Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-08
JUDGE MARTIN WILLIAMS
RET|REs FROM CAMPAIGN
Leaves Field for Lieutenant-Gover.
nor to B. Frank Buchanan,
of Wythe.
ISSUES FORMAL STATEMENT
Gives Every Recent Personal Affairs
and Business Connections" as His
Reason-Says Buchanan VIII Be
Worthy OF States Great History.

In an open letter to tho Roanoke
Times. appearing in to-day's issue,
Judge Martin Williams. Of Pearisburg,
Giles County, formally announces his
withdrawal as a candidate for the
Democratic nomination for Lieutenant
Governor. Judge Williams. who is a
brother Of former Acknowledgement
Samuel W. Williams, of wythcville,
served for ten years IN the Virginia
Legislature and was recognized as one
Of the most influential members of that
body. His retirement from the race
insures sthe nomination OF B. Frank
Buchanra, of Marion. the only other
candidate for tho nomination. Judge
Williams assigns as his reason for
abandoning the field to ME- Buchanan.
ness connections" In his letter he
says of his opponent:
I'm the person OF my opponent, Hon.
B. F. Buchanan. the State will have
acknowledgements worthy of Its
great history" He closes his letter
with an expression of thanks to his
many friends In every section of the
State who have stood by him SO 10y
ally.
WAS PATRON OF
THE ENABLING ACT
In tho House Of Delegates Judge
Williams was Democratic floor leader
and patron OF the enabling act, which
submitted the question of Statewide
prohibition to the voters of Virginia.
He was also patron of the rolling
Of 10 rr-t,t ,k, a
cities taxation on railroad properties
hitherto levied at the homo offices of
those corporations in this State and
distributed 1t in the counties through
which the roads operated.
Former Senator Buchanan is equally
we'll knewn. He was member Of the
State Tax Commission and an able
advocate OF tho partial segregation
plan of taxation now In effect. Since
retiring from the Senate he has been
counsel for the receivers of national
banks, under appointment OF Comp
troller of the Currency John Shelton
Williams. The office, while under the
Federal reserve system. is not a gov
eminent position, being rather in the
nature of employment as special coun-
sci, and his residence in Washington
has not interfered with HIS candidacy
The retirement of Judge Williams
leaves Senator Buchanan the only can
didate for Lieutenant-Governor in the
Democratic primary OF August z.
SENATOR BUCHANAN
PLANNED VIGOROUS CAsIPAIGN
Senator Buchanan opened campaign
headquarters in Murphys Hotel Annex
during the past week, from which he
had planned to direct a vigorous cam
paisn. ]. H.. Johnston, former mem
Der Of the House of Delegates from
Scott County. was placed In charge.
He issued tho following statement
yesterday as to his views on the cam
paign. before the retirement Of his
opponent was announced:
While the ONCE may not be re-
garded as one of great responsibility.
1t is yet an important and dignified
one. Its duties, in addition to pre-
siding over the Senate, require the
incumbent to sign and certify all laws
passed by the General Assembly and
to vote on all measures in case OF a
tie. In the history Of the Common
wealth the most important legislative
enactments have been determined by
the vote OF the Lieutenant Govern,
Another important duty usually i'm =
posed upon this Office is the appoint
ment OF the Senate members on spe-
cial committees.
Il know of no specific questions of
general or special interest now en-
gaging the public mind likely to be
considered by our next General Assem-
bly,. In view. however, of the world
CONTINUED on Second Page.)