Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-14
DAVIS ENTERS RACE
FOR G0VERNORSH|P
Leesburg Man Issues Statement
Making Formal Announce
ment of Candidacy.
HEADS FARMERS INSTITUTE
Has Taken Active Part in Legis-
lation Designed to Improve
Agricultural Conditions.

Wcstmoreland Davis. of Loudoun
county for eight years president Of
the Virginia state Farmers Institute.
yesterday announced himself a candi-
date Tor Governor OF Virginia. subject
10 the Democratic primary in August.
1917. In formal statement issued at
ms nome in I-ccsburg. Mr.. Davis out
lines his ideas for the conduct Of the
states business. and pledges himself.
If nominated and elected to an ad-
min!stration characterized by econ
ony. constructive Legislation and eff
ficient public service"
While the primary election is still
two years of. the entrance of Mr..
Davis in the campaign makes three
avowed candidates for the guberna-
torial Observation-Disclosures Gov
ernor J. Taylor Ellyson and Attorney
General John Garland Pollard have
made their announcements several
months ago r. f. Byrd. OF Richmond
and Winchester. United States district
attorney for the Western District Of
Virginia. will also he n candidate. II is
generally understood. but he has made
no formal announcement although
his friends have understood his intcn-
tions for some time
With four widely known men aspir-
ing for the place at the head of the
state ticket to be elected in November.
1917. the primary of that year will sec
one of the most spectacular political
contests Virginia has seen in years.
Each Of the candidates will have a
large individual following to start
with, and the indications are that
former alignments will be shattered
when the race is on in earnest
MIX. DAVIS ISSUES
STATEMENT OF CANDIDACY
In his announcement sent out from
Leesburg, Mr.. Davis says:
In response 10 inquiries from my
friends. l desire to announce that I
am a candidate for the nomination at
the next Democratic primary for the
Office of Governor OF Virginia.
Il am persuaded that. in order TO
secure satisfactory results to our citi-
zens, government must be conducted
along the same general lines as those
that obtain in the prosecution Of sue
cessful business.
III elected to the great office to
which aspire, ] pledge myself to an
administration of State affairs that will
be characterized by economy, construc-
tive legislation and efficient public SER
vice. 10 the end that our educational
and tax systems may be perfected, good
roads built, and the agricultural and
industrial resources and interests of
the state be intelligently and economi-
cally conserved and developed
Il shall at an appropriate time ex-
press my views more in detail upon
subjects at issue and vital to the public
welfare"
WILL GET SUPPORT FROM
AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS
In the four-cornered race for the
gubernatorial nomination, Mr.. Davis
may be expected to draw n large part
of his strength from the agricultural
interests Of the State with which he
has been identified for years He is of
old Gloucester County stock, and spent
his boyhood days in Richmond After
attending private school in Hanover
County. under the tutelaGe sof Pro-
fessor Edward Gwathmey, he entered
Virginia Military Institute. at Lexing-
ton, from which he graduated He
also graduated from the University OF
Virginia and Columbia University, New
York.
Mr.. Davis is now n resident of
Houuouii Sounty, Wnere ne has 4 large
estate, and is extensively engaged in
dairying. cattle and horse breeding.
AS the head of the State Farmers Ia
stitute, he has been prominent in the
movement for the advancement and de-
velopment of the agricultural in
terest Of Virginia He has introduced
ing Of live stock
HAS CIIANPIONED MUCH
PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATION
Among the measures which he has
urged and which have been enacted
into legislation are: the grinding of
limestone by convicts; the standardiza-
ton of ice cream for the benefit of
datrymen and the protection of the
public; the bonding of commission
merchants; more liberal appropriations
for rural schools: the establishment OF
the legislative reference bureau, and
the conservation of the States nat
ural resources. He has frequently ap-
peared before committees of the Cen
eral Assembly and argued for tho pas
sage OF laws affecting the interests of
Virginia farmers.
Lieutenant Governor Ellyson, as
chairman of the Democratic State Com
iiieteo' mas Dccn the OtIlctal head or
the party in Virginia for more than
twenty five years. His affiliations are
particularly with the so-called old
line" Democrats, and he will have the
support Of this element to start with
In the campaign. The fact that. as the
presiding officer OF the State Senate. he
cast the deciding vote for the enabling
act in 1914 Will also count in his favor
among the prohibition element.
The consistent dry" record of John
Garland Pollard and the prestige he
gained In 1913 as the antiorganization
candidate for Attorney General, make
him formidable candidate with these
two elements of the party
BYRD IS EXPECTED TO
MAKE FOURTH CANDIDATE
District Attorney Byrd is claimed by
his supporters to be "the original Will
son man" In Virginia. He managed the
preconvention campaign of the Prcsi-