Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-11

They Attend n Country Court-Per'
sonaI Liberty.

HOT SPRINGS, VA, Tuesday.-Person-
al liberty, the issue upon which Richard
Croker successfully directed Tammany's
first campaign in the Greater New York
bcbbed up here to-day, not to plague
but to amuse, the Tammany chieftain.
Mr. Croker came 500 miles to divert his
thoughts from political questions, but he
unexpectedly came face to face with one
of the most interesting OF those questions
to-day. Neither Raines nor Roosevelt
figured I'm the incident. but that fact did
not lessen Mr. Cookers enjoyment OF It,
This was the brightest morning since
the arrival of the Tammany leader and
MS friends. The sun shone over the
mountains and gave the valley an attrac-
tiveness II had not possessed since the
New York party arrived on sunday morn
ing. 1t afforded the first opportunity
for a pleasant drive over the mountain
roads. and Mr.. Croker left the New
Homestead Hotel with his friends soon
after 10 o'clock.
They drove TO the Warm Springs, five
miles from here. That hamlet, besides
being the county seat OF Bath county. was
for years the rendezvous OF the nrst ram
lilies of Virginia and all Of the outlying
districts. Washington used TO go there
on horseback. So did Thomas JEFFERSON
and other notables.
In a little, old-fashioned hotel that has
stood in Warm Springs for more than
century Is kept a register. TO when MT.
Croker and his friends first gave their
attention. On ii they found the names
of Washington, Jefferson, Madison, ana
many other distinguished Virginians, all
of whom, it appeared, had combined per-
sonal liberty with personal health In
visiting the springs a century ago. Among
the entries on the register which showed
that personal liberty was not an unknown
issue in those days were such items as
mint julep" and ''grog," which appear
opposite the names of many distinguished
| visitors.
The Bath County Court began IFS quar-
| terly session in Warm Springs to-day.
| Mr.. Croker. with Senator Grady, Colonel
| Gardiner, Mr.. Guggenheimer and Mr.
| O'Brien, went over from the hotel to see
| how the wheels of justice work In a
| backwoods county of Old Virginia. They
| had barely obtained seats in the court
| room before an excise case came up
| The Judge. a man with long gray Dearc
| and "store boots" sat with his feet nearly
| on a level with his head. He cheweo
| tobacco automatically, and relied on the
prosecuting attorney for his essential
views on law
| score of mountaineers were on HAND
TO hear the case. One of their NUMBER
| wanted to take out license TO reta'i
liouor. The prosecuting attorney was
onnosed TO granting it, 1t was neces-
sary for the applicant to prove that MS
reputation was good, and that saloon
in his locality would not be detrimental
| IN the community at large.
"Do YOU consider this house a sulta-
BILE proper. and convenient place Tor the
! location of saloon?' a witness was
asked.
| Mr.. Croker craned his neck to catch
the answer. Colonel Gardiner pressed
forward TO hear it. Senator Grady ana
the other members Of the party were
| all attention. ,.,
"Well" the witness drawed, the
house NAV be suitable, and ii may De
proper. but I can't say 1 think 1t Is ex-
| actIv convenient, Squire. The april
csnt's place is plumb tive miles from
my house"
All of the New Workers were wonder
ing how the Raines law would work In
| a condition Of that sort and mean time
| another witness was called. He looked
like a Raines law inspector from Iloga
county prowling about the Tenderloin'
Are you a drunkardy' the witness
was asked.
mo. sir" was his prompt reply.
do you drink regularity
| "Yes"
but you are never drunk"
mo, sir"
"How's that? Please explain"
Again Mr.. Croker and his friends be-
came all attention. Senator Grady telt
sure that he was about to hear para
dox. the logic Of which Senator Ralnes
would be unable to resist when Sena-
tor Grady arose to confront him with
IL in Albany this winter
II can't get drunk, Squire, said the
witness. "My credit amt good enough
The applicant lost his case. personal
liberty was not as successful an issue
here as IL had been in Greater New
York one week ago. The court reluseu
to grant the license.
Mr.. Croker and his friends drove back
to Hot Springs and spent the afternoon
quietly, The Tammany leader walked
for some time on the Yeranda or the
hotel and took a sulphur bath late IN
the afternoon He continues to improve
in health daily, and counts among MS
latest accomplishments the ascent OF
the mountain at the rear OF the hotel
This ridge is 1000 feet above the site on
which the New Homestead stands, ana
Mr.. Croker was followed to the top only
by Colonel Gardiner. Messrs. Grady.
Guggenheimer. and OBrien stopped
| some distance below the ridge.