The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-08-17
GOV. TYLER sPEbKs.
opens the Campaign At wythevlllc.

opens the Campaign AT wytheville.
Wythevilie, Va, Aug. II -Gov
j. Hoge Tyler made tho opening al
dress of his campaign in the operi
house here from l.30 b. 3 o'clock thi
afternoon 10 an audience of abou
go people. Several ladies occupie,
one of the boxes. The Governor wa,
introduced by Col. W. o Moore, a
close personal friend and member oI
his official staff
Tho Governor opened his addres.
by statirg that he had selected
Wythe county 10 make the first
speech of his canvass because he
could rely upon their farmInded
ness and knew they were too init.
mately acquainted with his entire
private life to misjudge him or to
mIsconstrue his statements. He thon
proceeded to read from q typewritten
manuscript, but interrupted himself
/ occasionally to attack the political
methods of the Martin men, especial
ly denouncing j r Wlngfeld for
statements made in reference 10 al
interview between Tyler, Wingfeld
and Dr.. F.. NJ Msgruder. held in
1893 in Lyuchburg, Va. Gov. Tyler
SAID, in part
GOV TTLER's ADDRESS.
81 had hoped that this canvass
would be conducted on plane
worthy of the dignity of the Office to
which | aspire, and that personalities
would not be brought into the DIS
cussion of the claims of the respect
i've candidate; that they should be
judged by their public services aud
by the principles for which they
stand But l fnd. going through
the mails under special cover, papers
ike the Charlottesville Progress
with the marked interview given ou
by Mr.. J. X Wingfeld, of Abe
marble, telling of a correspondence
or conversation which took place be-
tween him and mysefsix years ago,
when there was the closest personal,
political, and confdentisl relation
between us. This is only sample
Of the methods already resorted to
by my opponents, and this fact, with
the further fact that my right to be-
come a candidate in this contest has
been questioned, and IN view Of the
further fact that the people are cal
ling for all the light they can get ou
'he subject. | have decided to ap-
pear before you today so that my
1wu attitude and the whole stu ttion
~s.g be understood.
Surely, it is puerile in any msn
to say that | should serve out my
term before coming before the pao.
pie for another place, for no such
rule has ever maintained in repre-
sentative government. This rule
would preclude my opponent from
entering this present fight. One
might just as well say that he should
serve out his term in the United
States Senate before seeking another.
AS Governor Of this Commonwealth,
| hold a commission from the peo-
pie. Ny opponent holds a like
commission AS serving the inter
ests Of the people. | have right to
report to them, and if it is their will to
change the nature of the services
at | may render, who has right
to question itl If it is not the will
of the people of Virginia, after
full, fair, and free discussion of the
present situation in this State, then |
shall most cheerfully and loyally bow
to their decision.
MORE EVIL DAYS HAVE COME,
"And this brings me here at the
very outset to a discussion of one of
the questions at issue between my
supporters in this contest and those
who are opposed to me. 1t is, Shall
the will of the people be sought in
the election of the United States
Senators, or shall this thing be done
in a corner2 1t is true the Constitu
tion Of the United States provides
that the legislature of the State shall
choose United States Senators, and in
our purer and better days it may be
admitted that this plan was the best.
But since we have fallen upon more
evil days, conditions have changed,
aud it well behooves US to consider
the question whether or not change
is desirable or necessary.
"This provision of the Constitu
ton has certainly proved a weak
place in the armor of defense be-
tween the rights and liberties of the
people, and the grssping selfshness
of corporate power. We have had
enough spectacles presented to US in
the action of the States of this Union
within the last twelve months, which
should serve, and has served, to
open the eyes of the people of the
country. Some twelve or fourteen
States within the past twelve months
have chosen United States Senators,
and in several Of them, where certain
rings and so called political bosses
could not control the legislature, then
deadlocks were formed and forced,
aud the legislatures djOurned with
out making a choice, and those
States are with but one-half repre-
sentation in that important body
today. In several of these states,
Investigations have been ordered as
TO the methods used to secure the
election of Senators. SO objection.
able has the system become that
some twenty-seven legislatures out
of forty-fve have asked, by resolu'
ton and petition, a change in this
mode Of electing Senators. But the
Senate persIstently refuses to take
M the question, ard strangles the
measure in committee; and it is get
ting more and more to be the order
of the day that this present method
turns up at Washington a class OF
Senators who are either millionaires
tbannoalvao or fha renraeantativaa