Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-17
A BIG DAY IN FLOYD.
SWANSON AND HEERMANs IN JOINT
DISCUSSION.
LEE MOORE'S RET0RT.
rxpinins why lie VIII Not support
Mex inIey-iiairston Makes n Gall
liant Defence of Dcmocracy--Other
Political Meetings I'm Virginia.

FLOYD COURTHOUSE. VA. Septem-
Der SPECIAL -Yesterday was big
day In politics in Floyd. 1t was County
court day, and a big crowd was In at
tendance. Hon. Claude a. Swanson, the
Democratic nominee, was on hand. and
also Nick Hairston, the Democratic eleetor
OF the Fifth District. The Republicans
had Hecrmans, of Montgomery county,
here. and Mr.. Lee Moore, of Christians
burg. the Commemorative Attorney of
Montgomery, and a lifelong Republican
but now an ardent free-silyer advocate
was on hand.
The Democrats first proposed that Moore
and Heermans have a joint discussion
but this was declined by the RepuDh-
cans. Then they proposed that Swanson
and Hairston or Moore. on the one sue
and Heermans and the RepuDh0dn
clector who lives here, or any other -
publican they might name on lno o o-s,a
side. should engage in joint deDato' ".s
proposition was also declined pIna -
was agreed that Mr.. Swanson ana ~
Beermaus should do the speaking MI.
SWANSON led off in a mastery speech %
one hour in which he did credit 10 hiHi-
self and the cause he represented Gre
afine much enthusiasm, when was
manifested by frequent and hearty ap-
plaGse. ,.,,., ,,,ertCS
Mr. Heermans replied in speech OF
one and a half hours. the most OF Whion
WAS read from manuscript, ana HuCn
his time taken up In reading docuiilei''
which were unintercsuns 70 the 49,,
While the speaker received soou -
~ annlause Il was plain that IL was not
Se.,tfsit and enthusiastic like that when
,.rcetcd Swanson. but. for the most part
INC from a few men whose business II
80 main TO see was TO halloo. Inc
srealer Iabored through his time, ana
seemed glad when 81 was up.
MIR. swANsON's REPLY.
Nj. Swanson replied in a spirited speech
M half an hour. I'm which he scored
his opponent, and showed plainly 'ho
fallacy. Of his position.
when Mr.. Swanson closed Mr.. Lee
Moore. who had introduced MT. swan
son. and IN his remarks had dehhed ms
position on the money question: saying
that he had arrived at his conclusions
after careful study and mature thought
and that he could not and would not
eupport the Republican party IN TINS
,csrpaign mounted the stand. He de-
clared It was proper that he should be
allowed 10 defend himself Of the charge
made by Heormans. that Lee Moore
vas a renegade Republican" lie again
defended his position, and showed that
he was much more consistent than Mr..
Heermans had been in his political ca
reer showing that the latter had been
almost everything. and had often bolted
his party nominees.
Tho Republicans than called for Mr.
Y. NJ. sowder. who took the stand ana
smoke for few minutes. The Demo-
Gratis then shouted for Mr.. Hairston. who
responded In gallant style few loud
rnouthed. bad-mannered Republicans tried
their best 10 howl him down. but
Mick" was plucky to the last, and gave
the hOwlers some centre shots.
Taylor Simmons. a local Republican
light then took the stand. and when
ne cot up the crowd began TO disperse,
and it was not long until his audience
was very small, and he soon subsided.