
IL,
from Colonel Il. l., Brewer, Jr.. opposed
| communications
| Colonel John s. Harwood. Of Rich
inond, refused To take part AS did Sen
ator John a. Lesner. of Norfolk County.
'ohn G. Utz. of Madison. said he would
Tot advise the Governor Martin Will
| iiams. OF Giles; T. X ROW. of Orange.
and A. j. Terrell, of Buckingham, de
clined TO ask for communication Colonel
| a. NJ. bowman. of Roanoke County the
veteran chairman of the House Finance
Committee. opposed the movement. say
ing 80 per cent of the people believed
the sentences given the Aliens too light
Mnny Favored CIcmcncy.
On the other hand. there were those
/ who favored communication Joseph
Stebbins. Jr of Halifax. asked il for
! Claude. and not Floyd, as did Senator
&. L: Bowers, OF Culpeper, and Colonel
| w. .. Moore, OF Wythe Captain w
| w. Baker, of Chesterfield thought the
| citiaens wanted mitigation of the SEN
fences. Others who asked for execu-
/ 1--WE clemcncy were Senator F. H. Drew
| ~, of Petersburg Chased on what the
papers had said); w. H. Ewing. of
Prince Edward; w. ~ Brown. of Dan
Vile; L. J. Stratton of Appomattox.
Senator George r. Rison, OF Pittsvl-
wanna; Captain John i. Curtis, of Rich
Inonu' j. I. Malbon, of Princess Anne:
~ Il. Spessard of Craig; j. T. Chris
van OF MiddleseX; ID. y. Kinsey, OF
FRANKLIN; 5. NJ Fulton. of Gravson.
senator Sands GAYLE. of Buckingham
> ~. Love of Lunenburg: T. T. Clarke
OF pinwiddic; w. y. Tiffany. OF Eau.
Nuier; K o Norris. Jr.. OF Lancaster;
It. l.. Borden. OF Shenandoah Thomas
Brown OF Westmorcland; H. r. Hons.
ton. OF Hampton; Il. d. Adams. Of Char
iotte; George y. Earman, of Rocking
ram; NJ J. Taylor. Of Scott; DuVal Rad
iord. OF Bedford; w. l., Massie, of Am
herst: w Stanley Burt. of Surry: VII.
liam Watts, OF Roanoke; Rev. e. c
,uSK' OF washington; Senator A. IT.
Hobbs. Of Prince George and 6 r.
Mustard, OF Tazewell
HONOR EGGl ESTON