The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-04-08
Reply to Mr.. R. @ MOncure.
To The Free Lance

the 2Sth ult. signed by Mr.. Richard
q. Moncuro, starting out seemingly to
respond to an article in previous is
sue signed "Veritas -
As did not contribute the article Of
Veritas | would take no notice of the
first-named article by Mr. Moncure had
he confined himself to the issues raised
by NeTitas. or made IL free from allu
sIons personal % me | do not desire
newspaper controversy with any one,
but feel that in this case | must defend
myself against an attack 80 unkind rs
this Of Mr Moncure; but in doing 40 |
shall try TO make my language as char
liable and free from inyectiye as his
seems full of venom and anger aud
error.
As to the charge Mr. Moncure brings
against me Of entering into an agree
ment with "A Republican Office holder
III 1898 to try TO keep down opposition
to him If he in return would support
me, - it ia plain from his article that
MIR. Moncure refers 60 Mr. j. W Col
lawn, who was u warm personal friend
Of mine but not political, so far as any
mutually Of support was concerned.
The further facts about this, as | re-.
member them, are these Mr.. Collawn
was reelected Sheriff in 1891 without
opposition In 1898 IL was generally
conceded at first that he would again
have no opposition. He was warm
personal friend of mine and of his,
and though Republican did not hest
tate to announce that he would support
me over all opposition. | of course
would have been glad TO see him re-
elected without opposition. The Com
mittee decided 10 make no nominations
After this Mr. Gil thought OF running
and before Announcing his candidacy
took the precaution OF ascertaining his
prob able support, and in so doing !
and | had ! conference in my Office
when told him that Mr.. Collawn had
made an acceptable Sheriff WA very
popular aud would be hard 90 beat, but
If hc d,cll Z TO run that ne being a
Democrat and one | should vote for
him. lie did run and | voted for him,
Mr.. COllawn being advised by me Of
nv course. Mr. Gill will say that |
kept the faith with him, and Mr. Col
lawn would say the same, If living.
Except my vote for Mr.. Gil. | was
neutral as he was except his vote for
me Mr. Gill and Mr. Moncure both
know that when election day came
acted fairly and hOnorably towards
him as did towards MIR. COllawn and
although now departed, cannot refrain
from saying that Mr.. Oollawn was as
high. toned. upright, fearless and true
man and friend as | ever knew. And
Mr.. Gill knows full we'll that one prin-
- - A fact
that there were no nominations In 1920
by either Democrats or Republicans and
on this account he was able TO make
considerable cut in Mr. COllawn's Re-
publican vote
What Mr.. Moncure says about the
horses. carriage and ribbons is true ex
cept the carriage was not fine one,
the same being about twenty years old.
and the "Grand Rally was not my
rally nor a Republican Barbecue,
but Palmer and Buckner barbecue
gotten up and paid for by the Sound
Money League Of Virginia. and my
business there was 70 introduce the
speakers at the invitation of the League
am further accused in that article
If political treachery. II understand
| tue Illtautuk VI biNhAANtl ~ - VhNH
nan processes 10 be- loyal 10 one cause
and in fact does or is the reverse. Oh
| this cannot be truthfully accused 10y
any man The instances cited are the
| charges that in 1895 | beat down nomi-
nations, and in 1896 refused 70 support
Mr. Bryan | had no Democratic OPP
ponent in 1895. but yet preferred TO run
| without nomination, though | could
easily have gotten it. and SO expressed
| myself TO some members Of the Com
| mittee. did not vote for Mr.. Bryan,
nor have | ever pretended that | did.
| was open and above board IN all my
actions and did not pretend 10 be one
way and working or voting the other.
| In the present contest, up 10 last court
| had not approached a single member
OF the Democratic Committee by letter
| or otherwise for or against nOmlna-
| tions And If action on the matter had
been taken then, it would have been OF
| little consequence 10 me. Since then,
however, though confined at home most
| of the time. ! have argued for reasons
satisfactory TO myself against nomina-
| tions. | do not understand that.the
advocacy OF nominations or no nomina-
1
ery 10 party. II il d0es, then there are
few Democrats in the County OF any
age or prominence who are not guilty
OF this sin, including many OF TIE
| members OF the present Democratic
County Committee and their predeces-
sors for years. When a man in an.
nouncing his candidacy states that he
"a willing TO abide the action Of the
properly constituted Democratic au-
thority, he has done oil that party
fealty epioins. and is then at liberty TO
advocate any action within the party
that his Judgment or interest may die
tate TO be best My card published in
the papers 10 a copy Of the one used in
1891 with change OF dates only, and in
il submit to the action Of this author
itv This ia all that could be required
al nv hands. The Democratic Com.
mittee has heretofore, both during the
term OF Office of my predecessor, the
father OF Mr.. Il. G.. Moncure, and the
County's present efficient Judge, and
While he was Chairman of the Demo
cratic Committee, and during my term
failed to make nominations. If TO thus
act was not political treachery then,
| | do liOI htb uOn IL Ooh 10 ohOh HOWs
Asa matter of party history, with
full knowledge Of the facts, | unhesita-
tingly affirm that for the past twenty
Years consecutively with the possible
exception of 1888, the Democratic Party
has failed to put full ticket in the
field for County offices, and in one in
stance at least for the Legislature-a
purely political office. In 1879, while
Judge Moncure was Chairman of the
Democratic Committee, in the Spring
election he ran against Maj r o Pea
tross for Commonwealth Attorney
with no nomination. In the Fall of
the same year S. J. r. White ran
against J. NJ. Hudgin for the Legisla
t1re with no nomination. In 1887 nc
: nominations were made for Commits
sioner of the Revenue, District No.
against Thos. H. Blanton, the Republi
| l.. tro tnr