The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-07-14
MR. WILLARD AGAINST THE Jim
CROW" CAR BILL.


r lCuipeper Enterprise
An inspired editorial IN last Friday
Exponent OH the subject OF the jim
e Crow law, seeks 10y innuendo aud care
ful mis-statement to misrepresent TIN
position taken in 1900 10y MI Willard
. when that laudable piece Of legisla
ton was enacted 10y the General As
sembly. Concerning which, the EX
pOnent refers 10 an amendment Offered
by Mr. Willard in committee for the
temporary and Local interest Of the
people OF Fairfax and Alexandria
counties and carefully avoids placing
before its readers the fact that Mr.
Willard not only voted for the Jim
Crow bill, but did all in his power 10
support il and to see that it became a
law, ~ reported by the committee on
roads and international navigation, Of
which committee Mr. Willard was
then an influential member.
Shortly before 1900, through the en-
terprise of young civil engineer in
Alexandria county an electric railway
had been partly constructed from the
Virginia shore OF the Potomac opposite
Washington in the direction OF Fair
fax G. N. The road was constructed
almost exclusively 10y the limited CAPT
tai Of this young engineer, at total
cost Of $4,000. Up 10 the year 1900,
this electric road by economy and
careful management extended It's line,
solely out Of its earnings, to the edge
Of Fairfax county, or distance Of
about seven miles. TO the people Of
Alexandria county the little strug-
Cling road was a blessing and a God !
send, aud the people Of Fairfax coun-
ty, who were entirely without these
facilities, were watching with deepest |
interest the snail-like extension Of this
road that gave hope to the people Of
Fairfax county.
During the tendency Of this situa-
ton the Jim Crow law was launched
in the Legislature. II was apparent
that to compel this little struggling
electric railway in Alexandria county
10 put on extra cars and otherwise
double its equipment, would not only
be requiring OF IL what il was an i'm
possibility for II TO do, but that even
partial attempt to comply with the
aw would bankrupt the road and de-
eat its extension through Fairfax
,Ouniy.
The situation was plain To the peO-
pie Of Alexandria and Fairfax cOun-
les, along the line Of this electric road. {
md they lost no time in appealing to
'lr Willard TO see that the proposed
i'm Crow law would not apply to ,
hat locality. Mr. Willard had abso- q
utely no personal interest in the mat
err Ho owned not dollars worth
4 stock in the electric road or any ,
ther road IN Alexandria or Fairfax a
ounties, and does not now, and was
ot interested directly or indirectly in
he local railways
Mr.. Willard, in response to the de- L
land Of his constituents in Fairfax {
ounty, offered in committee an Y
that would except this J,
BAD from the operation OF the Jim Ii
row law. The amendment was "
oted down IN committee by major Il
y Of one vote, aud Nh Willard. find >,
x upon its being reported back to D
ne House, that that body would not v
'nsider his amendment, worked for v
nd secured, with others, the passage -,
the Jim Crow law which was being T,
renuously fought by the great rail Il
ad lobby in and out ofthe Legislature p
at rOOsts in Richmond during the y,
ssiOns Of the General Assembly. and i'm
not now nor ever has been behind pc
r. Willard in his political aspira- CT
ms. ~
1t is worthy Of remark that in order 81
aid the aforementioned road so that b
might extend its lines to Fairfax. 81
r. Willard sent the road, through 40
e citizens Of Fairfax, check for de
5000, and in return therefor has ut
ither asked for nor received any al
whatever not even ni
IS for himself or family. Mr.. VIII let
DIS generosity in this instance, en- ira
led the road 10 enter the village OF u
lrisx, thereby enormously adding
the value Of the farmers property hei
that locality, and comforting a last th'
benefit on the citizens Of that sec I pi,
n.