Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-08
CLYDE W. SAUNDERS QUITS
DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE
Terms, and Is Well-Known
Political Leader.
HEADS REGISTRATION BOARD
Besides Large Business Interests, He
Will Devote Himself to Putting
Draft System Into Effect In Rich
mond-Lfst of Candidates Closed.

AS the time expired at midnight for
candidates to announce themselves for
nomination at the Democratic primary
in August. Clyde w. Saunders, chair
man of the City Democratic Commit
tee, and for the past twenty-five years
a member of that body. gave out the
statement that he would not stand
for reelection. His, decision will come
as distinct surprise in Richmond
political circles, there being no inti-
nation that he had contemplated such
step. AS a political leader in local
affairs MIR. Saunders for more than
score Of years has been reckoned
power in the Democratic party.
When the complete list OF aspirants
for seats In the city committee was
announced shortly after IL o'clock last
night it was found that the name of
Mr.. Saunders was missing. 1t was then
that he gave out the statement that
he had made up his mind to retire
from the committee. There was also
the name OF another prominent COM
mitteeman missing from the list of
candidates. 1t was that of +. w.
Evans. a member of the committee for
many years. and now serving it as
treasurer.
GENERAL CHAIRMAN OF
REGISTRATION BOARD
Mr.. Saunders assigned several rea-
sons for his retirement. He is now
general chairman of Richmond's reg
istration organization, and will. no
doubt. be member of the Clay Ward
board Of exemption when it is named.
This will necessitate the devotion of
large part of his time in assisting
in carrying out the War Departments
selective draft system in this city.
Further, he has recently increased hts
business interests, becoming vice
president and managing director of
the Old Dominion Beverage Corpora
tion.
81 feel that my time will be too
much occupied this summer for me to
devote myself to a political campaign"
said Mr. Saunders. "Isfeel that I can
make better use of my services by
giving them to the nation at this time
than by dabbling in politics."
REGARDS DRAFT WORK AS
OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE
Mr.. Saunders has recently been the
recipient of many congratulations for
the splendid manner in which regis
tration was carried out in Richmond
While his many friends will regret
to see him leave the city committee.
they are glad to know that he is now
Identified with work which is re-
garded as of paramount Importance in
the Federal governments war pro-
gram.
Mr. Evans assigned business reason.
for his retirement.
The exact composition OF the city
committee has not been determine :.
upon. Each wards membership is
based upon the number of votes cast
for the Democratic nominee In the last
presidential election. subcommittee
is engaged In figuring out the number
OF seats to be allotted to each ward.
based on the last election, in which
woodrow Wilson was reelected Presi-
dent. This committee will mako its
report before the primary. The present
makeup Of the committee is eight
members from Clay Ward, seven from
Lee Ward, six from Madison Ward and
seven from Jefferson Ward
When the lists closed for candidates
to come forward there was lack of
aspirants from Jefferson and Madison
Wards. In cases where there are not
enough candidates to NIL the vacancies
the latter will be supplied by appointz
ment by the committee. n
OFFICIAL LIST OF ~
CANDIDATES. FOR CoMMIT
The Official list of candidates fossssthe
city committee follows:
Clay Ward-R. f. Anderson, r. T..
Bailey, George f. Barnard, C. c. Beaz-
ley. Horace r, Burnett. Thomas p.
rssitrick. T. a. Fore, Walter B. Free
man. Thomas NJ. Hundley, Thomas
jackson Hundley. w. B. Jennings. Will
Continued on Second Page,)