The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-10-03
GRAND RALLY
SPLENDID SPEECHES By SENATOR
MARTIN AND CONGRESSMAN
SWANSON
Strong Points Made For the Democrats
MANY Ladies PreSent---MuSic, Etc

The Democratic rally at the Opera
House ON Monday night was largely at
tended. Notwithstanding the Indictment
weather and warm night. Many hdle'
were seated in the audience and seemed
to be much pleased with the speeches
listening with evident interest To the
points that were brought out and joined
in the laughter when the speaking took
nh amusing turn The orchestra, nndeT
the direction of Prof. +. A. Franklin, rem
dered number ui selections before the
speaking commenced, which wereenjOyed
by the audience a. IT assembled. The
orchestra also played between the
speeches and ~ the audience dispersed.
Seated on the stage besides Senator
Martin and Congressman Swanson, were
Col. l.. ID. Cole, city chairman; Messrs.
W. s. Embrey. acting mayor; Judge +.
W. Sims, of Louisa, candidate for the
State Senate: MIR. q. Il. Swift, OF this
city. candidate for the House OF Dele
gates: Mr.. r. e. l.. Moncure, of Stafford,
candidate for the House of Delegates;
Capt. T. McCracken, Judge John T..
Goodrich, Judge X. II. l.. Chichester,
Messrs. G.. O'COnor Goodrich, j.. j. Smith
and Others.
Col. Cole presided and called upon
Judge 4. Il. Embrey to introduce Sena-
tor Martin. Judge Embrey did not make
an extended speech, his remarks being
brief, but graceful and appropriate. Sen,
ator Martin when he arose was received
with continuous applause.
He began his speech by expressing his
deep feeling appreciation and gratitude
for the generosity OF the Nirginia people,
and especially 10 the people of Fneder-
icksburg. for the recent splendid vote
given him. He then launched into n dis
cussiOn of the record of the Democratic
party. maintaining vigorously and ell
iectually that it had given the state II
clean, honest, intelligent and progressive
State administration. He said II the
Democratic party had performed no
other service 10 the State than the elimi-
nation of negro suffrage. il would still be
entitled to the everlasting gratitude OF
the Virginia people.
He took up the claim made by Judge
Lewis that the present Republican party
was a new party, that it had been re-
generated He maintained that II the
Republican party had been purified or
that the Democrats were ell
titled 10 the credit; that the Republican
party had resisted this sO-called rcgen-
elimination OF the negrU-be-
cause il meant practically its annihila-
ton. lie declared that the Republican
party was the same old party it, leader
and standard-hearer had been "a llepubli-
can from reconstruction days To present
time. and that be- WAS too deeply lmbued
with the principles OF Hepubllcanism TO
be regenerated.
SCHOOL BOOKS.
Senator Martin attacked the iree-book
plank in the Republican platform, and
declared that il was inserted simply a. a
vote-grtter 10 attract the untmnkng;
that the laws OF Virginia alnady pro-
yided free books 10 children OF parents
unable To pay for them.
Senator Martin urged the Improvement
of the school facilities. better paid teach
ers and longer school terms, and con
tended that il would be suicidal for the
State to commit itself To the proposition
of free books; it would cost the state
$500 900 and consume all the surplus
funds Of the State, and prevent further
OF school facilities.
GRAFT.
He denounced in scathing terms the
Republican cry OF graft, dishonesty
and corruption in the Democratic adj
of State affairs, and de-
clared that, with the exception OF the
and dishonesty OF a clerk in
the Educational Bureau and OfSheppard,
in the office OF the Auditor, the affairs o.
the State had been honestly, intelligently
and wisely managed. He asserted that
few business, corporate or banking in
stitutions could boast OF such an admlra-
Die record. in that the State had collected
and disbursed, during a period OF 20
years. 90 millions OF dollars and only
two of its subordinate officers, or clerks,
had proven dishonest and robbed the
State OF between 30 and 10 thousand
dollars. He called attention to the Ken
dali bank-note scandal during the lew
years OF Republican control OF State al
fairs.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
He denied the claim of the Republi-
cans that they were entitled to the cred
it OF establishing schools. Ii was true,
he said. that the Underwood constitution
provided that schools should be estab-
lished by definite period, but that 1t
was Democratic legislature that inaug-
urated the system providing funds there
for. and five years before the constltu-
ton required it. He declared the state
ment inaccurate that the Democratic
party had not appropriated more than
was required under the constitution. On
the contrary they have appropriated
yearly 5000, 900 in excess ofthat amount
Senator Martin declared his belief that
would never consent TO ele-
yate to the position of governor a man
who had had Federal troops sent into a
city during an election, when
the mayor of the city and governor OF
the State protested that law and order
prevailed and troops were not needed.
STATE DEBT.
The Senator said the Democratic par
ty had succeeded in effecting a satisiac-
tory settlement OF the State debt and
thereby saved millions of dollars to the
State. The Republican party had at.
tempted to do this when 1t controlled
the State, but had failed.
He maintained that credit Tor the
healthy and sound financial condition OF
the State was due to the Democratic
partys wise management ofState affairs
That the appropriation for school pur:
noses had been increased, four million OF
he principal State debt settled, the cred
II of the State established and State
taxes reduced from 80 cents on 500 to
b cents. That under the new constltu-
ton. which was being denounced by the
the revenues OF the State,
over the current expenses, would he
s571 900 and this comesfrom the tax on
corporations which were able to pay it.
Senator Martin read an extract from
the nIatform Of the Democratic party OF
MARYLAND and said that what Maryland
was now struggling for had already been
accomplished in Virginia by the Demo
cratic party.
He said the best platform OF a party Is
its past achievements.
He spoke of President Roosevelt Us q
man much greater than his party,
h.. nrA 10