Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-08-20

Governor Tyler addressed the people
of the Southwest last Monday, and as
this was his opening speech in his can
didacy for the United States Senate,
and quite a number of readers of the
Virglnan-Pilot have expressed a desire
to read his address, we reproduce it
below:
"FellowCitizens OF Wythe County,
address you to-day as IL candidate for
the office of United States Senator from
the State of Virginia, Some people
think that l ought to reserve any adj
dress that i may nave to make and
make it to the members or the Legisla
ture after they are elected. but L pre-
fer to come directly to the people them
selves, and say what 1 have to say con-
corning this canvass. and leave them
as the source of all power In this coun-
try to II ,ic their wishes known to the
members Of the Legislature. whom they
elect. 1 come here to-day in this noble
old county to talk among my home peo-
pie. my lifelong friends and neighbors
1t is a very thin line that divides the
people OF Pulaski from the people of
Wythe, and when 1 decided that it was
my duty to go upon the hustings and
tell the people the reasons for my can
didacy and to defend my record and
grown up all over Our country, I de-
cided that here, in the heart of South
western Virginia, and in It's most cen
trail county, in the midst OF it's blue
grass pastures and shadOwy mountains.
/ should select this day and this spot
to reach the people OF Virginia. With
you have spent my life; YOU know 1t
in its entirety, in its very privacy, and
] believe that | shalI nave Il sympa-
thetic and fnir-mndcd audience. | had
hoped that this canvass would be COM
Quoted on Il plane worthy of the dig
nifty OF the office to which 1 aspircd,
and that personalities would not he
brought into the discussion of the
claims of the respective candidates;
that they should be judged by their
public services and by the principles for
which they stand. But 1 find going
through the mails. under special COW
er; papers like the Charlottesville Pro-
gresS, with the marked interview given
out by Mr.. J. II. Wingficld. of Abe
marie, telling of Il correspondence or
conversation which took place between
him and myself six years ago, when
there was the closest personal, Doliti-
cal and confidential relations between
us. This is only Il sample of the meth
DDS already resorted to by my oppo-
nents, and this fact, with the further
fact that my right to become n candl-
date in this contest has been Ques-
toned, and in view of the further fact
thar the people are calling for all the
light they can get on the subject |
have decided to appear before you to-
Jay so that my own attitude ana the
whole situation may be understood Let
me take, for instance. this Wingfleld
Interview and show to you the neces-
sity for truth to find IL mouth and for
authoritative statements to come from
me at this time before all the people
before all the world
THE NVIN(,ITJL-T n J>rrrEDyrrr,,r
Here Governor Tyler took ND the
Wingfcld interview and disposed OF 1T
rs published in the papers OF last week
Continuing. he said:
Now. as to my right to become n
candidate at this time, | beg to saw 10
you that while it must be gratifying to
any man to achieve again one of the
highest offices in the gift of as noble n
people as the Virginia people, vet this
nght IN winch am engaged now is not
or my seeking. Surely, il is puerile i'm
any man to say that should serve out
my term before coming before the pco-
pie for another place, for no such rule
mas ever maintained in representative
government This rule would preclude
my opponent from entering this pres
ent fight. One might just as we'll saw
that he should serve out his term in
the United States Senate before seek
ing another One might just as we'll
say that tho President of the United
states should serve out his term before
allowing his name to be mentioned for
reelection. AS the Governor OF this
commonwealth I hold a commission
from the people. My opponent holds
a like commission. AS serving the in
terests OF the people. have n right 10
report to them. and il It is their will To-
change the nature of the services that
may render who has n right to oues
ton 1T? If it is not the will of tho moo
pie OF Virginia, after a full. fair and
Tree discussion of the present situation
IN this State, then I shall most cheer
1uily and loyalty bow to their dscision.
ana TINS brings me. here at tho very
outset. to q discussion OF one Of tho
questions at issue between my support-
ers in this contest and those who arc
opposed 70 me. 1t is, Shall the will of
the people be sought in the election of
United Stntes Senators, or shall This
thing be done In a corner? 1t is true
the Constitution of the United States
provides that the Legislature OF the
tors, and there has been a great deal
written and said upon the subject by
the wisest men Of the nation. who have
taken sides either for or against this
proposition. In the constitutional
the wisdom of the founders of or -ov-
erhment-it was deemed best to leave
me selection to the Legislators, and in
OUT purer and better DAYS it may BE-
united that this plan was the best
but since we have fallen upon moro
evil days. conditions have changer
ana IL we'll bchooves lis to consider the
question as whether or not n change
is desirable or necessary.
A VERY WEAK SPOT.
This provision OF the Constitution
has certainly proved a weak nlacn in
the armor OF defence between the