The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-10

-ACINCi an audience which was
thoroughly responsive to his di-
rect and vigorous utterances
concerning municipal govern
ment. and which almost filled
the Academy of Music, Mayor Mccarthy
delivered an address last night which
stands out as the crowning feature OF
his campaign for reelection.
Nearly every seat in the orchestra
and dress circle was occupied. and
there We're perhaps 100 persons in the
gallery. The boxes and loges We're &C.
cupied by prominent men and women.
and there was a liberal sprinklins OF
the fair sex in the audience. Hon.
Charles V. Meredith presented the
Mayor In a brief speech. which was
in the nature of a strong argument in
favor of the latter's reelection. Ths
great audience applauded enthusiastic
cally and at frequent intervals from
the time the curtain rose until 1t went
down at 10 o'clock.
Campaign's Exciting Day.
Although the Academy meeting was
the one political event OF the day.
there were other developments which
indicated that the proceedings to-day
or tonight might be of unusual inn
portance in the closing hours of tho
campaign. Contrary to expectations. it
would apply to-day to the Supreme
Court for an injunction to restrain the
City Democratic Committee. from re-
quiring citizens who go into the pri-
mary to pledge their support to the
Democratic nominees in the November
election. Along with this was tho
statement that members of the COM
mittee would endeavor a. the meeting
to- might to secure a suspension of the
rules in order to rescind the pledge
resolution. Whatever happens it is
an absolute certainty that the primary
will be held on Tuesday next unless
the committee decides to postpone 1t.
which is not within the realm of pos
sibilities.
The Palnce Gunrd.
The Palace Guard" was the Mayors
subject. He treated 1t for more than
an hour and thirty minutes in such
manner as to hold the rapt attention
of his hearers, and to draw from them
now and then hearty outbursts of ap-
proval.
The address was in many respects
unique and attractive. and though IL
was for the most part delivered with
great earnestness, there was a dash Of
humor now and then which provoked
widespread laughter and kept the au-
dience close to the speaker. At times
the Mayor rose to inspiring rhetorical
flights in appealing for the malnten-
ance of high moral standards in the
community, and on many occasions he
was forced TO suspend until the APP
plause had subsidized. In rising to one
OF his soul-stirring periods the Mayor
declared: 1T Is not for ourselves. but
for our sons and daughters that plead
when call upon the palace guard to
rally to the defense of those in the
palace against the invading hosts OF
evil"
No Harsh Criticism.
At no time did the Mayor becon,a
abusive. nor did he call the name of
Judge Richardson throughout his ex-
tended address. He referred TO him
uttered no unkind words concernn.
him, nor was he harsh in his references
to any one of whom he spoke.
Mr.. Meredith called the meeting TO
order at S;l5, and after briefly re-
ferring to the pleasure 1t afforded him
to lend his presence and support TO
the Mayors cause. he recited the ia
nous incident in the National Demo-
cratic Convention OF 1884 when Gem
eral Bragg, OF Wisconsin. in defending
Mr.. Cleveland against the attacks
made upon him by Tammany Hall,
electrified the body by declaring thae
the people loved him for the enemies
he had made.
These We're not personal enemies,
Mr., Meredith explained. in applying the
incident to the mayoralty contest, bnt
politicians who were opposed to the
great principles for which MIR CleTe~
land stood lie dwelt upon tho impor-
tance of the office or Mayor and de-
clared that il would be filed by a
man who was NOT only honest and In
telligent but who was physically active
and aggressive against the evils fre-
uuently arising to threaten the city