The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-03
HISTORY AND TRADITION
FAVORED RICHMOND BANK
Major Dooley's Letter to Comptroller Williams
DWet on Strong Bond Between South, and
One-Time Capital of the Confederacy.

More than two months ago, when the
regional bank campaign in Richmond
At its igh-water mark in enthusiasm
mad attracted 10 its standard sup
porters from every phase of the city's
James III. Dooley addressed to Comp
troller John SHELTON Williams. a pro-
Richmond letter remarkable for the
strength of its appeal.
The letter touched only lightly upon
the usual arguments based on bank
ing capital, transportation facilities
emphasis upon the peculiar attach :
ment that for century and moro has
obtained between Richmond. the one
time capital of the Confcderacy, and
the country to the South that looked
To her for guidance.
Major Dooiey's Letter.
Major Doolcy'S letter followsA
tichmond. Va. January 81. 1914.
MIR. John 5. Williams, Comptroller and
Member of the Organization Com
mittee. United states Regional
My Dear Sir.-Knowing the multi
tudinous duties which are crowding
your present highly honorable and
most important position. and how you
must be pressed Tor time in giving
proper consideration to the great af-
iaiis upon which it is necessary for you
10 pass Judgment, / wish to recall to
your mind, as succinctly as am able,
few OF the reasons which. if 1 we're
occupying the position which you so
ably MI. might weigh with me in con-
sidcring the claims OF Richmond to be
the seat of 4 regional bank.
AS | read the law, the committee Is
required. amongst other things, to TAX o
into consideration the geographical po-
sltion of the candidate cities, and, of
course their relations in business and
otherwise 10 the surrounding country
assume that this means, in q general
way. that each great division of tho
bank.
Originally. there were two great di-
visions OF the United States--the North
ana hra,;ns the south out Nireinin was the
is scarcely too much to say she fur
nishcd the brains which conducted the
War of the Revolution, and brought
into existence the United States Of
America. In the three-quarters OF II
century which elapsed between the
revolution and The unfortunate War
the HE and soul OF the Southern di-
vision Of the United States. Her sons
anu pioneers developed the territories
OF the cis-Mi sstssippi. carried into them
her arts. her civilization, her ideas and
created OF them, one by one, new COM
nunities, which, nourished as her chill
drcn, eventually evolved into indcpend-
ehi sovereign states of the Union.
But always they looked TO her as
the sacred and rcvered mother. Such
was the intensity OF this feeling when
the unfortunate War Between the
States. despite the pleadings and warn
ings OF the old mother, broke out they
anonymously turned to Virginia as the
leader anu TO Richmond as their capital
cry. When the Confcdcracy died and
al was ruin and desolation throughout
the limits of these once fair and pros
porous lands, II was Virginia and her
capital city, Richmond, the capital city
OF the Confedcracy that stood forth a
beacon light. and with calm resolution
ana undaunted courage pointed the way
10 safety and finally led her children
o2ck INTO the folds OF that Union from
which they had been expelled.
III is unnecessary for me to urge
upon your attention that Richmond