The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-08-03
WILLARD.
Makes Strong Assault on Anony'
NOUS Traduccrs.
Especial to Tho Times Dispatch.)

NOUS Traduccrs.
Especial to Tho Times Dispatch.)
LEXINGTON, VA Aug. 2.---Lcutcn-
ant Governor Willard addressed the vot-
crs Of Rockbrldgc to-day, making n
plain, thoughtful, straightforward state
mont OF HIS claims, and his audience re-
peatc1ly npplnuded his sentiments.
Tho courthouse was fairly we'll flied,
many ladies being In the audience.
He was introduced by Greenlcc D.
Lctcher, who in introducing him said it
gave him great pleasure to present to 4
Rockbridgc audience his old classtnato
at tho Virginia Military Institute. whom
he commended as a young man Of ability
and energy whose claims we're In ac-
cordancc with the law Of promotion.
recognized in Holy Writ. Capt. Willard
had come To Rockbridge 10 seek his ed
ucation, and he felt now when he was
seeking the governorship Rbckbridge
should stand by him. Capt. Willard had
been charged with being Northen
man becausc his father was an officer
In the Union army, but his mother was
an officer In tbs Confederate army. She
had carried dispatches for j. Z. 3.
Stuart, through the Union lines. and
Stuart had made her lieutenant on
his STAFF that whilst carrying these dis
patches she had been imprisoned in
washington and whilst in prison had
captured the heart OF this Union officer.
Capt. Willard in opening expressed his
thanks for the complimentary manner In
which he had been introduced, and said
he valued more highly than he could
express the approval OF those who had
known him most intimately his old
schoolmatcs and his colleagues In the
Legislature. He stated that he was in
a peculiarly embarrassing condition; that
whilst he had frequently spoken in be-
half OF Democracy this was the first
campaign he had ever made in advocacy
OF himself that in doing SO there were
two methods that might be pursued; one
to discuss the candidates own fitness, the
other to crlttclse his opponent. He pro-
posed to confine himself to the former
even though he might be considered ego
tistical.
Anonymous Charges.
He did not claim that the party owed
him this office nor was he going to
argue his own ambition, though he felt
that any man was better for having
such ambition, even though 1t was not
gratIfed He begged that he should
not be condemned. on the strength Of
anonymous communications, appearing in
paper of small local circulation, OF
which thousands had been sent over the
state at whose expense he did not know;
but 1t was unusual for the publishers
of the country papers to publish and
send out so many copies. He found no
fault with any one who was opposed
to him; but he had the most supreme
contempt for persons who circulated
anonymous charges.
He said he was not opposed to the
Jim Grow law; that he had voted for It.
and 1t was unanimously carried; that
he had endcavored In committee to have
an amendment added to the bill so as TO
exempt an electric road from Washing
ton to Fairfax from the requirements OF
the bill; that this amendment would not
have affected any .other road; that the
delegate from Alexandria had voted for
this same amendment and their course
had been approved by their constituents.
He had no pecuniary interest In this
road he did not own share OF stock
In 1t. nor did he or his family have a
pass over, though he had given 1t s25 900
out OF his own pocket on condition that
1T should be built to Fairfax Courthouse.
He was charged with not having been
born in Virginia. but he felt he deserved
more credit for selecting Virginia for
his home than one who had been born
here. matter over which he had no
control.
Mann Bill No Issue.
He said he did not consider the Mann
bill an Issue in the canvass. He had
voted for 1t and 1t was now on the
statutes OF this State, but he had told
told Judge Mann that he was not or
posed to it. but that would favor an
amendment allowing an appeal to be
taken to tho Supreme Court. so ms to
get uniformity OF decisions undbr the
law; that at present no two judges con-
strued the law alike. Judge Mann said
he would not oppose such an amend
ment.
Flo was accused of being a rumseller,
because he happened to own n hotel IN
Washington. which he had rented out
for twenty years, and tho lessee ran q
bar a matter he could no more prevent
than he could prevent lawyer from
practlclng law in Lexington.
This, he said, was another OF the
many anonymous charges against him.
which had appeared IN Washington
paper, the article stating that the au-
thors name would be furnished to any
one who would apply for It, but when he
applied the paper had refused to fur
niSh It, 3t5i