The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-14
GOVERNOR MANN !.
Is NAMED TO SUCCEED HIMSELF
ON CORPORATION COM
MISSION.
LEADER
TWICE ELECTED TO CONGRESS IN
REPUBLICAN STRONGHOLD.
FIRST APPOINTED ON COM
MISSION by SWANSON.


pointed Judge William r. Rhea a
member of the State corporation COM
mission, the appointment to take eff
feet February 1, 1914. It is expected
Governor Mann,s choice will meet
with the approval of the senate and
the appointment will be confirmed
early In the session.
Judge Rhea was bora in Washing
ton county Virginia, In 1858. His
mother died when he was two years
old, and his father died In the Con-
federate army, near Petersburg. In
1853 Judge Rhea was raised by his
grandmother; was educated in the
common schools and attended King
college at Bristol for two years: left
college and STUDIED law with private
teacher. and obtained bis license to
practice law as soon as he was twen-
ty-one years OF age.
Practices Law.
He practiced law at Bristol until
January, 1882, when he was elected
judge of the county court Of Wash
ington He served on the bench of
that court until the fall OF 1885, when
he was nominated by the Democrats
for the State senate. to represent
Smyth and Washington counties. Upon
his nomination for the senate he re-
signed the judgeship; was elected to
the senate and served four years. and
| was not candidate for reelection.
In 1890 he was elected Judge of the
Corporation court Of the city OF Bris-
toi, and served until 1895, when he
resigned and resumed the practice of
law.
tn Ink hn q nm q N
nominated by the Democrats of the
Ninth congressional district as a can
| didate for congress against the late
General James A. Walker, who was
the Republican candidate. Judge
! Rhea was elected by 750 majority, re-
versing the Republican majority of
| two years previous of 2,160. General
/ Walker contested the election OF
Judge Rhea for congress, and en-
ployed the celebrated w. w. Dudley,
| OF Indiana, to represent him. Judge
| Rhea represented himself before the
elections committee in Washington
The record was over 1000 pages. and
Judge Rhea spoke for thirteen hours
/ before the committee in presenting
his case. Although a Republican COM
mittee. 1t reported In his favor, and
| the house OF representatives. which
was overwhelmingly Republican, APP
proved the action OF the committee
and Judge Rhea retained his seat.
Another Triumph.
In 1900 Judge Rhea was again nom.
mated by the Democrats. and wa,
| opposed by General Walker as tht
Republican candidate, Notwithstand'
ing the fact that President Mckinley
the Republican candidate for presi-
dent. carried the Ninth district by
| M J1tHpn phaa dafeaf ci
General Walker by 1850 majority
General Walker again contested Judge
! Rheas election, but q Republican
elections committee again reported II
| Judge Rhea's favor, and q Republi
can house of representatives unani
mousIy approved this report
| Judge Rhea was again nominated
by the Democrats in 1902, but WA!
defeated by Colonel Slemp by 21S ma
4 jority.
/ Judge Rhea then resumed the prac
tice of law and continued in the prac
tice until January. 1908, when he wa.
appointed by Governor Claude A
|, Swanson as member OF the Stat,
h corporation commission. He was con
H f1rmed by the general assembly, and
L has served In this capacity for nearly
elk years.
4 Judge Rhea has held other impor
tant positions. He was appointed b,
Governor O'Ferrall In 1894 as a mem
Der. Of the board of visitors OF tn,
Virginia Military institute. and served
until he was elected to congress. Hs
was also In 1924 appointed by Gov
4 ernor O'FerTali as a member of thu
1 Virginia debt commission to deal witt
West Virginia regarding It's proportion
OF the public debt Of the old State, ant
he has served on that continuousl,
since his appointment