The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-24
Seattle Reports That He
Will Catch the Vic
toria for Alaska.
MEANS THAT SEAT
WILL BE VACATED
Mystery About Departure of New
Federal Judge Assumed State
wide Proportions in View of
Contest-Governor Awaits
Official Advices Before
Calling Election.

Word came to Tho Times-Dlspatch
from Seattle last night that Judge
John Randolph Tucker would sail from
that city tomorrow on the steamship
Victoria for Alaska. which means that
he will not be member OF tho State
Senate from the Twenty District
in January.
since he telegraphed Governor Mann
three oays ago that ne had missed
tho last boat sailing this year and
requesting that his resignation be
withdrawn. the fight In his old district
was thrown completely In the air. and
the mystery about his departure deep
encd when later reports indicated that
lie was on his way.
The question, therefore, as 10
whether or not no had caught the boat
soon took the statewide interest. The
Department of Justice in Washington
yesterday declined TO issue any state
,nent Bedford City reported over the
long distance telephone last night that
Judge Tucker had sailed. that he had
not sailed, that he had missed the
steamer, that he would catch the
steamer. that he would return to Vir-
ginia, and 80 on. go with this mass
of conflicting statements IL was neccs-
sary to turn elsewhere for inforInp =
ton.
Located in seattle.
Early in the night the Seattle Post :
lntelligenccr WAS asked by The Times
Dispatch II there would bo any other
boats out this year. Governor Mann
having been advised that the vessel
leaving OH October Is was the last
TO get through before spring. But the
Post-lutclligenccr came back with the
announcement that Judge Tucker WAS
in Seattle, and that he would sail to-
morrow OH the Victoria. which seems
10 settle the matter. This means that
lie is leaving the country and his seat
in the Senate VIII naturally be va
Gated. But the Governor Is-uot in the
habit of ordering special elections on
newspaper reports. I, Is likely. how
ever, that hc viii receive a message
to-day from Judge Tucker. his mes
sage askinv that his resignation be
withdrawn being the last word on the
subject. officially, at least.
Nothing nrfore Governor.
Since Judge fuckers resignation has
been withdrawn. there il nothing be-
fore the Governor. Until he peaches
his post In Alaska he cannot quality
as a Federal Judge. an act which would
in itself vacutc his seat In the Senate.
So until the vacancy is declared. no
date can he set Tor a special election.
though the Governor had stated that
he would act rs soon as officially in
formed or Judge fuckers plans.
Even ii un election ~ called as late
rs the FIRST week ia January. there T.
some doubt whether the legal require
ncnt could he complied with in time
10 have II primary under the provisions
OF the Byrd law. which specifies that
primaries must be held sixty days be-
fore the general election. The Demo
cratic chairman OF Bedford and Rock
bridge Counties and the city of Buena
Vista have already bden In conference
In the matter, but. as each section has
its own candidate, no agreement has
yeen reached
Three Candidates I'm Field.
Major William 4. Anderson former
.Attorney-General of Virginia, is put
forward by the Rockhridge County
chairman; ]. c. Paxton is the choice
of the Buena Vista chairman, and S. s.
lambeth. Jr.. OF the Bedford chair
man. The possibility that Judge
Tucker would not return to the Sen
ate in January aroused considerable
interest. in view OF his stand on the
ct,ablng act. Two years ago he voted
for that measure, and while in so doing
he regarded the wishes of his consti-
tuents. the claim has been advanced
that in the special election the contest
may centre around men instead of