Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-01
KEEzELL AND GRASTY
ARE BOTH CANDIDATES
keeZell Out for State Treasurer;
Grasty Will Run for Secretary
of Commonwealth
RUMoR HARMAN MAY RETIRE
Indications Two Years in Advance Of
Election Are for Notable Battle for
All State Offices in Primary OF
1917.

George B. keezel AS candidate for
state Treasurer and J. II. c. Grastv as
candidate for Secretary of the Com
monwealth we're the political an
Inducements OF yesterday While
neither man Issued a formal card. both
let IL be known that they would he
III tn" race in the primaries Of 1917
and that formal announcement would
be made ~ the proper time,
II expect to be 4 candidate FOR State
Treasurer in the Democrats primary
Of 1917. and AT the proper time will
make formal announcement OF nv in
tcniions." said former Senator George
Is keezcl!, OF Rockingham. at Muir
Phys Hotcl last night TIL. Senator
was On his way home from Norfolk.
where he attended a meeting OF the
state Roard OF Fisheries. and had
talks with several OF his political
friends.
Senator Keezell said that ne had dis
cussed his prospective candidacy with
friends upon his arrival sn the city
Wednesday hut had not Intended to
make HIS intentions public untu bo
had had an opportunity to go over the
situation more rully. Runors that ne
woulG enter the race were current in
political circles yesterday and aroused
considerable interest
RUMORED THAT HARTMAN
WILL NOT RUN AGAIN
Asher w. liayman. who has been
State Treasurer for thirty years. has
not indicated whether or no, he will
be = candidate. 1t has been reported
that he Will retire q, the end OF his
present term. but no confirmation Is
obtainable
Senator keezen aas been a close DO
litical friend of Unit.d States Senator
Thomas s. Martin for years. and has
n close personal acquainta.ce with
Governor Stuart, and had luncheon
with the executive Wednesday. II %
not unlikely that Mr.. Keezell Will re-
ceire strong support from the orcani
zation in the state, as we'll as from
leaders in the ant!-Martin faction.
For several terms during his service
Of twenty four years IL the State SEN
ate. Mr.. Keezell was chairman OF the
Finance Committee. and was regarded
as ono OF the best-posted members on
state finances. He retired from the
Senate In 1911
GRASTY'S FRIENDS ARR:
CONFIDENT HE WILL RUN
J. II. c. Grasty, OF Staunton. speciaI
agent OF the Treasury Department for
the enforcement OF the Harrison anti
narcotic act, and former member OF
the State Legislature, may enter the
lists for the Democratic nomination
for Secretary OF the Commonwealth
Unofficial statements to tina. effect
coming from men who are In a position
to know Mr.. Grasty's intentions, were
freely circulated around the CapitoI
and in the hotel lobbies yesterday.
Though Mr.. Grasty, when seen in his
rooms at Murphys Hotel last nirht
would neither deny nor affirm the ru-
NOR, close friends intimated that II
was a foregone conclusion that the
Staunton man would lock horns with
Secretary 3. o. James In the 1917 pri-
mary.
He was member Of the Finance
Committee of the House and n member
of the Committee on Schools and Col
leges. Had he stood for reelection
this year, his friends had planned to
put him forward as candidate for
chairman of the Democratic caucus
Mr.. Grasty voted for the Enabling
Act when 1t came up before the House
and made AN active campaign in the
interest of Statewide prohibition,
making speeches throughout the state.
The Enabling Act was the issue in his
campaign for the House, and he was
elected with the understanding that he
would support 1t when II came to n
vote
Mr.. Grasty is II son of the late
Thomas +. Grasty, one Of the founders
and vice-president Of the Manufac-
turers' Record. Baltimore, and
nephew of Charles II. Grasty, formerly
president and general manager OF the
Baltimore Sun. His brother, DR.. j. s.
Grasty. Is member OF the faculty OF
the University of Virginia. lie has al
ways taken an active interest in poll
tics In the valley, has n largc dairy
n pI fft,f 20 fatt tt,fn nd 10,