The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-05-02
Jackson n. RaIston, Whose
Home Is In HyattsviIle, viii
Oppose Sydney E. Mudd. :
CIVIC REFORMS HIS HOBBY
Familiar Figure In All District
Courts and Counsel In Many
Noted Cases.

jackson ". Ralston. with law Of
ficc IN Washington and homo In
Hyattsville. Md. has been nominated
FOR Congress by the democrats OF the
Fifth district OF Maryland.
Fairly complete returns today Indicate
thst Mr.. Ralston. who hss been strong
figure IN the civic life OF both the Sal
tional CAPITAL and the little MARYLAND
village at it's borders. has defeated for
the Democratic nom nation former Con-
gresham Frank y. Smith. He will o.
pose CONGRESSMAN sydney r.. Mrdd. Re-
publican. Mt the pU'ls In November.
WASHINGTON takes recu'iar interest
In MARYLAND elections, Having no vote
of Its own. the thrill OF election day
cones to the National Capital when the
voters at the very gates OF th's city Y,
to the polls N Montgomery. Prince
George, Charles. and other counties AMI
fight oct their differences.
The fact that Mr.. Ralston. mart
Washingtonian. has g chance to sit In
day interests thousands of residents OF
this city who have known this p~omi-
ncnt LAWYER for many wears.
First Venture In National Politics.
Jackson II. Ralston has been In the
public eve for more than quarter OF
century both as AN attorney and a
worker for Give reforms. The primary
election of Yesterday. however. repre-
scented his first venture into the field OF
national politics.
Unless scattered returns from Prince
George should unexpectedly change the
result. that first venture VIII be sue
cessful so far as the nomination goes.
This CITY has az intimate interest in
Mr.. Ralstoh because Of his associations
and career before the courts OF this
Jurisdiction. IT was only few months
ago that Mr.. Ralston appeared MS coun-
Sci for Commissioner OltNer Z. Newman
when an attempt was made to DUST Mr..
Newman on the ground that he had not
been resident OF Washington three
years when appointed,
MIR. Ralston fought Mr.. Newman's
cause through the highest court In the
lend--snd the commissioner still holds
HIS place.
Another case OF nationwide import
| ance with which Mr.. Ralston was con-
| nected. was the famous controversy
! between organized labor and the Bucks
| Stove and Range Company.
Mr.. Ralston was among counsel for
| Sanue. Gompers. Frank n. Morrison,
and John Mitchell in that noted feud.
| This case. too, went to the supreme
effect the decree Of the lower court
committing the labor leaders to jail for
nlleged contempt for violation of an in
| junction order having to do with a boy
colt Of the Bucks concern.
Ardent Single Taxer.
! Mr.. Ralston Is a single taxer and back
\ In 1892 was president Of the board OF
commissioners of fayetteville. where the
single tax system was tried out for the
first time for municipal purposes.
Mr.. Ralston has appeared before com.
| mittees Of Congress and other organiza. =
tions In support Of the single tax his
views on this subject conciding with
| those OF Commissioners Brownlow and
| Newman.
The Washington. Hysttsville candidate
| for ConEress makes 4 hobby OF civic
reforms. Less than month ago he
| was among the sponsors who went to
Congress urging the renort ~ the com
munitv forum" bill 10 hermit the use ~
Washington school houses for public
| discussions.
the President. was chief sponsor for this
measure. now pending before a House
| committee. ..-'.
Elimination Of alleys. the eradication
OF the loan shark" evil. city hygiene
procedure. and other municipal and
general reforms are among the things
which Mr.. Ralston has supported.
Familiar Figure In Courts.
For a number of years Mr.. Raiston
| was associated with Frederick L.. Sid
dons. now a Justice of the Supreme
| Court of the District OF Columbia. in
the practice of law. The tall. vigorous.
lighting Ralston Is a. familiar figure
within every courtroom in the District.
MIR. Ralston's activities. however. have
not been confined solely, to his position
as general counsel for the American
Federation of Labor and a practcing
attorney for other clients.
As early as 1873 he was delegate TO
the International typographical Union
| OF North America. In 1899 he was
counsel iE washington for Felipe Agon-
clio. representing the Filipino repub-
lie. before the war broke out; he was
american agent and counsel in the case
OF TIE Pious Fund Of the CALIFORNIA;
against Mexico. the first dispute sub
niitted to the permanent Court of Arbi-
trauon et The Hague under the peace OF
convention of 1899: he was also named
by the United States In 1903 as umpire
for tire Italian claims against Venezuela
before the mixed tribunal at Caracas.
Mr.. Ralston Is author OF "Interna-
tional Arbitral Law and Procedure"
He wan born in Sacramento on Feb
ruarv 8. 1857. educated In the San Fran
cisco high school. and graduated in
law from Georgetown University. this
city. in 1876.