The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-09-02
FLOOD ON CAMPAIGN
judge Lewis Defeat by 2s,oOO Votes Predicted.


"h Virginia Republicans want amy
ioint debates this YEAR reckon they eau
have them We are ready 90 meet their
campaign. said Representative Hal d.
Flood, of AppomattoN. in AN interview
Wednesday I'm Washington. Then ls
not the slightest prospect oi their carry
ing the state. Mr. Swanson VIII have "a
majority of about 2J.OuO. We shall APP
neal 10 the voters ON the record we have
made i'm the last twenty-five years. and
the Republicans will be- able to muster
only about their normal strength.
We have no grudges to satisfy, lc
declared. The Democratic party is
united. and all its voters will support
the ticket. 40 one has arisen io COM
plain of the fairness with which the
primary was conducted.
AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN Nor FEARED.
The Republicans seem TO be- planning
an aggressive campaign. was sug-
gested.
Yes" replied Mr.. Flood but We
shall be able to meet them at every
point. Since the Readadiusters went out
Of power i'm lSS3. Democrats have been
i'm compete control of Virginia affairs.
We settled the State debt reduced the
rate Of taxation, and today havea splen-
did surpus i'm the State treasury. Tie
constitutional convention brought about
changes i'm our finances, under the new
constitution. which are very gratifying.
see Republicans are charging us with
corruptiOn. They cannot successfully
J.. ,.I.au 4 eIa al lti
educational board was detected Oi some
small graft He never receiyed more
than few hundred dollars ont OF his OPP
erations, and was promptly dismissed as
soon a. the irregularities were dlscoV-
cred.
.'Thr corporation compassion has been
criticized for certain transactions. but
the State has lostnOthing from 1t. some
years ago State treasurer clerk
wrongfully used about $4,000 Of funds.
He is serving term in the penltentlary,
and the methods. by which his wrong
doing was possible have been corrected.
Yes" he added, answering another ques-
tion. "a few of the county treasurers III
the course OF twenty years have gone
wrong. but the amount OF the people
money lost has been small, considering
the magnitude of operations. Now
very large portion Of the 100 county
treasnrers in the State have given secu-
rity TO their constituents through bond
ing companies. Some still give personal
bonds. but the change is being rapidly
made
REPUBLICAN GRAFT IN WASHINGTON
"Now from the financial standpoint,
that is not record OF Democratic ad-
ministration the Republicans can make
much of. We are not at all alarmed
about their making the most of it. If
they want to talk those matters on the
stump we will give thema few reminders
of the Republican graft that ilourshes
under the National Administration at
Washington.
"But they say the public schools have
not been encouraged by the Democrats OF
| virginia was remarked
"Wen we do not fear Republican criti-
cism there. said Mr. Flood. We took
the nubHc schools under our charge, n
the readmsters turned them over to us.
Then there were no normal schools. Now
we have two fourishing normal schools
one at Farmville and one at Williams
burg These schools are turning out
well-trained teachers, who are dong eN-
celent service. Today we not only have
more public schools and longer terms
but we pay the teachers better salaries
and are improving the public school
service every year.