The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-09
WILLARD Wins in
THE HILL CITY
Willard began BY expressing his appre
Continued From First Pageo


Willard began by expressing his appre-
citation OF the large audience and for
the personal tribute paid him by Mr. Har-
rison. He said he had no claim for the
high position he Is seeking, and he did
not want to be rewarded for doing his
duty. III l have Loyalty served my party,
have only done my duty, and this does
not place my party under obligation to
me. 1t is for me to be loyal to the party.
If in victory or defeat wherever the
party needs me, then and there Will
be found. Nor shall ! submit my per-
sonal ambition to- YOU" he snid. "in
order to secure your votes. The question
is one Of fitness. Not my estimate of my
fitness. but your estimate of me- do
not boast OF my record, nor am
ashamed Of 1t, and am willing to stand
or fall by It. If can sum up for what
stand In a single word, it is progress.
This is a practical day. and if Virginia
is to regain her pres tige. then she must
become a potent factor in commercial
and Industrial affairs OF the country.
& All Surplus for Schools.
Referring to the schools, he favored
and not. by an intrcase Of taxation. He
favored starting with the primary schools
and building from them up.
On the single textbook question, he
favored this unqualifiedly.a soon as the
present contract expired. In order to
have. better schools he argued the terms
should be longer, with better teachers,
and to secure better teachers, he favored
more pay for them. He said:
Il have not added or subtracted from
my letter of announcement, ! was the
first TO advocate the single book list. ana
feel flattcred that my competitors have
approved my plans and are now advocat-
ing the same thing daily.
On the good roads question, he said he
favored good roads. just like all of his
hearers but thought the only way tho
State would get them would be to go
down in the pockets of the people and
pay for them
Convict Question.
Taking up the convict labor question.
he declared he was unqualifcdly in favor
of working tho convicts on the roads
of the State, and at the same time no
expressed in no uncertain terms his
opposition to the contract with the Davis
Shoe Company. lie declared this to DO
wrong. both in policy and principle,
Every time convict lifts his hand on
this contract, he comes in competition
with honest labor. Why should VirgThia
be a party to supply a shoe concern labor
al forty-two cents day, while other
firms have 10 pay from $l.b0 to $3.50 for
the game labor? lie advocated working
persons convicted OF petty crimes and
sentenced to the jails on the public roads
Referring briefly 10 the Mann bill, he
said: y do not believe this Is an issue
in this campaign, This is a question for
the General Assembly. Tho law has
been productive of great good, but the
question Of amending or repeating 1t Is
not one for the executive. When ny
fYiews on this law were asked for, ex.
pressed them frankly and honestly, and
i stand by that statement. II elected
Governor, ] shall enforce every law anc
Will make no exception OF the Manr
law"
He declared the State needs to encour.
age capital 10 come to The state, and
next TO this, TO encourage the producer
TO come with US.
In closing he said; II have tried L
submit to you my views If yon ap
prove them and you believe am bes
fitted of those who arc seeking the office
then, and only then, ask you to sup
wort - - e -iat s'.taI