The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-09-29


Democrats in Danger Rear Plat
form Discussion Charge Refuted
Prma Faeie Evidence Accepted,
Etc. Etc.
King George Co, Va, Sept. u. 1903.
The Reht for tickets To the political pie
counter in this county WAKES warmer as
the ides of November approach. but the
climax oi The scramble has not yet been
reached Entries for the county races On
the Democratic side have all been made.
but rs yet there have been no announce
ments from Republican quarters The
latter will probably coniine their entries
to a few old racers who have b. en- over
the course many times b, fore and know
ing all the itialls and peiils OF n long
race. will reserve their wind till the last
uunrter stretch aud then cut in for
desperate dash To the political pastry
This seems. nt lehst. tO be the policy ol
these old Republican race horses, aud
some of the many Democratic colt7 who
have entered for the races and are now
chanping their bits restless and eager
for the contest and confident OF showing
their heels 90 all competitors, had better
dismOunt and save their wind Tor another
time. The scrub race for district Offices
attracts but little attention yet. Assoon
as the chnquepin crop is harvested we
may look for the usual swarm Of candi.
dates for these places and the galety OF
campaign will be greatly increased.
This free .ior-all fight gives little op |
portunity for public discussion OF the
great issues involved in this contest and
upon which the public mind is much /
divided. Among the numerous candi- /
dates already announced. TO say nothing
OF those still in bush. there il, doubtless. /
mach latent talent for orat0rical dis /
play which only awaits opportunity flr
Development But there are 80 many OF
them and the days are growing go short |
the managers can't agree upon Il division /
OF time for the debate. The people would /
like 20 hear the views oi the candidates /
upon timely topics. such ~ the new game I
laws. the Panama canal treaty, the cod /
fisheries. the Alaskan boundary and the /
good roads question. with "a few remarks
upon the Turko- Bulgarian war and the
dog tax: but all this goes by and the |
people must be left 10 seek Information /
At our August court the Democratic |
chairman warned his party against this
open door policy. predicting that II no
nominations were made, Tom. Dick and /
Harry would run for the same office aud !
there would be political chaos and con
fusion Sure enough. we now find Tom
Dick and Harry candidates Tor the lead |
ing county office with Others TO hear
from.
The nearest approach to "a public dis
cus.ion occurred at our last court, when
n prominent county candidate spoke
from the rear platform of Bakers buggy |
which stOd. a. usual few feet from the
front door OF the courthouse. II was
an informal but very animated and IN
teresting talk, which attracted coDsld- !
able crowd Of listeners and was partcl- {
pated in by "a vi-itor from fredericksburg
and King George candidate Tor the
legislature. During the running talk
the platform speaker accused the visitor
from +. Of wearing two faces This ae-
cusatioh the visitor promptly denied,
and said he only needed to face such
charge to prove its islsity, and then he
appealed to the crowd, saying "ls there
man among you who believes, II had
two faces. | would be wearing this one
in public" Amid cries OF "no, no, and
loud clapping OF hands that frightened
horses aud dissolved the meeting, our
visitor called TO his friend Foster to come
on, stepped toto his buggy and turning
his back upon the morning an ! his lace
to the blushing sun. sped away to his ur-
ban home across the river from fal'
mouth.