The Washington times., 1908-08-04
LAWYERS PROMISE
VIRGINIA TO TAI 7
Members of Bar Association
Pledge Support to Repub-
lican Leader.
By JAMES HAY, .[R.

} j
HOT SPRINGS, Va, Aug. 4.-William
Howard Taft Is hearing things today
that are calculated 10 make him see
visions Of his party's enormous gains in
Virginia and throughout the South in
November.
Cheering tidings and rOseate descrip-
tons Of his popularity are brought 10
him. and they came from some OF the
most prominent members Of the Vir-
ginia Bar Association. men who have
been lifelong Democrats. from birth,
training. End tradition. They are telling
him that Virginia is for Tart, and that
30 per cent of those who vote for Bryan
will do 1t in the hope that Democracy
will be defeated at the polls.
Wyndham r. Meredith, president OF
the Bar Association. and at the front
Of the Richmond bar, said TO Mr.. Taft
and others:
II have been a Democrat all my life.
but my vote will go 10 Taft next No
vember. ! simply cannot stand aor
Bryan and Organism, This 1 think, Is
the position or great majority Of the
thinking, conservative element through
out the State. And I venture 10 state
that 40 per cent Of those VINO vote for
Bryan will do il with the hope and be-
lief that he VIII be defeated at the
polls,
1T requires only good leadership and
more perfected organization in Vir-
glnia on the part Of the Republicans 20
DO disastrous things 10 the Democrats
Another for Taft.
Stuart c. Leake, commercial agent for
the RichmOn. Fredericksburg, and Po-
tomac railroad. is here this week, and
he sings the same Taft song. He trav-
els from Washington to New Orleans,
and has excellent opportunities for find
| ing out the political sentiment in the
| Southern States.
Il shall vote for Taft" he said today,
| although I always have been Demo
Crat heretofore. 1 am tired of Bryan
| ism Taft. so far as I have been able
20 observe. will get the united railroad
vote throughout the South. Railroad
men and thinking business men in that
/ section know that Taft will continue
business prosperity. and will indulge IN
no upheavals Of policies and systems
Speeches OF this sort are numerous
today. Mr.. Taft hears them all with
evident pleasure, but he has not yet
! let himself be blinded 10 the necessary
! difficulty he would have in breaking
into the solid South and capturing a
State. He remembers that all Virgin
1 ianS have ornamented their tongues with
the motto, we strive 10 please and
Association. which has attracted more
! native politeness and the general de-
sire 20 be pleasant.
Nevertheless. 81 is in accord with the
reports he has received from his lieu
tenants and from many disaffected
Dem ocrats
Meets the Lawyers.
The candidate today attended the
opening session of the Virginia Bar
Association which has attracted mora
than 200 Of the States lawyers 10 this
place. He heard with evident pleasure
a mastery address from President
Meredith. intended to refute the prop
oEition that the Federal Government
should control intrastate commerce.
The lawyers have brought with them
| their wives and daughters. and in the
last twentY-fOU hours Mr.. Taft ma =
been introduced TO more pretty women
than he ever saw In such q short space
Of time. He started out by trying to
say something appropriate about the
I beauty Of Southern womanhood every
| time one was introduced to him, but
| they came so thick and fast that he
gave IL up. His voca bularly ran out
He VIII address the association Thurs
day morning on Delays IN Litigation -
and THURSDAY night he will make an
other speech at the associations annual
1 banquet. on August y he viii deliver
an address to monster open-air meet
ing OF Republicans from all sections OF
the state, this speech being intended
really TO open the campaign for the Re
pdblicans in the State and to arouse
/ enthusiasm in the cause throughout the
| South.
This afternoon Mr. and Mrs. Taft will
be the guests of Harry st. George Tuck
eT, candidate for Governor Of Virginia,
on a coaching party through the noun
TafnS