Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-10
HOLD JOINT DEBATE
REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC
oRAToRY AT LEEsBURG.
Special Correspondence of The Star.


| LEESBURG, Va, October O. 1905
j. N. Hartman of TazeweIl, Va, the re-
publican candidate for superintendent of
public schools, and Judge ]. W. Williams,
prominent democrat of southwestern Vir,i
ginia, this afternoon discussed the issues of
their respective parties in a john debate at
the court house In Leesburg. A large au-
dlence was present and deep appreciation
of the-speeches was manifest.
Mr.. Clifford Nichols of Leesburg presided
over the meeting and first introduced Mr.
Hartman to the audience Mr.. Hartman be-
gan his address by stating that he wished
especially to speak of the principles of his
party-something that the democratic party
did not have. That he was willing to COM
pare the record of the republican party
since 1870 with that of the democratic party
and 1t would be comparison unfavorable
to the latter, That his party had accom-
| plished much. while their opponents were
getting "worser and worser"
In trying to convert the democrats
though, he said, he was confronted with
an insurmountable argument-an argument
however that should have three very large
question marks after 1t. This was the
negro question, or, he called it, negro
phobia, is a democratic disease which Is
hereditary. The republicans, he said. have
tried to cure them. and they 0he demo-
cratS) have tried to cure themselves but
as yet they have not accomplished their
purpose. The 16 to l idea was another
| disease which was cured by the republican
protective tariff policy. Mr.. Hartman be-
leVeS that politics need az complete reno
waiting. Every man who would steal or buy
votes should be disqualified, he said and
the greatest purpose to be accomplished is
the publication of party. The point to be
reached is when each party has a judge at
elections. He challenged any man of the
democratic party to find fault with the
presidential elections.
In referring to the democratic declaration
that no one should vote for Judge Lewis
because In 1876 he had the federal troops
sent to Petersburg, he paid a high tribute
to the judges character. That he may err
in judgment is true, he said, but his heart
was pure and he is the finest man in the
state.
Before going to the subject of free
schools. on which Mr.. Hartman spoke quite
fully, he spoke most disparagingly of the
present primary system. AS a testimonial
and further argument, he read a statement
of Senator Thomas and of Mr.. Southal,
who is superintendent of public instruction.
These men stated that the greatest de-
fciencies in the system are the short terms.
inadequate supply of teachers and INSULT
cient pay, the weakest point of the three
being the inadequate salaries OF the teach
ers In this Virginia ranks third from the
bottom among the states AS this state of
affairs is under the reign of democracy, he
declared, the legitimate deduction is then
that the republican party is a friend to the
! school system and the democratic party Its
enemy. Compare the record of the repubi-
can reign of four years, he declared, with
the democratic reign of thirty years and 1t
will be i'm detriment to the latter.
Under the present circumstances people
who live in the country are forced to move
into towns in order to educate their chill
dren and by the records. only 80 per cent
of the children In Virginia go to school, and
the daily attendance averages only 81 per
cent
Mr. Hartman said the price of school
CHI he
be a radical change in free school finance.
Judge Williams Responds.
Having spoken an hour. the time allotted
to him. Mr.. Hannah was succeeded by
Judge Williams, who was introduced by
Capt. w. e Garrett of Leesburg. Judge
Williams said he came not for himself. but
In the interest of old Virginia. He was not
a democrat for power or place but Tor Inc
| fundamental principles of his party. In an
| swerng the charges of his friend, Mr.. Har-
man, that the democratic party has no plat
| form. he stated that the principles of DEM
ocracy are as old as the government; that
they have lived through all ages, and Will
| live forever: that the democratic party does
not have to go in convention every year
to find out what its principles are. In reply
| to Mr.. Harmans expressed desire 70 see tne
state books he said he could tell him how
to see them. He should simply read the
constitution. He challenged any republican
| to state that the republican party gave any
thing for the school system.
He wished to say to the poor man, he de-
clared. that the democratic party put one
| line into the constitution-''White and col
ored children cannot be taught at the same
school" How stands the republican party
on that subject, he asked, In the old Gun
derwood) constitution, in 1871. no such pro-
vision was made On the contrary. every
| single republican voted for mixed schools.
Another thing which he wished to tell the
poor man was that the democratic party
has mortgaged the rich man In order to
soxed accnrd,ug 10 the amnunt ~ their
property, whether they have children or
not. Further. the democratic party has
spent millions OF dollars for the school sys-
| tenn. while the republican party has never
done anything.
Judge Williams repeated what Ms. Har-