Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-10-13
Secretary Of the Treasury
Shaw in Stanton
He Delivers an Address and is
Interviewed,


:. Interviewed.
The announcement that Secretary OF
the Treasury Shaw would address the
people of Staunton at Columbian Hall
e last Friday night, drew good crowd
s both to see and hear him.
On the platform was Col. s. Brown
Allen, who introduced Congressman
Slemp. who made political speech on
State issues and at the conclusion of
which be in turn introduced Hon.
! Leslie M. Shaw.
Mr.. Shaw's speech was a clean poll
tical discussion and from his stand
point was a strong presentation of the
Republican cause. His apparent fairness,
good humor and attractive personally
at once caught the crowd. who gave him
close and appreciative attention
throughout his speech. There was
frequent applause and laughter, ca used
10y the speakers shrewd wit,
rather than by approval of his politi.
cal deductions. The Secretary evident
| ly wished to please bis audience which
be knew Was largely Democratic and
too be seems to have appreciated the
compliment the ladies paid him by
their attendance and the attractive
music which the Stonewall Brigade
Band courteously contributed to the
success of his meeting. Whatever may
be said of Mr.. Shaw be is certainly
an attractive speaker and ap.
parently has captured the leading re
publicans of Virginia. whom it is now
said will likely secure for him the Vir-
ginia delegation to the next Republican
National convention favoring his can
didacy for President. Mr.. Shaw not
only proves himself attraction as a |
public speaker. but is equally interest |
ing, tactful and social in private life. !
In conversation with SPECTATOR re-
porter the next day he touched on some
topics and issues that would make
spicy reading, but requested that they
be not published. The Secretary has
way of taking newspaper men into bis
confidence, that seems to place them
ON their honor. H said he was great
ly pleased with the reception he has
had throughout Virginia and expressed
himself as particularly pleased with bis
StauntOn audience-said he ''thataudi.
ence was a fine looking body of alert
quick witted men," Their aptness in
divining his meaning where double
construction could have been placed,
and their instant response to bis veil
ed wit seems to have impressed him.
Mr.. Shaw said he appre ciates the situa-
tlon in the South and does not blame
the people for their political attitude
towards the negro and the Republican
party. he thinks that a change will
surely come in the political complexion
of the States, South of Masons and
DixOn's line. but that the people are
not ready for that just yet. He is lib
eral Oh all public questions, except the
tariff, and there he Is narrow, believ-
ing in the highest prohibitive rate.
He thinks it the source from which all
national blessings flow and low tariff
the source of all commercial distress
and calamity. With him there are no
two sides to the q uestion-the fact that
his party in both his state and the ma
tiOn at large are divided on this issue
does not at all soften or broaden his
views. He thinks the great burden !
of tariff taxation is born las it should ,
be- by the rIch,-the importers and
of diamonds and other preci-
GUS jewels. Under the circumstances
be thinks the government is doing and
has done its full duty by the PHILIPPINES.
In its foreign policy he asserts the gov
has been wise and just. "And
now" said be there is live powerful
issue that you Democrats might use in
the campaign of $685." and he gave
that popular issue explaining how ef-
tectively it could be used, but he would
not let your reporter use it for publi-
cation. When the train for the East
pulled in Saturday morning be was off
for Norfolk. where he had an appoint I
ment to speak that night. Said be as
he stepped on the car, II am glad that
| came to Staunton and met it's people.
The memory of their courtesy and
cordiality will always be with me
pleasure to look back upon"