The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-28
Will Be No Contest. Friction or
Discord at Roanoke Conven.
ton Friday
DANVILLE MAN GIVEN
PRAISE BY LEADERS
From All Quarters Are Elk.
pressions of Commentator
for James and Flood-Class
Expresses Pleasure

There will be no contest to mar the
peace and harmony of the State con.
vention of the Democratic party -
Roanoke next Friday. leaders of the
party in Virginia having adjusted
such differences as had existed, or
threatened to exist. because of the
candidacy of Colonel Rorer A. JameA,
of Danville, and Congressman Carter
Glass for the position of national
committeeman from Virginia
The announcement was made yes
terday. following conference of.
Lieutenant Governor Ellyson, COM
mittee chairman, with Congressman
Hal d. Flood and Senator Thomas 4
Martin and Colonel James, that Mr..
James will not be placed in nomina-
ton for the national committeeman
ship at the Roanoke meeting. and
that Congressman Glass will have .
clear field for the honor,
Colonel James will have bestowed
upon him the highest honor the con-
vention can give in Virginia. He will
be chosen chairman OF the State com.
mittee, succeeding Mr.. Ellyson, who
has held that high position. while
representing Virginia on the national
committee for many years. Mr.. Ellyeon
retires from the committee that he
may be free to give more time to
his candidacy for the gubernatoriai
nomination.
Congressman Flood. who had been
mentioned most prominently a. the
successor to Governor Ellyson. should
the latter decline to stand for re-
election as committee chairman. 10
said to have voluntarily eliminated
himself as a factor in a contest for
the place by putting aside his ambf-
lions for the sake OF harmony and
unity in the party. Mr.. Flood 1t Is
understood, will be selected as the
! fourth member of the delegation at
| large from Virginia to the national
convention at st. Louis next month.
The other three members are TO be
Governor Stuart and Senators Mar
| tin and Swanson.
| Democrats Of various shades OF
opinion are unanimous in the beiiet
that the restoration of normal party
conditions through the settling OF
| threatened differences Is the act or
wisdom--an act that will more firmly
than ever cement the ranks of Vir-
ginia Democracy against friction. dis
cord and possible rupture-and speak
praise for the magnanimity of aspis-
ing party leaders in smothertng per.
sonal ambition for the welfare of the
party.
Colonel James at Danville yester-
, day afternoon issued the following
drawal from the contest for National
Committeeman:
Mr.. James Statement.
ION May the 4th ] published a card
expressing a desire to be chosen to
the vacancy on the National Demo-
cratic Committee, a position to which,
/ conceived. any Democrat might hon.
orally aspire. Contrary to my wishes
and expectations. l And myself in an
acrimonious contest and in some
! quarters II Is charged that for my
personal advancement | am disturbing
the harmony Of the politics of the
State. AS unreasonable as that sug-
I gestIon may be, l am not willing to
be party TO a situation which 10
being used as a pretext for criticism
that might possibly prove injurious
| TO the Democracy of my State. \
/ therefore have determined to with.
| draw my name from consideration
| for the position, In doing so l desire
to express my grateful appreciation
/ for the generous and courageous sup
port given me by my Democratic
4 friends in all parts of the State.
/ (Signed) "RORER A. JAMES
| When asked IL he had anything 70
add TO the above signed statement.
Mr.. James replied laconically. Moth.
ing whatever
Not Conditional Withdrawal. zs
II is understood that MIR. Jame0
decision was made without any re-
quest or suggestion from any person
or source. Those who have been IN
closest touch with his campaign claim
that he had majority of seventy
one OF the nine hundred delegAtAn1
/ These figures are conservative and are
passed upon accurate information
| from every section of the State. Many
placed his majority at more than .
hundred. but the lowest estimate w1s
seventy-one votes.
When asked as to q report from
Richmond that he would be made
State chairman. Mr.. James replied:
That honor had been rendered me,
and my withdrawal Is not conditioned
upon any such UNDERSTANDING The
facts embodied In my signed state
ment alone induced me to Withdrew
/ Mr.. Glass in Warrington last night
said he had no direct information Of
Mr.. James withdrawal. but that A.
Stunning the information was Authsntic.s
| he was genuinely pleased at tho proe4
pect of party harmony 81 Aoalpko
and deeply grateful for ~ kin&Naa4
shown him by his frtaa1e ma ~ tn
virginia preea. 49, "
| Mr.. Glae 1nR xsGs