Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-14
JUDGE LEWIS HEARD
OPENS REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN
IN LoUDoUN AT LEESBURG.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
LEESBURG, Va, September 13, 1905.
The republican campaign in Loudoun coun-
ty was opened In Leesburg today by public
speaking in the court house at I'm. Three
speakers, Judge L. L. Lewis. candidate for
governor: William G. Egghorn Of Cupeper
Va, candidate for commissioner Of agricul-
ture. and William B. King Of Bluemont
Va, addressed the large audience.
Before and during the meeting Musician
Edward B. Llewellyn, cornet soloist of the
United States Marine Band, rendered sew
eral beautiful selections. A brass band from
Wheatland, Va. also performed before and
after the speaking.
The meeting called to order by Ed
ward Nichols. a prominent attorney of Lees
burg who In the absence of the regular
chairman presided over the proceedings.
He first introduced Judge l.. L. Lewis who
was greeted with applause, and to whose in
tegrity, ability and fidelity to his party the
chairman paid a high tribute.
Judge Lewis began his speech with many
remarks complimentary of the republican
convention held at Roanoke, Va, the Sth
and 9th of August. and which, he said
would have been a revelation to any
democrat who CHANGED to look in upon 1t.
1t was a convention of the most Intelligent
men in the state. he said. and there was In
evidence there great change In the repub-
lican party. 1t was there that he was
chosen to head the state ticket for governor
Of Virginia, the greatest honor ever be-
slowed upon him in his humble career.
He had never held political office, he
said, and had never had any ambition to
do So but he could not, of course refuse
such high honor as that then offered to
him
For twelve years he had presided over the
court OF appeals of Virginia. and for ten
years had practiced his profession of law
under the most pleasing circumstances. He
had been. he said. on the best of terms with
the judges and lawyers. both of the repub-
iican and democratic parties. and would
really much prefer continuing in the prao-
tice of his profession He was not, he said.
as he had been accused of being, an Office
seeker All offices he has ever had have
come to him unsought.
Conditions Discussed.
Judge Lewis then went on TO speak of the
present state OF politics He declared that
there claimed to be two successful polit-
ical parties In Virginia. and If such Is the
case one of them is certainly the republ-
can party. He then said that graft Is a
live Issue in the politics of old Virginia,
and he does not believe that II will be Grad
icated until the democratic party is put out
of business. Here he paused to express his
appreciation of the course the democratic
party has pursued toward him. and his ad-
miraton for its chivalrous treatment
Richmond paper. he said had stated that
he was no turncoat and no office seeker;
that he had always been true republican.
He did resent though. he said the imputa-
ton upon his age. The paper stated that
he had been very much interested In the
reconstruction act. while, as a matter of
fact. he was only boy at the University
of Virginia at that time.
The papers of Fredericksburg. Va, had
also attacked him upon his ability as a
speaker. He confessed he said to not be-
ing Clay or Webster, but he was what
was needed-strong and able-bodied-and
could run around through the departments
at Washington and see to the interests of
old Virginia.
Time for a Change.
Now is the time for a radical change,
he declared. Who is in the national Capt.
toll, he asked, who takes the old state seri-
ously? She has never been done justice
by the Presidents of the United States, and
there Is striking contrast between her
present state and that Of the past.
Judge Lewis then attacked the democratic
party. accusing It of having no principles
and challenging any man. woman or child
10 refute the accusation. From this he went
on to state issues giving as their cause the
appeals TO race prejudice, saying that men
are told that they must vote the democratic
ticket to preserve white supremacy. A
new constitution was formed and the
ground of this appeal was eradcated, so
why should they longer have effect? He
then touched upon the school questions,
elections and insufflciency. OF the first he
said there were about $1,000 white children
over ten years of age who could neither
read nor write. and the average length OF
time for the public school sessions Is only
five and a half months These things are
due to the democracy and should be cor
rected.
OF elections he said the government of
Virginia for the last fifteen years has been
for the people, of the people, by the people.
He also accused the elections of being base
ly corrupt and challenged any of the
democratic party to say that they (the
elections) are pure. He closed his address
apologiZing for a slight indIspostion.
Other Addresses
Judge Lewis was followed by Mr. Egg
horn, who entertained the audience win
very racy speech. In introducing himself
he said that he had received two nominal
tons from two democratic governors.
Cleveland and Montague, and one nominal
ton from a republican convention. He
then spoke of the platform of his party
saying that II never changed; that 1t is
always the same. He also spoke on cleo
lions, the school questions and graft declar-
ing that If Judge Lewis were elected
1t would most certainly be punished. and
also that the republicans would get an in
whether Mr.. Shepherd had appropriated
$500 or $1,000. Mr. Egghorn denied IN
closing that the republican party was the
negro party, or that II even got its votes
from the negroes.
The meeting then closed by a short
address from Mr. King. who, like his prede-
cessors, seemed to think that while there
have been in times gone by great men and
leaders In the democratic party, they are
all now In their graves, and those OF today
think only of party and make no progress
L.. Ill