Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-22
JONES ON THE STUMP.
HIS NAME MENTIONED FOR THE
sENATORsHIR
The Congressman Does Not Desire
That Pledges Shall he Made for
Him-says That he Favors NOmina-
ton Made by Primary

| TAPPAHANNOCK. VA, September
2o.-(SpeciaI.) 1.-THE crowd in town attend
ing County Court to-day, while not as
large as sometimes assemblies here, was
considerable and thoroughly representa-
tive. Very little business was transact
| ed, but the campaign was opened for the
Democratic party. Mr.. Booker Garrett,
candidate for the House, Hon. Thomas
! +. Blakoy. candidate for the Senate, and
Hon. William A. Jones, being the speak,
ers. Mr.. Garrett led off. defining his po-
sition and heartily and enthusiastically
endorsing the action OF the State con-
vention IN ratifying and reafiirming the
Chicago platform. He was frequently APP
plauded and the reception accorded him
was especially hearty and unanimous.
Judge Blakey was the next speaker, and
had something to say on the line of keep
| ing down expenses by reducing salaries
and Of helping the farmers by devising
new subjects of taxation in order to pre-
vent the rate on farm lands and farm ma
chlnery and stock being raised to meet
the increased demand upon the State
revenues. when the higher rate of interest
on the State debt has TO be paid. Judge
Blakey also spoke Of the necessity of pro-
tecting the oyster industry, and of pre-
serving TO all the citizens the use and en-
jOyment Of the natural oyster rocks be-
longing to the Commonwealth. The
speaker pledged himself to support sucn
men and measures as should be advo-
Gated By his constituents, and remarked
that during his term as senator, should
ha ha oil i... n
vote for a successor TO Hon. John w.
Daniel, and he knew he was in line vita
the Democrats OF the Thirty-ninth Dis
trict when he said he expected TO vote
for that gentleman to succeed himself.
The announcement was greeted with
cheers and applause. and Judge Blakey
went on to say that 1t would in all proc
ability become his duty TO vote for sue
cessor to Hon. 4. S. Martin. and that
while he had not before mentioned the
subject TO any one, much less TO the gem
tleman most interested. he felt 1t in his
bones and breathed it in the air that he
would please every Democrat in the
Thirty-ninth District, and nearly all in
the State, by voting for Hon. William A.
Jones TO succeed Mr.. Martin i'm the
United States Senate. The announcement
was greeted by hearty and prolonged
cheering, during which Judge Blakey
bowed to his audience and left the stand
MR.. JONES AND THE SENATE.
Mr.. Jones was then introduced and
began his talk by saying that he had no
idea of any such allusion being made to
him personally, and had thought that he
came TO speak to-day to an Essex audi
ence as an entirely disinterested indi-
vidual so far as any Democrat could be
disinterested in question of party sue
cess. Mr.. Jones said he regretted that
the allusion had been made at this time
especially, because the determination OF
the man who was TO succeed Mr.. Martin
was in the distant future, and he wished
the people of Essex and of the Thirty
ninth Senatorial District to know that he
would not at this time allow Judge
Blakey to pledge them or his own vote
in the State Senate to him, however flat
tering to himself was the offer.
Mr. Jones went on TO speak OF the
grave questions to be met and decided
by the next Legislature. and urged upon
Democrats the duty of standing shoulder
to shoulder in every political contest,
and so keeping the ranks closed up
against the day when the ancient party
enemy should again make an organized
and vigorous assault upon the Democrats
of the old Commonwealth. Mr. Jones
PAID MS respects 10 the BtHlltIHti VIM
were bowling for honest elections in a
way that called forth cheer after cheer
Of appreciation. and went on 10 show that
this was simply skirmish in the great
campaign led last year by William j.
Bryan against the rule of trusts and mo-
nopoles.
FOR THE PRIMARY PLAN.
Returning to the question of the Senate
in, IN from
audience, Mr. Jones said he believed and
hoped that before the Legislature should
be called upon to elect a successor to MI
Martin, the law would be so amended as
TO provide for the election of United
States Senators by the people direct, ana
that was an additional reason why Ii was
ineXpedent for him to allow any pledglhg
of votes to be made, so far as he was
individually concerned. Mr.. Jones stated
that he was certainly rot insensible to the
high honor done him in coupling his name
with the exalted position Of United States
Senator but that there was no lack OF
able men in Virginia, and he was certainly
content TO serve his people in the honor
able position TO which they had already
called him, so long as he could serve
them there acceptably. Then, after pay
ing a high personal tribute to the nomi-
nees of the Roanoke convention, and 10
MIR. Garnett and Judge Blakey as pos
sessing both courage and ability sue
cessfully to discharge the duties that
would be imposed upon them, and re-
minding the audience that ever since ne
had known anything about politics In
Essex. Blakey and Garnett had been IN
the front OF every contest, and always |
outspoken, jealous supporters Of the |
party nominees, amid prolonged applause,
Mr. Jones left the stand.