The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-28
Didn't Take a Drink When the
State Committee Met.
A STRONG DEFENSE
OF BODY'S ACTION
The Author Of the Pu.e Election Law
Kept an Audience Of Two Hundred
and Fifty Interested, Although
the Meeting Vas in Open
Air, and temperature
Not Comfortable.

Two hundred or more shivering. cold
tcnumbed men stood In the ruddy glare OF
three bonfires that lighted UP a Fairmount
field last night and cheered long and
Justify while the Hon William P. Barks-
dale. State Senate. from Haiifax, and
autliur Of the famous pure elections law.
held the stump for some thirty or forty
minutes in a speech for Brauer. the party
nominee, and against Todd. the :
usrlper. WHO has no right to tie title.
The night air was cold and cuttiog, and
1t chilled to the marrow such as dared
creep few inches beyond the glow cast
by the piles Of burning logs. For the
few moments that preceded the opening
OF the meeting that was held In an open
lot in Howards Grove, tie Brauer hot
bed, the crowd amused Itself by stamping
a few degrees OF warmth into its frozen
feet, or by keeping a. steady grip on$teelll
that would chatter In spite ot I'll efforts
to the contrary. The wind played around
from all four directions OF the compass
and gent the crowd packing and JammnE
against the fires that scorched, but did
not warm. r.tgte5 {sS} NJ N g "a NJ. SS.t s,s
Tnen the speaking began and the niinr
ties had not been counted long betpre Sttis
little Knot had unWound iLsslf qua disg
rectcd It's gaze from the emDerS to the
lantern-lighLed stand. FIRST came a
young lawyer of TINS city, who MADE q
short, but telling speech, concluding With
the inLloducuion OF The orator8ut tnt eve
ming, before mentioned. lmmedlately
thereafter Mr. Barkadale took matters IL
hand and in half dozen opening words
whipped the crowd up to a limbered gait
that preserved IFS speed to Its end. Inere,
efter the heat came not from the deserted
bonfires, but from the platform. and at
intervals oftentimes of9less than a hall
minute 1t would break forth in a wild
cheer from the audience. At every turn
the speech that will probably do more
to elect the treasurer than anything that
has yet occurred In the campaign. was
met with round of hearty applause that
from one or two quarters became almost
frantic at times.
y zig Meeting.
Cons .derins the condition Of things the
crowd was an unusually large one and
the meeting was in all respects excel
lent. Fully two hundred persons We're
present and among the number We're
several prominent gentlemen Including
Mr.. L. C. Pitcher. of Fauquer: Alr. John
c. Easley, state Committeeman from
Henrico;, 4.lr. IL. H. Hardin, Mr.. Edward
l.. Ryan, and others. a platform had
been erected in one corner or the neld
and from this vantage ground the speak
ers operated their electri cthrllls. Two or
three powerful headlights stared 20
crowd in ...s face and m xed their green
ish glare with the ruddy light from the
fire. The listeners gathered around tho
platform under ,.,ese lights and wltis
the blazing logs behind them and half-
moon shining down from overhead com
pleted a scene that was In many respects
unique.
The opening speech was made by Mr..
w. NJ. Justis "a young lawyer OF well
known abllt es, who discussed the SIT
uation in an exceedingly able and effec-
tive manner and who frequently ellcl'ed
applause by his sharp hits at Todd and
the County Committee, He declared that
this latter body did not want 70 do jus
tlce but to do Brauer and 1t did 1t 70 ire
Queens taste. He sad, furthermore. that
the comm..uee wanted treasurer wto
would do what 1t warted to do; that i
wasn't certain how Brauer would do,
and that therefore it had thrown him
overuoard and run In another MAJ, 10
wit: Todd, who. while lie banked upon tho
Barksda.- .-.w, was working his ~ "
with Hechler under IN agreement 10
make the latter his deputy II elected,
The introduction of Mr.. Barksdalc,
VIII ch was made in happy mannsr by
Mr.. Justis, was received with married
demonstration by the crowd. The popu-
lar Senator stepped forward, rid himself
of an overcoat and hat. and In The course
of about ten seconds was sailing tre
turbulent waters of Henrico po'tics, He
aid he WAS proud of this authors p pf
ro law commonly STYLED the B L da'o
pure election law. IT was lie nm pet
child thai he had long been foster'ne. But
I've little thought when he offe ~ 4 In
tho Legislature that he would Nc called
,pon al the very outset to defatd iaaG
against an attack made by peh'as Nhn
used this law as cloak for thoir evi-
doptr The Barksdale law was m 4
made for henrico county 70 dodge be-
hlhd to d, a wrong.
The S a COMMITTEES.
Proceeding, Mr., Barksdale referred "a
tho work of Alr. Brauer when the clouds
that overhung tine county were dark ant
threatening, and when some strong ard
willing hand was needed to steer the st1p
II state clear of Republican shoals and
negro domination, Something had been
said to the effect that Mr.. Todd would
not cal! in any outsider TO speak for HIM
that he would rely on county men. Ihs
Continued on Second Pase)