The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-17
CONTEST FOR SUPREME
COURT JUDGE IS ON
Four Candidates Being Urged For
Seat to Be Made Vacant BY Judge
Harrison's Retirement.
DELEGATIONS COMING MONDAY.
Governor Stuart VIII Hear support
ers of Various CandidateS-Holt,
Haas. Lyle and Byrd In Race for
appointment.

w ME Governor Stuart is being held
In New York on the personal busine So
calling him there, speculation is rife
] here as to who will succeed Judge
George NJ Harrison on the bench of
Inc supreme court OF appeals of Fir-
Elnia. Judge Harrison resigned Thurs
day, his retirement to take place on
march /. In the meantime, supporters
or the candidates for the seat are &C
tive, and when the governor returns 20
his office Monday morning. the fight
viii be on in earnest.
Yesterday Secretary Alexander For
ward was busy receiving callers and
arranging for delegations TO see the
governor Monday. The executive will
receive the supporters for the various
candidates beginning at noon on that
day Several hearings have already
been provided for. The candidates
for the bench are Judge Fl w Holt,
Of stanton: Richard E. Byrd. of VIM
chester; Professor w. NJ. Lyle. OF the
University OF Virginia, and Judge r.
n. Haas, OF Rockingham.
Developments yesterday showed that
Judge Haas. the last to enter the race.
is gathering strength. The bars of
Rockingham and Page counties, both
OF which are in his circuit. wired Gov
Of Judge Haas. and his entire circuit
is walled soiidly behind him. Judge
Hass is highly regarded by the bar OF
the state, and is considered an able
lawyer. and q Judge OF splendid at
tainment
Three Delegations Monday.
Three delegations will appear be-
fore Governor stuart Monday in the
interest Of Judge Holt. Joseph \.
Glasgow viii head delegation from
Augusta county: Greenlee n. Letcher.
OF Lexington. will lead a Rock brtri sc
county delegation and w. Scott Cope
land. OF Newport News. an editor Of
two newspapers in that city. will rep
resent the Holt supports OF the vir-
ginia peninsula. II would seem that
the advocates OF Judge Holt are well
in the front with their support. and
their strength, il appears Is increas-
ing
Bv no means are the friends OF Mi.
Eyrd remaining Inactive IN tn" con-
test While there have heen no dele
cations TO make an engagement with
the governor. many letters and tele-
grams are being received at his office,
and the bar association Of Scott coun-
~ has aligned UP solidly for Mr. Byrd.
This candidate has teen spoken nj
as one of the most brilliant lawyers
in the state, and there are many peo-
pie working for his appointment TO
the supreme bench.
While fl is said that the friends Of
Mr.. Lyle are working for his selec-
ton. no organized support has Yet
shown itself for him He has been
recommended TO Governor stuart on
several occasions, but on account Of
the fact that he does not hail from
the valley. IL is the view OF many that
ne will be barred from the bench. All
OF the three other candidates are from
the valley section of the state. the
district from which the new Judge
will. II is thought. be drawn II has
been argued however that Professor
Lyle should be appointed TO the bench
in order that there may be scholar
sitting In that tribunal, This. II is
safd, with all.thc other Judges and pro-
fesslonaI lawyers, would give the
bench the benefit OF academic law,
1t is believed that Governor Stuart
Will give all delegations wishing 20
he heard on the appointment NJ the
new judge. an opportunity to present
their claims, For this reason il is
doubtful IL the successor 10 Judge Hsr-
rison Will he named before at least
another week. The spring term OF the
court will convene on March 6, by
which time all OF the present cases
before the court will be cleared Up.