The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-01-26
HON. JOS. E. WILLARD
CANDIDATE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC
NOMINATION FOR COVER
WORSHIP.
HIS VIEWS ON VARIOUS SUB
JEcTS SET FORTH IN LETTER
ADDRESSED TO THE
PEOPLE.

49, -
Lieut.. GOV. Joseph r. Willard, 10 tue
following letter, formally announces h's
.andilscy for Governor OF Virginia:
Richmond Va. January -, 1908.
40 NV Fellow. Citiz,ls of Virginia:
hereby formally announce my canci.
lary for the office Of Governor OF VI
lima. subj-ct 10 democratic primary .
My determination To become cant
late for Governor Of Virginia has been
reached after csreiul confederation, All
with the belief that ten years Of Goa
tinnOus service ia the General Arsemb )
gave given me al adequate oppUrtuDlfJ
iOr learning accurately the condition
,nd needs Of our people. II elected L.,
This nigh office, shsI devote my earne :
forts 70 the material, intellectual, AID
moral advancement Ot our people, wbic
administering the laws vi the Common.
wealth without fear or favor
All progressive CT zens favor better
schools. No more important subject con
irUnts our people than that Of public ed
ucAtiOn. Virginia Is not 10 day aUrea~'
with the tunes In Tie solution OF ID.
question, 50 pregnant with impOrtanc.
60 present aud future generations. /
shall enGeAyOr TO make our prlmaT5
school ~ stem equal Or superior 10 that
az any other State We should devote
our every energy 10 the building up Il
thIs system, the fundamental basis Oi 81
education. Good primary schools shoul }
be within the reach Of all children. with
Uut exception, IN the Commonwealth. !
heartily approve Of an educational caE''
palgn, which will not only inculcste 10
our people al earnest desire, but VIII
create Ia them al actual demand, luf
such facilities a. will BifJrd our chiidr,n
A proper primary education. create this
,tmsnG; furnish the opportunity tor
Dasic or primary education; and fir-
sinia's young men and women OF INDUS
try. with aulcAened ambition, Will Oprn
fir themselves an avenue TO higher edu
cation. On the other hand, II the stale
TAIL TO furnish primary educational op
pOrtuniues, her sODs and daughter.
whatever he their ambition or ability,
~ill be unable 10 lay the necessary iO0E
1atiun. Primary education TecOgnlzre
one of the most cherished principles !
our government, Equal opportunity to
all. IN that 1t gives To the poorest al
opporluultg 81 10 improve his mind that
ne eau enter upon the responsibilities I'll
life eduippeC u compete with those Whp
nave been more fortunate. Agrester tx
oenditure for salaries, equipment AMI
los yer terms is necessary 10 ~ cure thr
proper primary school. Our Increased,
and increasing, revenue, without sdo'
tIonal taxation, iustlies Increased 81
proprlatioDs Tor this PURPOSE l favor
better facilities for normal scbOOls, and
more liberal appropriations tor their
maiu tenance. advocate the most care.
fd selection Of our publcschool teachers
They should be not only educated men
and women, bot should possess the Anil
ity to impart their knowledge, and
should be exponents Of all thatis highest
and purest The training OF the boys
and girls Of today Is the making oil ne
state Of tomorrow. | favor the single
lirt system Of text books for primary
schools, because il provides equally hs
good books H. the present system AMI at
cheaper prices, and would eliminate M
.eemly local contests in their selection.
[ heartily commend the management IT
the Virginia State Library, especially
that feature which. under certain sale
guards, permits those living at distanre
10 have the use OF books. Libraries a {
40 longer luxury for the few, but
necessity for all classes Of our citzspe and
potent factor 10 the promotion OF edit
cation.
SCHOOLS AND ROADS
Good roads are essential to the proper
intercourse Of our people, and TO the Dc.
,elopment OF our agricultural interests.
| { cannot be denied that the condition ~
ne high ways in many parts Of the state
Ia aeplorabIe. 1t is impossible TO secure
the desired Improvement In this direction
without the expenditure Of money. II
elected, shall formulate plan, which,
il l. hoped, will secure an intelligent and
scientihc betterment Of roads, and at the
same time. the economical and efficient
expenditure OF the funds raieed by taxa
ton for road purposes, whether large or
small. There has been spent within the
last decade, upon the roads in the State
of Virginia, sum which, II iudiciously
applied, would have given u far better
results than we now have. | earnestly
favor the working Of State convicts upon
roads. which viii be an advantage to
the convict himself. as well as 10 the
State, and will, TO that extent, eliminate
him as a competitor Of honest labor.
TO DEVELOP RESOURCES.
No State in the Union has ss many
and as varied resources as Virginia. Her
citizens have brain and Drawn. What
che needs today IL capital. II elected, |
shsll endeavor to attract foreign capital,
with which yirginians may develop these
home resources. A fair and liberal sys-
tenn Of laws will tend TO bring about this
reg ,lt. and under such conditions, the
Young men OF our State willfind Virginia
the most promising H-ld for their efforts,
and will make useful eitizeus here, in
stead Of seeking, AZ heretofore, better OPP
portuuitiee beyond her borders. it is
nv hope that Virginia may hold out 10
every boy such opportunities as will en-
courage him TO stay here within the
StateIo of bis nativity OF adoption, carve
out aeuccesslul career and become q lac