The Washington herald., 1907-05-22
WASHINGTON HERALD BUREAU,
fEaH Trlefhaue liA.i
Gomez Of Prince and Royal Street

iBelI Telephone 49,
Corner Of Prince and Royal Streets.
Alexandria. Va. May 2l.-This city fig
ured tonight as the political storm cen
ter Of the Eighth Virginia district, when
three Of the candidates Tor the Democratic
nomination for Congress-Judge Charles
+. Nicol. r. Lindsey Gordon, and Charles
e Carlin-addressed the voters at a big
mass meeting in the opera house. Fresh
from vigorous contests with each other
before the voters of the several counties
Of the district. the speakers carried the
war of oratory and debate :nto Alexandria
city for the first time in the campaign
They brought with them q great store Of
energy. which was let loose with telling
effect
A representative audience. including a
large number Of ladies' turned out to
greet the champions. When Chairman
Charles Benheim, Of the city Democratic
committee. called the meeting TO order
in short address. the spacious hall was
filed to the galleries. Among those pres
ent were many citizens from the counties
of Alexandria and Fairfax.
Flowers for CRrIin.
Each candidate received fattering
share Of applause. Mir. Carlin, whose
home is in this city was the first speaker
presented by 1Ir. Bendheim. As he arose.
amid loud and prolonged cheering, he was
presented with several beautiful 1oral
tributes by some of his local admirers
Mr.. Gordon. who followed, devoted much
of his speech 20 a defense of his action
as Il member Of the State constitutional
convention in voting TO proclaim the con-
stituuGu He declared that he was max
ing the keynote Of his campaign battle
against mca1paliss. trusts. and all op-
prcssive combinations in State or national
affairs
no Juiga Nic0l was assigned the closing
address. The crowd. which was undimin-
isIed when he arose, listened with closest
attention SO lis discussion of the ISSUES.
and literally aQpl5udad iu response TO his
appeals for support at the polls. Judge
Nicol referred % his record ON me bench.
when ne was closely identified with .he
interests of Alexandra city. He made a
strong appeal u the citizens 60 cast their
ballots for the best man in the race,
without regard 10 the particular point
Ct The district I'm which hc resides His
tEpra ssi0H Of confident assurance that a
great many people in the audience were
his friends and supporters seemed fully
justified hv the stirring responses the
declaration received
C-rIin EicIds RosfFum.
1ir. CarEu. after making a few remarks.
yielded the stage 90 the others. He said
that while the work of the campaign had
kept him away from his home much OF
the time. be was fully assured by the
ovation ne had received that his inter
ests ia Alexandra had been well looked
after. Reasons of ur0priety. he said. for
bade his making political speech ON ,hat
occasion, as Judge Nicol and Mr.. Gordon
had given way in his favor when he was
a visitor nc political meetings at their
homes. As be sat down his friends took
another occasion 10 express their sup
port
At the outset of his speech. Mr.. Cor
don paid his respects 10 Judge NicOl in
some cagstic criticisms of the latter :
formal platform, from a copy Of which
the speaker read ut length adding q
running commentary. He then took up a
defense Of his record in the constitu-
tonal convention I'm voting to proclaim
the constitution.
Follows Constituents Wishes.
'I was in favor Of submitting It TO the
new electorate" Nr. Gordon said, bat
added that when he found that course
out of the question. he decided against
voting for referring the constitution TO
the unabridged electorate, because he
believed that action would defeat the
purpose of the convention. In casting h:s
ballot for proclamation, he asserted. he
was following the directly expressed
wishes of his constituents. who. in a great
mass meeting tu Louisa. adopted a res0lu-
tiOu calling upon bin to vote for the
proclamation Of the new organic law.
In leaving that subject Mr.. Gordon re-
asserted his confidence that mis- action
was in accord with the desire and inteili-
gence Of the best element of the State.
He favored securing Federal assistance
for the goOd-rOads movement in the State.
and took issue with Judge Nicol on the
latter's contention that such aid should
be given absolutely TO the State so as TO
be free from government control over the
Virginia highways. Touching on national
questions, the speaker paid some warm
tributes to President Roosevelt.
Judge NicoI Replies.
A considerable portion Of Judge Nicors
speech was a reply 10 Mr. Gordon and a
counter attack. Judge Nic0l explained
that he had not called the merits of the
State constitution into question, but had
simply criticised Mr.. Gordon's action as
a member in voting to proclaim the State
law after having pledged himself to
submit the constitution 10 the people. %
He also attacked Mr.. Gordon for declar-
ing himself a strong Democrat and then
directing a part of his speech 10 praise
Of a Republican President. For his part.
he said. he reserved his tributes for a
Democratic President. The mention of
Bryan's name at that point occasioned
an outburst from the audience.
Judge NicOl then proceeded to a discus
sion OF several questions touched upon in
his platform, dwelling upon his claim
that the government should make appro-
priatlOns for the Improvement of roads
in the State. He asserted the belief in the
restriction of immigration in the interests
Of American labor. At that juncture he
took occasion 90 deny the report which
he said had been circulated To the effect
that he was opposed to the eight-hour
law. This measure he declared TO be a
most commendable measure. In closing.
Judge Nicol said ne would gracefully
accept the decision Of. the voters, whether
for or against him.
Train Crew Sentenced,