The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-14

opened his campaign for the
l-k guhernatorial nomination here
to-day. 1t was county court
day. and the usual court crowd was
auEmented by those vito had been at.
tractcd by the Intelligence that Mr.,
Tucker would speak. The early morn
ing train was packed, and the streets
OF Leesburg presented busy appear
alce during the forenoon.
Until djnnertime Mr.. Tucker held q
lquast-receptton on the courthouse
green. In the afternoon crowd which
packed the large court room greeted
the candidate. John II. Alexander. a
iprominent lawyer OF Leesburg. intro
duced Mr. Tucker as I>oudoun boy
whom he had helped to raise, and who
was credit to his raising. Mr.. Tucker
was greeted enthusiastically.
AS q prelude he disclaimed any in
tention OF entering into a discussion
or political issues or into a comparison
OF his own deserts with those OF the
other honorable men aspiring to the
gubernatorial nomination
In Fight to Win.
Mr.. Tucker said he had come to the
county seat of Loudoun for the pur-
pose OF telling his fellow citizens that
he had for years nurtured the high am
bitfon To be Governor of Virginia; that
he was in the fight to stay, and he
believed he was in 1t to win. He had
reserved this unequivocal public an
nouncement OF his candidacy until he
could make 1t to the people among
whom his boyllood had been passed and
under whose influence his character
had largely been nodded. He said:
When I was a. boy, stock raisers would
point to our bluegrass and declare
that 1t was the best in the world. They
would back with their Judgment and
money Loudoun colt against any
other colt in the world He captured
the audience when he added: Il want
you to know that I am just that kind
of a bluegrass colt
'.I do not anticipate" said Mr.. Tuck
5er, '.that my character either public
or private will be assailed during this
campaign, yet before 1t Is finished
may be accused Of every crime in the
category I have only this to say: My
record is open. wide open. Whatever
1 have done as a public servant may
easily be ascertained, and court the.
fullest investigation. Without any as
of a holier than thou position
1 can solemnly affirm that I have dls-
charged every public trust solely with
an eye to the public good and for
the benefit of those WHO trusted me-"
Mr.. Tucker very feelingly alluded to
an incident of the mornings court bits
tness, the appointment of trusteee
for the Middleburg Cemetery, where
five generations Of the Tucke' family
lie buried. He said:
"They were loyal to Virginia s-nd
to Loudoun, and to both am no less
loyal
when he finished speaking men
pressed from all parts of 5he court
room to shake hands with him.
1t was quite evidently Tucker
n rowd. for the principal applause fol-
owed his statement that he was in the
light to stay and win. Practically every
nan in town called on him or talked
With him on the court yard. He left
he town late in the evening. feeling
,ery grateful for the reception.
Gordon and Carlin.
J. Lindsay Gordon. of Louisa, who
s pursuing an aggressive campaign
O succeed Hon. c. G. Carlin as repre-
entative in Congress from the Eighth
District. spoke later. His
peech was especially bitter in Its de-
lunciation of the weekly press Of the
ection, which, he claimed. had been
ubsidized In tho interest of his oppo-
lent. Hc also attacked almost acri-
noniously the methods alleged to have
cen used by Mr.. Carlin to secure sue
ess at the last primary. and read a
lumber Of athdavits purporting to sub
tantiate his allegations.