Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-10-23
NO HASTE FOR
COMMISSIONER
Doherty's Term Does Not
Expire Until February
1st, 1916
THREE CANDIDATES
Records Show Men Now Opposing
Doherty Endorsed Him for Reap
pointment Two Years Ago

| Richmond, Oct. Ex-Governor Hen
ry C. Stuart indicated yesterday that
some time will elapse before he makes
known his choice in supplying the
several important appointive offices to
be filled next February.
The Governors attention being di-
rected to the controversy going on be-
tween conflicting elements in the Vir-
ginia Federation of Labor over the
respective merits of the several can
didates, he was asked when an an
nouncement of the successor of La
Dor Commissioner James B. Doherty.
whose term expired February l, 1916.
might be expected and whether the
incumbent would be reappointed.
~ will have to think about it," said
the Governor, with an evasive smile.
81 don't have to make an appoint
ment until March l, of next year, do
iI?"
''February !, Governor" his CUES
toner corrected.
even so. That's quite long time
I have to think. When the time comes
| hope to think right" and the smile
expanded as he strobe away from the
executive Office.
For several months Endorsements
from labor UNIONS il. all parts Of the
State and personal letters commend
ing the several candidates-Commis-
sioner Doherty. Howard i. Colvin and
". ?. n,u.e kave beer ool'riEg intc
The Governors office. The admins
crat.on Of the incumbent has been
sharply attacked by the supporters
of both Mr.. COlvin and Mr. Pace, al
though neither of those principals
has engaged personally in the con-
troversy. Mr.. Doherty has been
charged by both Colvin and Pace ad-
vocates with incompetency and inef-
fccncy, and has replied with state
ments and statistics in refutation. As
the argumentative campaign progress
sed it. disclosed evidence of internal
dissension in the State union labor
Organization, which has been seething
for two years. The existence of a
Socialist element in the State Fed
Grafton which is opposed to Demo-
cratic party government and which
on that account. has been exceeding
w. troublesome, was made apparent.
Friends of Pace and 'Doherty have
made the charge that Colvin- is the
candidate of the Socialist element,
and was before he became candi-
date for Commissioner of Labor the
secretary Of the Socialist Club. In
support of the challenge of his democ-
racy the opponents of Colvin point to
the exploitation in the last issue Of
The Square Deal, official organ Of
the labor unions of Richmond. Of
which Colvin is editor, of j. n. Doak,
Republican candidate for the State
Senate in Roanoke. Mr.. Colvin to this
time has declined to he drawn into
any of the Several controversies his
candidacy provoked. He has the in
dorsements of about thirty labor
unions in the State on file in the
Governors office.
Emmett c. Dawson and other
prominent labor men in the State are
supporting him.
1t is learned that Doherty's two op-
ponents are on record as having Civ
en- glowing Endorsements. to Doherty
when the latter was appointed by Gov
ernor Stuart to the Office he occupies
Colvin, over his signature, represen-
ted Doherty as 'the choice of the un-
ion labor people of the State" for the
office, while Dawson. in his written
Endorsement, described Doherty as
'sthe best man IN Virginia., Tor the
Office. Two letters were written about
two years ago. Doherty's supporters
who have copies of those letters, are
deriving a good deal of wholesome en-.
ioynent from them while the cam
paign is waging.
It is not at all improbable that the
Governor may go outside Of the pre-
sent field of candidates for a Com
missioner of Labor in the event that
he decides to not reappolnt Comms-
sioner Doherty.