Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-08-04
wlLLARDAND MANN AT sALuDA
The TIVE Distinguished Gentlemen
Appear Before the People Of
Middlesex.
EXTRACTS from southside sentinel.)


MiddIesex.
CExtracts from Soutbside SentineL>
County chairman w. Ii. Ryland
called the meeting to order and ex-
planned in few we'll chosen words
Its purpose, after which be intro
duced Rev. Richard Ferguson, pas
tor of the Methodist churches of
Middlesex, who in turn proceeded
To introduce his favorite, Judge
Mann. Mr.. Ferguson's remarks
we're at some length and consisted
for the most part in harsh criticism
of Mr.. WiIIard's attitude towards
the temperance cause, rather than
an introduction of Judge Mann.
Several letters were read by Mr.. Fer
gusou, which he said were sent him
10y the Anu-Sdloon officials, iu
which lt was attempted to show that
Mr. Willard was an enemy of the
temperance cause.
Judge Mann was presented, and
paid beautiful tribute to his audi
ence, large number of whom he
was pleased to see were ladies. The
Judge spoke for possibly an hour
aud half during which time he
paid many splendid compliments to
his opponent, Mr. Willard, whom he
said differed from him in but one
material point-and that was who
should be Governor of Virginia. He
made no reference whatever to the
letters above referred to nor to Mr..
Wizards attitude on the temperance
question. 1t may be safe
ly said that Judge Mann believes
his only hope for success hinges upon
his attitude towards the temperance
question aud be is using it for all it's
worth.
When Mr.. Willard arose, the crowd
went wild and it was at once seen
that he had large majority of the
crowd with him. From the Jump
Mr.. Willard vigorously entered into
the discussion Of the issues, taking
up first the letters introduced by Mr..
Ferguson. AS to his writing to the
Washington authorities asking them
to grant license to a person to sell
whiskey, referred to by Mr.. Fergu-
son, MIR. Willard fearlessly declared
that while be knew absolutely moth
ing about the letter until he saw it
printed in a newspaper that day, yet
he would stand by it-sink or swim,
since it was the work of one Of his
secretaries and that he realized that
he was legally if not morally bound
for the acts of his agents. Mr.. Will
lard declared be was no more in IA
vor of the sale of whiskey than Judge
Mann, that he would do as much to
regulate its sale as any man In Vir-
ginia, and that the report that he
was in any way interested in the sale
of whiskey was malicious falsehood,
circulated by malicious tongues.
Someone in the audience remarked
"You can afford to talk, you are
worth seven million dollars" This
fling set the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS on
lire and his reply was a ringer. He
said In substance that every man
wanted all he could get-scme of
them honestly and some of them, he
regretted to say, dishonestly-but he
thanked God that not penny be
possessed was stained by the widows
or orphans tear aud that no man
could show that he had ever used his
money to the detriment of his fellow
man. This rejoiner was wildly
cheered. Judge Mann had said in
his speech thatshortly after the adop-
ton of the Mann Bill by the legisla-
ture, a Richmond city daily came
out with cartoon represenating
the Judge holding a baby, whose
nose was broken, one ear gone, one
eye out one, arm lost, etc. The baby
was labeled "Mann Bill" and below
it was printed: "Will Judge Mann
recognize his offspring?" The Judge
said he recognized it all right but
Mr.. Willard declared he had taken
very poor care of it and if he will
lard) was entrusted with it for four
years he would patch ur the broken
bones and see that it suffered no
more misfortunes. This friendly
hit elected a spontaneous uproar and
even the Judge himself saw that his
opponent had made good point an d
Joined In the applause.