Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-08-11
A CARD.
To The YoTERs OF RICHMOND AND Ian.
CASTER COUNTIES.

ties are always in favor of fairness and
justice, address to you the following
letter, fearing may not reach you
through public speaking.
In the outset desire to explain under
what circumstances became a eandi.
date for Legislative honors. The sug-
gestion came from personal friends and |
believe can and will serve the people
then wrote the Hon. John NJ. LyelI,
who has served for the last four years,
asking him if he intended to stand for
denomination, and if SO, / would sup
port him, as had twice before. II he
did not intend to be a candidate himself.
asked his support. quote his letter in
reply verbatim:
FARNHAM, Va, Feb. 20, 1905.
Mr.. JOHN CURLETT:
DEAR SIR-Yours of the 14th is to
hand. Replying to same, will say that |
will not be candidate for renomina-
ton and reelection to the House of
Delegates. Not knowing what issues will
enter into the canvass for House Dele
gate j cannot commit myself Hone,
however, we will stand together on the
main issues and l can give you my cor
dial support, am.
Very truly yours,
JOHN NJ. LYELL..
Believing Mr.. Lyell sincere, started
my canvass. Hearing late in June that
Mr.. Lyell was seeking the nomination.
| wrote him again as to his intentions,
to-which he never replied. / am not
aware of any "main issues" dividing us,
except he has shown how very much he
desires this small office to which in nv
small way l helped elect him for two
terms.
II Mr.. Lyell had notified me of his
change of mind previous to my an
nouncement through the public press
should not today be a candidate I
have asked Mr.. Lyell to meet me in
joint discussion on the issues of this
campaign, for I take it that as a men,
Der OF the Legislature you need a man
capable, independent, aggressive, fear
less, able to explain anywhere the needs
of our people, able to fight for our in
terests, so that it will not be necessary
TO have lawyers and Others to be in
Richmond employed and paid by the
tongmen to look after our affairs-it is
not necessary to employ four men to do
one mans work.
Mr.. Lyell refuses to meet me and saws
he is not fighting me, but the people
behind mel This sounds like a ring
breakers talk, but the Hon. John NJ.
Lyell wanted and asked for my friends
support after they had pledged me.
In other words, if they had supported
John NJ. Lyell they would be very good
fellows, otherwise you must consider
them Enthusiastically; and still he is not
fighting me but the flock of which he
was so DESTROYS OF being the bell-wether.
Now as to my claims upon your sup
port;
1t is conceded by conservative, fair
minded men to be Lancaster's time.
1T, having endeavored, as a good citi-
zen and as an officer of the law, to obey
and respect our laws and enforce the
same; as n public school teacher of
twelve years experience, endeavoring to
leave an impress upon the youth OF
my community, morally and mentally,
for good; as farmer for a like period.
living in close touch with both tongers
and planters-if these things appeal to
your sense of fitness, / ask your support.
Mr.. Lyell has had some experience az a
Legislator, it is true; but, perhaps,
may be able to represent you better than
he, If | see the needs of our people and
put into effect what / see. What is worth
having is worth the asking for.
/ favor better public school system,
and my experience should show me de-
iects and failures in this system which
proper legislation may cure.
favor such temperance legislation Ms
will control the traffic and still not be
SO stringent as to cause n sentiment or
sympathy for the violator, thereby nulli-
flying the law.
The preservation of our ma. u al oyster
rocks for the use OF the tongmen. upon
whose labors and earnings every village,
every merchant, every blacksmith and
our Tidewater country in general de-
ponds for life, food and comfort.
favor establishing trial justice OF
peace in each district, and other justices
for issuance of warrants; that no Justice
should ever sit in trial upon his own
warrant.
ha tria Al II, 4 \
salary.
That all Justices and constables re.
ceive n fair remuneration for such ser.
vice, as il not the case now.
] shall use every energy to secure a
better system for working our country
roads, question of vital Importance to
the whole people.
favor the protection and care of oul
old Confeds, that they must know and
feel that we glory in their honor and up
hold it with love and tenderness.
The time is now past when public
servant is not worthy of his hire, there
fore our district school boards ana
boards of supervisors deserve remunera
ton commensurate with their services
iustiiying them to attend to the affairs
of the public without loss to themselves
Now as to Mr.. Lyell's insinuation that
| am put up By a ring. bear in mind h,
made a bid for this same support al
ready promised me, and that my sup
porters are some OF Mr.. LyelPs own per
sonal friends.
And, further, / say to you, my fellow
citizens, no matter if you belong tt
clique, ring, faction, or if You are simply