Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-04-10
Mr.. Writings Position.
ICOMMUNJCATEDl


represent 10 faction, have no axe
to grind. A loving sou of Virginia,
filled with admiration for my ma.
tive state, with pride in her glorious
past, with hope for the drawing flu
ture, desire to serve her In this
crisis of he. history.
As to many of you / am an entire
stranger, it is perhaps due to you
aud to myself that l briefly outline
my views on some of the many sub
jec;s which will probably come up
for consideration before the conven-
ton.
1t is plain that it will not be pos
sible for any individual delegate to
say in advance exactly what he will
accomplish as regards any Particular
matter. The results of the delibera-
tons of body like the coming con
vrntion are almost always series of
compromises. Interests differ;
opinions vary as to the ends aud the
means by which those ends are TO be
attained; one man or set of men must
yield one point; others must give up
something else, so that the completed
whole is the nearest attsinable APP
Proclamation to the perfect ideal.
One purpose of this convention is
to see what means can be devised to
restrict the right of suffrage. The
determination has become fixed that
the vicious must be dominated by
the vIrtuous. The degraded and
purchassble voter should be disfrau.
chised. | have always stood for
purity in politics. The briber aud
the bribed alike are unworthy to be
clothed with the rights and priv
leges of citizens of Virginia. If
elected, my best efforts would be di
rected to the accomplishment of the
result that the responsible, trust
worthy, and patriotic numbers of
each community shall shape the poll
cy of that community aud control
its ballot box.
| am ready to do what is fair and
just to all concerned, having An eye
single to the good of our beloved
State and the welfare of its loug
suffering people.
There must be retrenchment in
our State and local expenses. Econo
my-personal aud governmental-is
blessing to any people.
Taxes sufficient tor the econom-
icsl administration of our State aud
county affairs must of course be lev
led; but there should be no waste.
no superfiuous Offices and Office hold
ers, no sinecures. If such super
lluous Offices exist, they should br
abolished. If any frasible scheme
along this line of reform is proposed.
it will have my most cordial aud en-
tbusiastic support.
AS the cost of carrying on the
government is too great, so also there
are too many expenses attending the
administration of justice. We have
too many judges, too many courts,
and too few whipping posts.
The oyster interests of the State
sorely need attention. From its oys
ter beds, the State should derive
large revenue and this mAtter should
be honestly and fearlessly made to
see that the State receives her dues
from this prolific source of revenue.
AS far AS possible, trusts should
he excluded from the State, com
hines should be restrained, and the
stI cams of trade should flow through
unohstructed channels.
The State and its people should be
amply protected against her public
carriers, the railroads. Railroad
property should be taxed like private
property, a Just and equitable scale
Of rates should be required, aud
the railroads should be made to feel
that they are indeed responsible to
the people and desire their rights
and privileges from them. | am in
favor of according the railroads
their just rights; but demand that
nine must be respected by them.
The effort should be made to i'm
press upon ALL Office holders that
they are the servants of the people
by having them elected by the PEG
pie not by legislatures and party
caucuses. Judges, School Trustees,
and Superintendent should be
elected hy popular vote rather than
by the log rolling process aud oil
garchical methods now in vogue.
To these and other needed reforms
| should be glad to lend my aid,
and whether elected or not | pledge
my hearty support to every honest
effort to promote the welfare of our
mother State.
In Richmond. the candidates for
the convention agreed among them
selves not TO use whisky or money IN
the election.
/ pledge myself not to use these
unworthy means for securing votes
and not knowingly to permit others
to use them in my behalf, and l call
upon the other candidates to ioiu
me in this pledge.
] am. of course, in favor of sub