Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-09

Lieutenant-Governor ]. Taylor Ely
son last night conceded the nominal
tion of Westmoreland Davis in Tues
days primary for the next Governor
of Virginia, and wired the Loudoun
County candidate his congratulations
and an expression Of best wishes for
IAN administration OF which both you
and Virginia will be proud" In a
statement to The Times Dispatch at
his home. Mr.. Ellyson said that the
Democrats OF the State had registered
their choice. and that he was pro-
found!y grateful to his friends who
gave him such generous and cordial
support. John Garland Pollard had
conceded MIR. Davis's nomination early
yesterday. afternoon. y5i-%S
Complete returns from every city in
the State and from three-fourths Of
tho counties last night gave Westmore-
land Davis a total of Sos25 out Of an
aggregate OF 71.14s votes reported
shortly after midnight. ]. Taylor Ely
son had received 21.874. and John Gar
land Pollard 1880. Late reports also
increased the lead of Colonel B. o.
James over Major Phil F. Brown for
Secretary of the Commonwealth, John
Attorney-General. and Of Harris Hart
over r. c. stearnes for Superintendent
Of Public Instruction.
LATER RETURNS WILL ONLY,
INCREASE MAJORITIES
Returns from additional counties,
where the vote in the main will be
small. will only serve to increase these
majorities, with indications pointing to
total vote in Virginia in the primary
OF approximately $4,000. The winner
in the gubernatorial contest will prob
ably receive $4,000 votes. with
plurality over his nearest opponent Of
from 5000 to 10000.
Westmoreland Davis developed unex-
pected strength in practically every
section Of the State. sweeping many
of the cities and counties. His own
county-Loudoun-tn which he has
farmed for about fifteen years, voted
solidly for him. He received a total
OF 1.5l7 votes. as compared with 10
for Ellyson and Al for Pollard In
many of the counties in which Ely
son was said to be unusually strong.
and where the vote was expected to
go solidly for him. Davis split the to-
tai. and this contributed in a largo
and in counties known to be support
ing him.
The three-eornered contest was the
greatest Virginia has witnessed in re-
cont years. with the outcome doubtful
TO political observers up to the last
moment. All three candidates claimed
that they had pledges enough to as
sure them of the nomination. while
nonpartisan persons in close touch
with the situation declared 1t to be
'anybody's" fight. Davis, however
quickly overcamo Ellyson's early lead,
and at midnight Tuesday had rolled up
n majority of several thousands from
the incomplete returns received at that
time. Later reports only served to In
crease the total vote in tho State, with
the ratio OF the candidates remaining
practically the same.
POLLARD AND ELLYsoN
CONCEDE ELECTION OF DAVIS
At noon yesterday there was abso.
iutely no doubt as to the final re-
suit. Mr.. Pollard remained at his
headquarters during the day receiving
kilograms and lransacting business.
but shortly after noon issued tho fol-
lowing statement:
There was evidently a great shift
In the vote In the last days of the
campaign. 1 have In my ofice the
names and addresses Of more than 34.-
500 voters who had informed me or
my friends of their intention to sup
port me. These names were carefully
indexed and all duplicates eliminated,
Evidently large number changed
their mind. as they had a right to do.
Many OF these were my sincere friends
who were led by hostile press to be-
lieve that my nomination was impos-
sible. Many went to Mr.. Davis to save
tho state from cannonism. A few
went to Mr.. Ellyson. thinking thereby
they we're advancing the cause OF pre-
hibition. shall harbor no i|I.fssline
against those who fought me. and !