Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-08-17

servant in the person OF Mr.. joseph T..
Willard. In honoring him the glory of
the old commonwealth of Virginia was
receiving additional lustre. When he
shall have been hOnOred the people OF
the State can rest assured that no mean
or sordid politician can swerve such
man from the path of rectitude' as ms
life and record would discourage dis
honest advances. Mr.. Simpson pictured
the candidate as the country boy in his
Fairfax home mingling with his rural
acouaintances, and his entry into man
hood vested with princely wealth, ana
said people who know MIN were indls-
solubly welded to him. While the
possessor of the greatest aflluence, the
subject of his observations was untainted
with the many examples incident to
luxurious existence. He was clean and
honorable among men. The speaker,
among other things, said Mr.. Wizards
history was interviewer with the bngh
est pages of the States annals, and that
the names of his ancestors would live
long after his critics had ceased to exist.
Mr.. Simpson, in conclusion, said he
would present to the audience creation
masterpiece-an honest man-and an
nounced 1.-THE Hon. Joseph +. Willard,
the next Governor Of the State Of Viz
ginia."
Uproarious applause followed, and when
Mr.. Willard arose il was renewed ana
continued for some time. 1t finally sub
sided and Mr.. Willard began his address
He said no man could fail TO feel proud
at such a reception, and that no eetler
cbaperons could have been selected than
the committee who had greeted him in
Alexandria. The speaker said that
while he had been active in his canvass
in other parts of the State, this was the
first instance during the campaign when
he had had the pleasure OF lacing his own
people and pleading his cause before
them. He said he did not wish any
thing he might say to be construed as
reflection on either of the other candi-
dates. The democratic party owed him
nothing, but that the obligations were on
his shoulders, and his desire to be gov
ernor was not to crafty a personal am
biliou. but to further serve his parry
Mr.. Willard then proceeded to answer
certain charges and criticisms which had
been in evidence during the campaign,
and among other things said that there
was no foundation for the statement that
he had opposed the "Jim Crow law.
He had, he said, introduced an amend
ment 20 the law to exempt a struggling
little electric railroad in his county, but
had voted for the bill when ii was reported
fayorably in the House. The only inter
est the speaker had in the road was con-
tribution of $25, 600 to insure its con-
struction. and stated that he did not own
4 dollars worth Of The bonds or stock Of
the company. Capt. Willard said that
ne had been charged with having opposed
the employers liability bill, when, as
matter of fact, he said he had introduced
an amendment to make that measure APP
plicahle to every hazardous occupation.
Mr.. Willard said it was true that ne Is
not Virginian by birth, but he said be
thought he deserved more credit On thai
score than his opponents, because he had
nv choice cast his lot with Virginia and
had lived in the State thirty-iour years,
and that if Mr.. Swanson is native and
TO the manner born it was 10 matter OF
choice on his part-he simply couldn'l
HELM il. He then referred to the obser'
vation that he is a wealthy man. lie
said that every man within his hear
inc was after all the wealth he could
GET and he could honestly say that
he did net possess a dollar that was
sta;ned with q widows tear. Tie
announced that he had paid for his
camnaign advertisements all over th'
State with money honestly obtained, AIT
that he was able to pay for his own cam
na;gn expenses. He also repudiated TN
communication signed by Mr.. Crandal
Mackey. of Alexandria county, attacE
ing Representative Swanson ana 5, sai'
that the article was written and puDIisn
al without his consent, and kis money
did not pay for it, but he asked 'W NJ
Maid for an article about me IN Cul
neper and an article sent to norIheri
newspapers headed 'Rumseller Willard
Can't. willard subsequently, entered mt
General discussion of the issues involved
in the present campaign. He said h
was "for square deal for every man
high low, rich. OF poor, land prom,
: ised that if he is elected governor he VII
D be the governor of the whole people
He then paid tribute to the Coniedera'
2 soldiers and said they should be aided AM
+ honored while they lived. lie adyccaI
!. ed a Business administration of the affair
n of the State, and declared himseli Il
p. favor Of two auditors, one for the reeeip
4 and the other for the disbursement Q
the States funds. Mr.. Willard asserte'
that he was the first man who came GU
n for the single schOol-book list, and sal
N Judge Mann Bought blue stencil, an
,e put at the bottom of his letter Of az
'. nOuncement: 81 am also in favor {
the single schOOl.hook lie. >, ofa, votin