Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-08-08
Rites for Colonel James.
Funeral of Virginia Representative
This Afternoon.

Danville, Va, Aug. S.-The funeral
of Representative Rorer A. James.
whose sudden death Of heart failure
occurred here yesterday, will be con-
Quoted this evening at > o'clock at
the residence. The Rev. ]. c. Hall will
be the officiating minister, with the
service of the Episcopal Church, of
which Colonel James was member
and communicant. Interment will be
in Greenhill Cemetery.
People are arriving from all parts
o. the State to attend the obsequies.
Senator Swanson and Governor-Elect
Z. Lee Trinkle arrived on late train,
and the Congressional delegation ar
rived early this morning. The fu-
neral design sent by Congress is
large Roman cross of roses.
He was born at Brosville G2 years
ago, his father being John James, of
the upper part Of the county, his
mother being Miss Angelo Rorer, OF
Pittsylvania county. His early educa-
ton was at home and then he entered
Va. Military Institute from which
points of his career the devotion he
showed to his alma mater For ten
wears he was a member of the board
of visitors, four years as chairman.
1t is recorded, that once Colonel
James said that the height of his am
bition was to be chairman of the '. NJ.
/. board and few things pleased him
more than his elevation TO that posi-
ton. He invariably attended the
finals. Mr.. James began his political
career in the house of delegates In
1891. He served in the lower house
for two years and was then elected
from Pittsylvania to the state senate
for eight years His political sagacity
soon won for him place in state af-
fairs and the late Senator Thomas
Martin early recognized his ability,
Colonel James being one of his warm
est supporters and close personal
friends. In 1899 he purchased the
Danville Bee, both Of which were
owned by him at the time of his
death. He was on the verge Of build
ing a new handsome newspaper plant,
a lot having been cleared for this pur-
pose and plans submitted By archi-
tects only recently.
Mr.. James was chairman of the
Fifth District Democratic committee
for many years and at the conven-
ton held at Roanoke was named
chairman of the state Democratic
committee by acclaim; this in 1920
when he was already acting as such,
having succeeded the late j. Taylor
Ellyson.
Mr.. James, who, it is recalled, was
a 81. Of the University of Virginia,
graduating in law after graduating
from V. VI. |. entered congress TO sue
cecd Edward w. Saunders, OF Frank
lin county, who resigned to accept an
appointment on the Virginia supreme
court bench. This was early in the
spring of 1919 Mr.. James was noml-
mated and elected for the short or un-
expired term as we'll as the ensuing
full term in the siXty-siXth congress,
sweeping the district by a substantial
majority.
To the members of his personal
staff at his newspaper office who re-
garded Mr. James more as frIent
and adviser than an employer the
news, of his death today, came as
stunning blow. y telephone message
reporting him dead was the first re-
ccived and in few minutes the report
had been confirmed.
~
early nineties to Miss Annie Wilson
of Henry. who survives him with the
following children. Wilson r. James,
Of Camden, \. j., Rorcr A. James, Jr.,
his associate in the conduct of his pap
er. Miss Annie James and John Bruce
James. One brother survives, Dr..
Bruce r. James.