Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-06-16
(Communicated.l
SWANSON VS.. MANN.

The gubernstorial con test here has
or soon will narrow to these two, fo,
whatever prospects Willard may
have had in the beginning, his po-
sition on the temperance question
has forever and eternally blighted
them.
Years back this condition of af-
fairs would not be, but moral forces
and agencies have been at work
battles have been fought aud won,
in comparison with which the great
est victories of Hannibal, Bonapari
or Cesar pale into utter insignifi-
canoe.
The cross roacs grog shop seems
centuries in the past and homes are
happier. Under the Mann bill the
revenues of the State have been in.
creased $l15,0O0 and some 500 bar
rooms closed Therefore say some
people vote for the Judge because
he has made all this possible. One
writer says the people have now an
opportunity to do something "tangi-
BILE" for temperance by voting for
him. This thought seems rather OBJ.
scure for it does not appear how the
temperance movement will be up
lifted in any way by electing him
The whiskey crowd are not only
asking but demanding that all tenn
perance people support him-they
however being supporters of Willard.
All honor to Judge Mann for the
fight he made in the last Legislature
and the part he took in it, but he
''isn't the whole thing" The Leg
islature is responsible for the passage
of the "Manu Bill" and not Judge
Mann. l claim to be as good tenn
perance man as any other, but shall
not vote for him and here are nv
reasons:
1st. Claude A. Swanson is the log
lcal candidate. Montague defeated
him four years ago, but nothing
daunted, he worked faithfully and
earnestly for him till election day.
2nd. The temperance people will
have just as good representative in
him In the gubernatorial chair as
they will have in Judge Mann. The
latter will be far more useful to the
people of Virginia in the Senate
than anywhere else. The last legis-
lature passed bill adding imprison-
ment to the fine in all cases W here
parties were convicted of the illegal
sale of liquor. This was exactly
what the temperance people wanted.
This was a great victory for them.
(Mr. Mann hasn't been given all the
credit for this). Montague made his
best bow to the whiskey power and
promptly vetoed this bill. Neither
Judge Mann nor Swanson would
have done this.
3rd. l have no patience with the
methods used to defeat Swanson. In
those localities where he is specially
strong, this very temperance ques-
tion is used to defeat him. Church
members are told it is their duty to
support Mann. j answer he no more
represents the temperance cause than
does Swanson. Two Lancaster poll.
ticlans were overheard at Lancaster
court talking along this very line
one said he had tried every way he
could to induce certain party to go
back on Swanson and support Will
lard but could do nothing with him.
The other asked, have you tried him
with Judge Mann? That's my game
and it always works with these
Christian people. And be it known
that the very people who are urging
Judge Mann's claim on account of
his temperance record, are ardent
supporters of Montague whose record
is just the opposite.
4th. Because Mr.. Swanson is the
better qualified for this high position.
For twelve years he has represented
the Fifth Congressional district in
the House of Representative and has
measured mp to this position with
signal ability, His education was
the outcome of his own efforts. He
entered Randolph-Macon College in
1882 and graduated in three years,
winning the Sutherlin medal for or
atory and also the orators medal in
one of the literary societies, as we'll
as the Jefferson's society medal at
the University of Virginia, where he
took the degree of B. L. "His life is
clean, manly and temperate; his
name unsullied." Voters of North
cumberland, it is an honor for you to
cast your vote for Claude A. Swan
son. Hundreds of you are for him
now, and this is as it should be.
Don't be led off by the temperance
cry. You will help along this splen.
did cause just as much By voting for
Swanson as you will for Mann.
Burgess Store. URBs.