Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-07-28
MR.. WILLARD FOR SALOONS.

tne ClTIZEN has no desire TO dc
any candidate injustice and has mol
knowingly said or published any,
J thing which was not fact or was
notpertinent to the canvass and legit.
innate campaign material. 1t has no,
knowingly tried to misinterpret any
public act or utterance, and if an
error is called to our attention we
make haste to correct. In stating
early in the campaign that Mr..
Willard would receive the support of
the saloon element In this fight and
that his sentiments were that way,
we knew whereof we spoke. Had be
shown any indication of leaving that
side or of leaning to the temperance
side we would have cheerfully sc-
corded him full credit.
So without comment we reproduce
the following which was published
some time ago in the Chicago New
Voice, temperance paper, under
the caption "Rumseiler Willard, %
and which has been verified by a
Virginian residing in Washington
city, whose communication we also
reproduce from the Clinch Valley
News:
From New voice.)
Joseph Z. Willard is a candidate for
the Democratic nomin alton for governor
of Virginia.
He already holds the office of lieu
tenant governor OF his state.
He is also owner OF Willard's hotel In
Washington city, with It's prodigious bar.
He Is not only directly interested in
the liquor business himself, but he Is a
plugger for saloon licenses besides.
The other day he wrote the following
letter TO Mr. III. Ii. Dsrnelle, chairman oil
the excise board of the District Of Col
umbia, and also assessor OF the same, ask
Ing that his "pal, ,""Jim' Lavler, be given
rnm license as personal favor:
"Office of Lieutenant Governor.
"RICHMoND, Va June 10, 1905.
"Mr. Fl. III. Darnelle, District Assessor.
District Building, Washington, ID. @
"MY DEAR SIR: 1beg TO bespeak your
favorable consideration of the applica-
tion OF Mr.. James 7. Lawler for q license
10 conduct saloon at the southeast
corner Of Second and G Streets, S. W.,
Washington, d. G.
"Mr. LAWYERS character is above re-
proach and he is In every respect reli
able man.
Il shall appreciate Il as personal
favor TO me II you will do everything In
your power TO aid him.
yours very truly,
"Jos e, WILLARD"
prOm clinch Valley News)
July /. 1905.
DEAR MR. LEsLTE:-After seeing
copy of the above letter, in company with
an attorney went TO the District Build
ing yesterday and saw the willsrd letter.
The place where he asks for license 10 be
granted was known as "Sawdust Hail."
a negro resort that gave great trouble up
to six or eight years ago, when the good
people prevailed on the powers that be
not to grant license. A few weeks ago, an
applicant was refused license, as the
negro preachers, the better people OF
that section and the District League OPP
posed the same. In fact the Excise Board
has stood with the good people in aiding
them In making the conditions better in
this section populated largely by negroes.
Now, candidate for the honorable
position OF Governor uses plain paper,
and has typewritten this expression:
"Ofiice OF Lieutenani-Govern at the
top, and prostitutes his official influence
by asking that license be granted, as a
personal favor, and asks that the District
Assessor, who is chairman OF the Excise
Board. do all within his power to aid the
applicant.
In word, to aid in establishing a
saloon In negro settlement where the
negro preachers have pleaded for their
people, where the good people have made
the conditions better by preventing
license from being granted for years. In
fact place where the conditions are
very bad with bar rooms aud bad enough
without them.
The good people of Washington resent
hr. Willard's action rs a man in Vir-
ginia stepping into block the goo.i work
they are doing in keeping saloons out of
the worst sections of the city. and rest MT
him using his official Influence to that
END. VIRGINIAN.