Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-21
SAUNDERS ENTERS
RACE WITH WHITE
State Senator From Middlesex
Announces His Candidacy for
Attorney General
ISSUES FORMAL STATEMENT
Lineup Of Candidates for Demo-
cratic Primary Now Believed
to Be Complete.

State Senator John r. Saunders. OF
MiddlescN. yesterday announced his
candidacy for the Office OF Attorney
General. The announcement, followed
conference in Richmond with j. "
iSrenaman. secretary of the state
Democratic Committee. and other party
men. and came with considerable sur
prise to many who had reached the
conclusion that Senator Saunders would
not enter the race.
Ohicial notice TO the public that he
would be a candidate. came in the
following statement issued to the
Democratic voters OF Virginia" over
Mr.. Saundcrss signature:
In response to the continued re.
quests from numerous friends through
out the State. hereby announce my
self as Il candidate for the position OF
Attorney General of Virginia. subjcc,
TO the action Of the Democratic pri-
mary TO he held on the 7th day Of
August. 1917"
ANNOUNCEMENT ENDS
MONTHS OF POLITICAL. GOSSIP
The announcement put an end to the
suspense that has for months troubled
those Democrats who were interested
in bringing out candidate to oppose
Hugh y. White, Of Rock bridge. who
served notice more than year ago
that he would he an aspirant for the
honor. AS the months wore on without
the appearance Of opposition. IL began
to be believed in some circles. that
Mr.. White would capture the nomina-
ton without competition. Party lead
ers urged Senator Saunders TO make
the race. but the latter for a long time
declined TO commit himself
With the race for the Office OF At
torney-General now definitely consti-
tuted. il is believed that the lineup for
the State offices on August I. will be
practically as the field stands to-day
The death Of Stase Treasurer Harman
brought the possibility that Clarence
II. Crner. who WAS appointed to serve
out the uneXpired term. might enter
the race in competition with \. O.
! Hurks, Of f'isucma Vista, and Charles .l
Johnston. of Radford. 1t is now un-
drrstood il political circles that Mr.
Crner Will not be candidate for the
office Of state Treasurer, and that u
formal stat erle-t to this end will he
issued by him next week.
CANDIDATE WELL-k NONN
IN LEGISLATIVE CIRCLES
The new candidate for Attorney
General is well-known in Legislative
circles. Since 1907 he has been mem
bor OF the state Senate from the
Tt RI ~ M iStr tot
each time with out opposition tTe is
chairman Of the Senate Committee or
Fish and Game, and member of the
[ Committees on Finance Cours Of Jus.
tice and Moral and Social Welfare. lie
took promineat part In the temper
ance Legislation of the last session. and
was one OF the patrons Of the prohibi-
ton bill.
John r. Saunders was born in kine
and Queen County on December 10
1862 lie was educated in the public
schools and at Stevensvill. Academy
in this county, and far number OF
years taught in the public schools
Later he studied law at the Universit,
of Virginia under the late John h
Minor. Sr. lie was admitted TO the bal
in 1898 in MiddleseX County. and has
ever since that time engaged in the
! practice of his protest. m in MiddleseA
and surrounding counties. His home
/ is at Saluda
| MIR. Saunders was member Of tn,
staff of former Governor Montague
/ For several years he was "A member ot
| TIE Educational c, mmission OF vir-
! ginia. In 1897. Mr.. Saunders married
I Miss Blanch Hoshins. OF King anC
Queen County. sister OF Mrs. ANDREW
Jackson Montague. wife of the present
C"ngressman from the \ bird Virgins;
! District.