Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-10-18
ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING.


in Acknowledgements by Hon. j.
Hoge Tyler and Mr.. Louis q. Barley.
Notwithstanding the short notice
given, the Opera House was crowded
OF Saturday with an unusually large
audience. Many ladies graced the &C.
casion by their presence, the gallery
been set apart for them. The Friend
ship Drum Corps was on hand and they
discoursed snimating music.
About eight o'clock Major Tyler, &C.
companied by Hon. J F. Rixey, Major
r. w. Hunter, Messrs. Lewis H. Ma.
chen. r. Walton Moore, Henry Strauss,
K. Kemper, Del. Kemper, c. c. Carlin,
NJ. B. Harlow, Oscar F. Carter, R. F.
Knox, J. E. Willard, ]. r. Cation, W.
H May, Charles Cuvilier and others
entered the hall and were received with
demonstrations OF applause and music by
the drum corps.
Mr.. 4. Kemper, after an interval of
q few minutes, called the meeting to
order. and in doing so made some fit
ting remarks, during which he thanked
the ladies for their presence. He stated
that he ha I been invited to preside at
the meeting a! onpreciated the honor
which had DO l. red. He also
alluded so H.: fact that there was a.
comminglinE :. ne old and new democ-
racy to insugurate the campaign of
1897. Mr. Kemper then introduced Mr..
Louis G. Barley. democratic candidate
for the House of Delegates for this city
ard county.
Mr. Barley, as be arose and stepped
forward was loudly applauded. He
began by saying this was the first op.
portunity he bad had of appearing be-
fore his fellow citizens since he received
the nomination. He highly appreciated
the honor which had been conferred
upon him, and he was also aware of
the responsibility of the position of
Delegate. He trusted, however, he
would prove equal to any emergency
which might arise, and evr make the
interests of the people he represented
his chief aim. He said he would go to
the Legislature untrammeled, as he had
been nominated on no special issue nor
by any clique, and would act for the good
of all the people of the city and county.
Some of the duties incumbent upon the
Legislature were of an important ma
gure, one being the election of United
States Senator. The speaker said he
would vote for Hon. John W. Daniel,
which averment brought forth great
applause, after which he paid high
tribute to the Senator's ability, saying,
among other things, that Virginia
should be proud of such representa-,
tive. Mr.. Barley, referring to State
matters, mentioned the tublic school
system, and said he favored its en-.
couragement and the addition of need
ed facilities. There were, he said, other
institutions in the Old Dominion which
appealed to the public and which would
receive his encouragement and support.
He favored proper economy in the ex
penditure OF State funds, and would
ever be on the alert to protect the
treasury from questionable appropria-
tons. Mr.. Barley, in referring to the
election law, said its condition should
provide fairness for all. The Walton
law, as amended by the Parker law, did
no give equal rights to all. He pointed
out the alleged dangers in the present
statutes, and said no State could sur
vive the suppression of the peoples
will. The speaker preferred the Aus
tralian system, and showed what ad-
vantages he believed 1t possessed. He
then smoke for some minutes on the
platform of the party as adopted at
Roanoke, embodying, as it does, the
salient features of that CT the national
convention at Chicago, and urged his
hearers to stand by it. In the course Of
Mr.. Barley's remarks he referred to
Hon. William Jennings Bryan, and at
the mention OF his name the audience
went of into spasm of applause and
enthusiasm.
After music by the drum corps Mr..
kemper arose and announced Major
Tyler as the next speaker, when there
was another tremendous outburst Of
applause. The Major arose and ad
vanced to the front and began his
speech by addressing the ladies, the
chairman and his fellowcitizens. He
said he knew but one tune, and
the band had played it, and he
knew but one piece of poetry, consist
ing of one verse, an apostrophe to wo,
man, which he proceeded to recite, and
said it was policy to get it of as speed.
ly as possible, else in the presence OF
ladies he would get ratified. Laugh
teri He desired, he said, at the be
ginning to thank the people of Alexsn
dria for the friendship and confidence
they had shown him in the selection of
their delegates. The Msjor then went
into an explanation concerning the
misunderstanding which had existed
regarding his coming to Alexandria,
and made the matter appear satistac.
tory enough. Some had said he did
not desire to come here, but was hiding
in the chinquapin bushes. The fact is
he always wanted to come and intend
ed to come. The reports, he said, were
the outcome of a remark he made
when be was requested to 60 to Rock
ingham county, at which time he sug'
gested that in order to fulfill the latter
appointment it was doubtful whether
he could appear at Fairfax Courthouse
on the date fixed for his speech there,
and would place in jeopardy his en-.
gagement in Alexandria also. He did
not know where to lay the blame, but
supposed it lay with the democratic
committee. he was not posing, how
ever, as an apologist for other peoples
faults; he had none of his OVID; but he
believed his friend Joe Button was the
guilty man. No matter, he was pres
emit in obedience to his own heart, and
was hannv to he able TO minple with