Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-14
UNEXPECTED TURNS
IN SEVENTH DISTRICT
Senator Downing Makes and With.
draws Announcement of Can
didacy for Hay Vacancy.
WILL MAKE STATEMENT TO-DAY

uNdSS IoT nay Vacancy
WILL MAKE STATEMENT TODAY
Efforts Made to Form Early-Wcaver-
Downing Coalition in Order to Pre-
sent United Front Against Judge
Thomas W. Harrison.
Seventh District politics took series
OF sudden and unexpected turns yes
tcrday. First came an authoritative
announcement that State Senator
Henry II. Downing, OF Front Royal.
would be n candidate for the House
of Representatives to succeed James
with Judge Thomas ". Harrison. of
Winchester. would unite In throwing
their support TO him. Telc-rams re-
ceivcd early this morning, however.
indicated that there is still some doubt
of the coalition being made effective,
and the definite announcement made
earlier in the night was recalled pend
ing the result OF further conferences
to-day.
senator Downing is expected to
make a formal announcement of his
position to-day at Charlottesville.
where he will hold conference with
Floyd W. Weaver, of Luray, and State
Senator y. Il. Early, Jr., OF Greene.
both Of whom have for some timc been
| recognized asnirants for the lay va
cancy.
The significance of tho conference
lies III the fact that it indicates
the possibility of a coalition be-
tween the Downing Early Weaver
forces To present a united front
against Judge Harrison. According to
an understanding said TO have been
reached after several conferences held
in Luray and lIarrisonburg on Friday
and Saturday. Mr.. Weaver. who has
becn one OF the most active candi-
dates. Will withdraw from the race
and urge his followers to support
Downing for the fun two-year term
beginning March s. 1917 and to sup
port state Senator Early for the un-
expired term.
WITHDRAWAL or WEAVER
Is STARTLING DEVELOPMENT
Until this new turn Of affairs became
known. ii had been generally accepted
that Mr.. Weaver would he the opposi-
ton candidate to Judge Harrison for
the new term. This was the situation
as late as Saturday. on that day Mr..
Weaver told Senator Downing in Luray
that ne would withdraw In his favor
il he would enter the race. Pressure
was brought TO bear on Senator
Downing in Harrisonburg to under
take the campaign. and following
series of conferences there Saturday,
his acquiesencc 10 the new plan was
obtained.
These developments give the Seventh
District situation Il complexion which,
while not unanticipatcd by the Har-
rison forces. will give them grave con-
Germ with the primary little more
than two weeks away, the district will
see fortnight of campaigning which
Will be the most vigorous in "A genera
tion and probably the most exciting
since readiustcr days.
Valley and mountain sections will
figure in the factional algnmcnts as
will also the wet" and "dry" issues
In addition to the congressional fight
there is being wagcd side by side with
ii collateral judgeship fight grow
ing directly out Of Judge Harrison's
ctndlNdcy.
JUDGE HARRISON LAUNCHES
VIGOROUS CAMPAIGN
When Mr.. Hays appointment to the
United States court OF Claims was first
announced. il was stated, on behalf
of Judge Harrison by his friends. that
while he would accept the nomination
II it were offered him he would make
no active campaign. This policy OF
austerc dignity was quickly abandon
cd. The past week has seen the inscr-
tion OF signed advertisements i'm be.
half of Judge iIarrlson's candidacy in
all of the papers Of the Seventh Dis
trict. and he has held numerous con-
ferenccs with political leaders in
every county and city of the district.
Richmond friends OF Judge Harrison
agree that while the situation is not
without its disquicting features, their
candidate will he able to win over the
united opposition Of tho Early Weaver-
Downing forces. lie has the support of
state Senator Harry f. Byrd. son Of tho
former Speaker OF the House OF Dele
gates, and has tho further advantage
OF being generally woll-known
throughout most OF the district. the
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit. over which
he has presided for a number of years
lying wholly within It,
The primary will be held on Septem-
her 2. Under tho ruling adopted by
the district committee, all aspirants
must file notice of candidacy by ncxt
Saturday. together with check for
their proportionate share OF the ex-
DenSe of holding the urinary