Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-03-26
MANN'S PLATFORM
GIVEN TO PUBLIC
In Petersburg Address He
Declares Position on
States Paramount
Questions.
NO BARGAINS" MADE TO SECURE
VOTES.
Under No Agreement With Liquor
People or Anti-Saloon League, He
Would Veto "State- Wide" Bill Un.
less Authorized by the People
lRiehmond Times-pirratch.l !

lRichmond -Dispatch.1
PETERSBURG, VA, March Is. -Educa-
tion, good roads and the control of the
liquor traffic formed the chief topics
discussed by Judge William Hodges
Mann in the opening speech of his
campaign for the Democratic nomina-
tion for the governorship of Virginia at
the Academy of Music here tonight. In
discussing the liquor question he declared
for continuation of the policy of local
option, indicating that he would veto
Statewide prohibition act if passed by
the Legislature during his term of office
unless the majority of the members of
the Legislature had been distinctly
elected on this platform He vigorously
opposed compulsory education, and de-
manded reform in State banking laws
which would guarantee safety and
honesty in the administration of financial
institutions.
VIEWS WELL. RECEIVED.
About seventy-five vice-presidents oc-
cupied seats on the stage, and there
were a few women in the boxes. DR.
j. M. Burke. chairman of the Demo
cratic City Committee, presided, and
the speaker was introduced by State
Senator Charles T. Lassiter. Rev.
James Cannon. jr., of the Anti-Saloon
League, and Jacob Umlauf, of Rich
mond, author of the early closing bill in
that city, occupied seats in the audience,
and both afterwards expressed their APP
proval of the stand taken by Judge
Mann in regard to the temperance ques-
tion- 1t was in regard to this plank of
his platform that the attention of the
evening centered. the speaker himself
commenting on this fact as, late in his
address, he turned to that part of his
manuscript and read with emphasis
three paragraphs relating to the liquor
question, burst of applause meeting
each statement.
HIS TEMPERANCE PLATFORM.
After commenting on the decision of
the Supreme Court in the Ward law case
as relieving the situation in this can
vass." and emphatically denying any
pledge, or promise, or IDEAL" either
with the Anti-Saloon League or with
the Democratic State organization. he
outlined his liquor platform as follows:
eff during my term of office the Legis-
iature should pass prohibitory law
without previous instructions by the
people l should veto it as violative of
the fundamental principle of local option,
and as damaging, from my viewpoint.
to the best permanent interest of the
temperance cause.
"But should the people elect Legis-
iatcre upon that issue, under such cir
eumstances and conditions as to satisfy
me that the will of the people had been
clearly and fairly expressed, and should
a Legislature so elected pass bill
clearly responsive to the widespread
demand of che people expressed at the
polls, believing that the Governor of
Virginia is as much the servant of the
people as are the members of the Cen
eral Assembly. should feel obliged to
sign such bill, securing to them their
wishes so expressed by their instructed
representatives.
Should / be elected Governor of Vir-
ginia, and should the Legislature, dur.
ing my term of office, pass an act sub
mitting the question of Statewide pro
hibition to the vote of the people, recog-
nizing as | do the rights of the people
to pass upon all matters pertaining tc
their interests, would sign such bill. p
STUCK TO MANUSCRIPT.
In introducing the speaker. State
Senator Lassiter asked permission to
read his remarks, saying that other
wise he might wander off into discus
sion of good roads. !" Judge Mann also
stuck closely to his manuscript, reading
with vigor and emphasis, and was ap-
parently closely familiar with the text.
He said he would much prefer to tear
!up the manuscript and speak from the
inspiration of having his supporters
present, but continued:
81 know what have To faca in oman