The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-07-13
WILLARD AT
FREDERICKSBURG
HE MAKES A FINE SPEECH AND A
GOOD IMPRESSION

Lieutenant Governor Joseph E.Nilani
was greeted 10y large aud pnsonta-
tive audience here when hc spoke at th"
Court House ON Tuesday night C1L l..
ID. Cole. city chairman. presided over the
meeting. and introduced Mr. T. y. Brent.
~ the originator OF the business Men -
Association of this city and it, former
president. who introduced the speaker Iu
"a graceful speech.
The audience. seemed thoroughly iu
sympathy with Mr.. Willard and when h'
arose To address it he was greeted with
"A spontaneous outhurst of applause.
which lasted several minutes
Mr.. Willard bcgan his speech 10y dis
claiming any prrtcn-iun~ aS un orator
or public speaker. but early IN his speech
hr demons rated that hr Wa- "a stump
speaker of mo- mean ability Throughout
his entire -pech he was modest boa n'lci-
cnce To his own fitness lor thr honor hr
is seeking and there was hess oi cgotl~m
than il usually heard ia such campaigns
as the present.
At no time did Mr. Willard question
the fitness oi either of his rivals Tor tine
gubcrnatorial nomination On the con-
trary he referred 10 them ia the most
friendly way, aud declared that hr pre-
ferred To win On his own merits and not
ON the dement's OF his competitors.
He invited attention to his official rec
ord in the legislature and a. lieutenant
governor and said he was standing noN
upon that record and upon the platform
he had issued at the time ol the announce
ment OF his candidacy, that hr did not
ean To change letter or line thereof.
and that he WAS the candidate of no
clique or faction. State cor local. that hr
had made no alliance with amy one, but
was running alone un hl~ merits.
The speaker here referred ~ eloquent
and glowing terms To the old COulcdri-
ate soldier. and declared that tlr rvoid
of Srli sacrifice and devotion hr had mud'
should hr am incentive 90 the present
generation aud the GENERATIONS tp come.
upon whom the duty oi rgainiug ih"
former prestige OF the State dcNolN'd.
For this reason We must keep our young
men AT humr aud tu do this We must
give them ~ good ora better opporlu-
nitv To make something oi themselves
than they can lind elsewhere. llr dr-
Glazed that while oratoN Was all right
in iiS place. what we urcd 900 public lii'' D.
business rncrgN amt constructive states
mnnShip. and to have constructive
craftsmanship IS" must have construr-
tive citizenship and to have constructive
citizenship W, must have riucuiipu. Mr.
Willard then discussed thu necessity Tor
better educational facilities. especially BOO
the country districts. where Dee ulpurtu-
mites lur primary observation-disclosures
totally lacking. H. said lhat Doc Was
thu tlst candidate for governor tu 'l' u-
ratr the singh. =, hpul book list. hut that
his competitors showed ihalkdulr
nuilii, n getting ou tlc haad wagon ln
that respect Mr.. NiHni dnW -ou.
strong Illustrations Co show llr uiNau-
tnpo.- and economy OBJ ia. single il-i. lir
pl,d,.rl himself. ii elected COVE nor o.
recommend that "a large portion oi iht
500 900 surplus uuM iu th' NlfEliiil
treasury be- devoted tu thc adyuuD meat
uf primary cduratiuu.
The speaker took mp next lis good
roads plank. which hr di-ru~~'dut Somc
length. demonstrating that hr hu~ SOM.
sound practical views Tor the better
ment Of our roads He advocated Fed
eral aid and the working OF convlctS on
the roads. and added that the only way
10 get desirable immigrants 10 build mp
our waste places was 10y the improve
ment Of our roads. He thought there
was lttle chance of Federal aid, bat
good chnnce for State aid. and adj
vocated departmental supervision oi
roads in Richmond 10 look after location
Of roads. He commended the C"ustitn
tional Convention for establishing The
CORPORATION Commission and sand that
i'm this day Of community of interests and
absence of competition something oi the
Kind had become essential to protect the
citizen.
Hr advocated the Introduction into
the auditors office the most modern
methods uf auditing accounts. not be-
cause the present auditor was not be-
vond suspicion and Il most excellent oil.
rial. hut ~ a matter OF business policy,
and he would recommend 10 the lcgisla-
ture. if elected governor. that such -yS-
TEN be- inaugurated there.
At frequent intervals during his speech
Mr.. Willard was greeted with prolonged
applauSe and when he closed hcWas gen
orally congratulated.