The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-11-02
SHAW SPEAKS HERE
LARGE Crowd Heard Secretary OF
the Treasury.
TARIFF THE MAIN QUESTION
Republicans Hold Big Rally, at Which Many
Democrats We're Present-Blair Speaks on
State issues.

htPuDuNohS hVie US "e"Jf ~
Democrats We're Present-Blar Speaks on
State issues.
Secretary of the Treasury Leslie NJ.
Shaw was the principal speaker at "A
big Republican rally at the Opera House
ON Monday night. Because OF the prom
| iueuce of the speaker, however. the meet
! ing assumed the character Oi an almost
non partisan affair, as there were proba-
bly, as many, if not more, Democrats
present than Republicans, among the
former being some OF the leading mem
Der of that party in this city.
The Opera House was well filled by "a
little after eight o'clock and Mr.. SHAW
Was given an enthusiastic welcome when
he entered.
On each side OF the stage flags had
been draped. the State flag Of Virginia
heing conspicuous on the leit and the VA
tional ON the right. On the stage with
the distinguished guest were Robert W.
Blair. of Wythevlle; John NJ. Griffin,
John c. Melville. John 4. White, Chas.
d. Foster. Henry Wissner, Henry Holla-
day. q. u. Poster, VIM W. Buizner,
Thos +. Morrison. Republican candidate
for the House of Delegates. Geo. NJ.
Hunt. Sr.. g. H. Morrison, W. j. Butzncr,
Judge Tracewell. assistant comptroller
OF the treasury; +. L. Il. Dunn. OF Bowl
ing Green, and Others.
BLAIR ON STATE ISSUES
Hon. Robert W. Blair OF Wythe, "a
member of the late Constitutional Con
yention. was introduced by City Chair
man John {. Melville AZ theiirst speaker.
His address. which was delivered IN a
great hurry and with some embarass-
ment. was altogether ON state lssnes.
/ the maiorp part OF it being devoted 10 de
fence oi Judge Lewis against the Humid
lev and other charges. He made some
counter charges against Attorney Cen
eral Anderson and Others and then briefly
touched ON State questions. such as
schools. roads. pure elections etc. Mr.
Blair was not in good form and soon
ended his speech.
SHAW SPEAKS.
Hon. Leslie NJ. Shaw, Secretary OF the
Treasury announced Mr.. John NJ.
Griffin, at the end of brief in. Introductory
speech. aud the audience gave Mr. Shaw
acordial, Virginia reception az heSlo"ly
stepped To the front OF the stage.
The speaker, whose style oil speaking
/ is i'm utter contrast with that generaliy
heard in the South, lacks the powerful
oratory olour Southern speakers, such
as PANEL Bailey, AycOck and Others,
but he possesses dramatic qualities ana
augumentatiye ability which easily
place him I'm the front rank ot American
stump speakers.
Appearing lust little awkward at
first. Secretary Shaw soon became mag
netic in his power 10 hold his audience
in rant attention, and he made from "a
Republican standpoint the strongest
speech heard in this city Tor many years.
Recognized a. one OF the leading authOli-
ties ON thetariifquestIuu and thoroughly
familiar with that most difficult OF all
economic problems. he gave a clear ana
clean cut explanation OF the RepuhIican
Motley. 80 free from technical argument
tbat even the boys. as-Sccrctary Shaw
| laughiugly remarked. We're able To I'M
derstand.
lie began his speech Icy expressing
pleasure at being IN Fredericksburg,
and said that be- WAS more than pleased
at being invited to Virginia 10 Particl-
pate I'm this campaign. lie md already
spent one of the most delightful weeks ol
/ his lie travelling from city To city M \lr-
ginia. and had been treated everywhere
with true Virginia hospitality. II believe
/ i'm political campaigns, sand Mr.. shaw.
"People are not naturally competent Tor
self government. and a. they had 10 be-
educated up 70 it first. so they must be-
educated up TO the point OF wrestling
with the great questions governmental
policy a. they arise.
If came To Virginia. said he, mot
to NEEDLE in yOur state affairs, but 10
talk OF and ask you 10 think OF national
issues. When young men are thought
/ ful the Republic IL safe, said Mr. SHAW,
quoting French maxim, and want the
Young men of Virginia To begin To think
10 the end that they may put Virginia
back where she belongs in the council OF
States. There has been disposition on
the part OF the Southern people to set
/ back, fold their hands and say to the
North md West, Go ahead, run the
government. we can stand II II you can,
/ but this is not the proper spirit. Rather
we should all Join together in placing
our shoulder to the wheel Tor our com
mon country.
"Idonotb believe, said the speaker, that
/ in the Republican party there are men OF
any more devoted patriotism than there
are in the Democratic party, but there
are certain policies which always lead to
prosperity and success while there are
certain Others which a. surely bring dis
aster and ruin. The Republican party
| has adopted the first, the Democratic
party second. The division leads US 10
/ a discussion of the first and foremost
/ the tariff. Here Secretary Shaw, who Is
recognized as belonging to the stand
patters in his own party, begana discus
sion OF the Republican policy OF prOtec-
ton as contrasted with the Democratic
doctrine of "a tariff Tor revenue only.
/ His discussion was an able exposition OF
the Republican doctrine adhered TO by
the radical prOtectiODists within the
party. and it was significant OF the Sec
retary's position that he never once re-
ferred in his speech to any possible reduc-
ton of the existing Dingley rates, winch
Governor Cummius, OF his own state,
says ale too high.
There was some disappointment mani
tested because of Mr. Shaw : failure TO
refer to the proposed rate legislation
against the railroads, but he was silent
on that subject. He discussed briefly the
Philippine question and elOquently plead
| for n large American navy. In view OF
the fact that the secretary is said to be
grooming for the presidential nomma-
ton, his speech was specially interesting
as giving some idea OF the policy to be
expected in case his ambitions are real.
lied and he should become president oil
the United States. The Republicans here,
as in other parts OF Virginia, are much
pleased with the secretary and feel CRATE
iul for the aid received at his hands dur
ing this campaign After the speech
many ladies aud large number OF gen
tlemen, both Democrats and Republic
cans. shook hands with Mr.. Shaw, who
is very democratic in his manner and
easily approachable. Monday afternoon
the secretary was driven to various
I II. Ln sift