Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-05-22

probable candidacy for the gaberna'a
rial nomination at next years Ls'mo
cratic primary. | am candidate tei
To Congress- and nave nor
cared 10 be running for two onices ~
the same time. nor 10 atVtl' 'he "'
tention OF the people Of Virginia from
the isst,es OF an important pressure"
tial election. However. In view oil
the threat 10 assaii my character as
q private citizen in the event that
shall. rs an aspirant for governor, aiS'
cuss the public. record OF any o.ner
candidate, Il may not be inorportuhe
to say now that. whether J am c""'
aidate for governor Or not. shall nor
hesitate to exercise my right to us.
cuss publtc issues and the relation OF
public men to such issues. II ah'
candidate ! shall do this Openly "h
the hustings. and H. am not can
didate | shall do 1t openly In the col
ninns Of my newspaper: and no rear
of personal criticism from you, or
from any other source. will alter inis
determinations. Ny conception Of the
Office Of governor Of Virginia Is that
Il Is not place TO be gotten by tue
mere adept In the solicitation OF
votes. 1t Is not an honor to be ses
cured by this man because he aid
not get Il before. or that man De-
cause he wants II now, or the other
man because he can manipulate the
machinery. or by any man because ne
win serve the purpose OF enc faction
or another Of the Democratic party.
II In a high position. for which q lctti'
zen may honorably strive I'm full view
of all the people. standing confidently
upon hts personal character. present
ing msdestiy his putiic record. FRANK,
ly inviting and manfully. responding
to fair criticism and, fearless!y assai!.
ing whatever Of essential error or
wrong he may find In the view or ac.
ton Of his competitor. With maiica
toward none and charity for all. Il Ia
the business of a public man. fin once
or seeking Office. to pursue the right
as God enables him to see the right
and II the pursuit prompts him to
make criticism boldly or. to accept t.
,miably. he should no more hesitate
o. proceed in the one case than to
SuDHllt IN tHe otucT. 80 90 49,, e i
II factional servility or personal 80,
licitation, either or both. IL all that re-,
nains OF politics in Virginia. want
10 participation In 1t. II begging votes
Ia to be the chief occupation Of the
candidates for governor, + shall not
be one Of them. In my view issues
IF vital import will confront the PEG.
- - fl r,,.,,,,, ~, xys, olfh-- ot,ao I'm.
;olving considerations OF morality as
we'll as Of civil economy. questions Of
party integrity as well as Of executive
administration. We have high author
nv for the dramatic contention that
party loyalty il badge Of honor"
And II Is. but times come when men.
,ause to inquire whether he best ex.
mplifies loyalty to party who STERN
ty stands against the prostitution Of;
t. opportunities and abuse Of Its powsl
n or he who twists its functions and
shames It's best traditions. Men differ,
IL to the relation OF public servants,
o quasi-publIc, or private interestAt
they disagree In their conceptions OF
judicial integrity aud their views Of
onicial propriety. They confuse party
or factional advantage with public
policy. Some have the spirit OF V-l
ranny. and others OF federation: some
he spirit OF subservience and othersl
II independence. Some practice craft
and others open methods. And. thus
,rrayed on one side or another OF Is.
iues, minor and great. their type aud,
'emper as public men are precisely
effected In their putl!c records. Tol
:ay that these records may not prop
srly be discussed by q candidate for
high distinction is childish. To COM
plain OF their presentation In the open
lay Is peevish. To threateusA public
nan who shall dare present them,
nth vindictive personal reprisal Isl
al but incredible. u ever there wasI
! time In Virginia when men and is-
sues needed to be discussed, Il Is NJ |
hand. And they viii be discussed uni
'ess the next primary campaign ial
he state resolves Itself by tauei
icquiescence into a competitions of
lstute political management on oaej
side and expert eajolesy of the sotersl
VI the other. Why anybody should
'bject to such discussion before thei
'eople. CT betray apprehension that
will excite bitterness or dege neratet
'nto personal abuse, is comet hing 81
'annot exactly comprehend. Nothing
II the sort has ever occurred In anyi
sampaign in which have been . pas-i
icipant: and the only suggestion that
. have seen from any scource that u
nay &c desirable 10 proceed beycadi
legitimate criticism OF puhiIc conduct
'nto the d'main Of assault npou pst-i
ale character il contained On theI
hreat Of the Blackstone Courier ssj
'ssail my record a. . private cisssea}
-hcuId dare to discuss the pussiei
-ecord Of ;ts candidate for esverwur
As I said At The beeinniss. 70 rrt
eat IN the conclusion. " the Coprierj
an impeach nv record AZ Q privasel