The Tribune. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1951-19??, 1952-08-09
Notes
on
The
News
The VIRGINIA GENTLEMAN"
OF THE YEAR
BY T. J. Sellers

NJ xEAN
according to press reports coming ont
OF richmond, some 5000 bowling and hap.
Ply Vlrglnlans packed the south drive of
capitol Square and gave Governor John
stewart Battle real hero's welcome when
ne returned from the Democratic National
convention few nights back.
Either the heat or State pride or the
tunes Of Dixie" as rendered by the Mu-
n'cipai Band of Charlottesville, plaved
havoc with the imaginations of the ora
tors and the tired, smiling Governor Bat.
tie was ranked alongside of jefferson.
Patrick Henry and just about every other
Virginia gentleman of historical signifi-
canoe.
The whole she-bang was whipped up to
show the publics appreciation for the GAL
liant stand that Governor Battle made at
the Battle of Chicago" Virginia history
may very well record how the fighting
and determined Governor Battle heroical-
ly waved the State banner and amid the
heat OF his planned offensive, proudly pro-
claimed for all of the world to hear, that
he was the Governor of Mississippi. But
he went on from that minor error to cap
ture the hearts and the votes of his fell
low delegates, and with just little help
from the professional politicians who did
not want to split the convention, Virginia
delegates were allowed to be seated with
out signing the old Yankeefied loyalty
pledge.
1 found myself applauding the Govern
or just as Justify as / appIauded whenever
the name of Abe Lincoln was mentioned
back in my knee pants days although
don't usually find much to applaud in the
conduct of our Dixiecrat leader. And the
magic of the Lincoln name has long since
ceased to get rise out of me since learn.
ed the real reason why the slaves were
freed.
But | was in the Governors corner be-
cause he demonstrated his depth of con-
Vlctlon and in my book, that quality has
always been measure Of manhood. Gov
ernor John Stewart Battle had my one
vote for ''The Virginia Gentleman of the
Year" That is, he had it until just last
week.
Another Virginian has come forth with
a display of valor and courage and depth
of conviction which compels me to switch
my vote.
The Honorable Archibald d. Dabney,
retired Judge Of the Charlottesville Cor
poration Court, became involved in a mi
nor traffic accident on Reck's Hill and
was arrested by Lieutenant o. E. Sand
ridge of the local police force. Two charg-
es were entered against him and one was
driving while under the influence of alco-
holic beverages.
When the case was heard in Police Court
the retired jurist offered no defense to
either charge and made this classic state
ment which he asked to be put in the
record:
81 have tried many cases of good men
for driving under the influence of intoxi-
Giants. None of them ever thought they
were drunk, and few men ever think so, or
they would not drive.
"But | have always considered the opin-
ion of police officers reliable on this ques-
ton! So do the same in my own case, and
offer no defense TO this charger
In view of these recent developments,
reluctantly crawl off of the Battle band
wagon and cast my one vote for Judge
A. B. Dabney for the Virginia Gentleman
Of The Year"
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