Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-07-19
Wizards Position on Jim Crow
Law

Law
Communicated.
The Free Lance of Fredericksburg
under date Of July 10Th, says
1t was noteworthy that during bis
entire speech here on Tuesday night
Lieutenant Governor Willard did not
once refer to the mislnterpretation the
Culpeper Exponent placed upon his
attitude toward the Jim Crow Car
Bilr' in a recent lengthy editorial.
which was generally circulated
throughout the State, and in pursuing
this course he not only acted wisely,
but was entirely right. Mr.. Willard
has nothing to.defend in reference to
his attitude on the Jim Grow bill. He
has never opposed 1t. On the contrary
1t received his vote aud support, and
the very authority which our con-
temporary inyokes to bolster up it's
insinuations proves the falsltY Of them
Here is the account. so far as it relates
to Mr.. Wizards antagonism to the
bill, as published In the Dispatch at the
time, and this is the account OF
proceedings upon which the Exponent
relies:
"Mr. Willard spoke OF the impor
lance OF the railway communication
with Washington for his section. He
said after hard fight his people had
secured capital to build road from
the south side OF the Potomac to run
through Alexandria and Fairfax
counties. lie thought the Epps' bill
would act as a prohibitive act on this
road, and he therefore offered an
that nothing In the act
shall apply to roads operating ex-
In the counties Of Alexandria
md Fairfax, or in the counties sof
and Fairfax and the Dis
riot of Columbia.
The Willard amendment was voted
Town In committee 6 to 8.
Nothing short Of a desire to do an
njustics could have animated such a
vilful misconstruction of the Dis
)atch's report, because there is nothing
n the report that any fair and |
mind could construe into |
opposition on the part Of Mr.. Willard |
o the measure, and there is sufficient |
u the report to suggest to anyone who |
eally wanted the truth to inquire of
he people OF the counties OF Fairfax
nd Alexandria whether or not Mr..
Willard was engaged in exploiting his
views and looking after his
wn interests or representing the in
erests and wishes OF his constituency.
our esteemed contemporary had
one to this trouble II would have
,und that the people Mr.. Willard re-
resented were unanimous in the opin-
IN that II the electric load. which
as In course of construction through
.lexandria and Fairfax counties, wGs
OF exempted from the operation of
lie proposed law the road would
ever be built, and the county seat OF
airfax county would continue without
abroad facilities. In all fairness, we
* whether it was the duty of the
preventative OF these people In the
legislature to offer the amendment he
d. as his constituents desired, or to
isrepresent them and advocate In the (
sginning the measure as introduced9 !
r. Willard had absolutely no person.
interest in the road, and he has not ,
IVY, but 1t was through Mr.. Willard's
nerosity that the railway was finally
tabled to reach Fllrfax G. H., for
lortly after the passage Of the bill he
mt the road, through the citizens OF
'irfax, check for $4,000. In re- e
RI for this he has received nothing l
the way Of a pecuplary interest in q
g road, not even pass over the road a
himself and family. 1t is needless,
erefore, for us to rep eat that Mr.. y
lizard does not have 10 defend his s
cord on the "Jlm Grow law" t