Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-02-14
KNOWS NOTH|lG OF ANY ALLIANCE
Refers to Record as Railroad Attor-
ney; His Election to Senate; Vote
on Rhea Nomination and "Rino Pol
itician" AIleeation-Deelare He
Was Terror to Yankees.
Especial to The Daily Press.

RICHMOND. VA, Feb 13.-Judge
William Hodges Mann. of NOttOway
candidate tor governor of Virginia,
tonight issued formal statement in
answer to the editorial denunciatiOn
OF several days ago. in which Judge
Mann was attacked on his COHfeder-
ate record, his career in the Virginia
legislature, his position on the qucs-
ton of temperance, the direct charge
being made that coalition exists be-
tween the anti-saloon leaders and the
Democratic ring politicians for the
purpose OF electing Judge Mann gov
ernOr.
Answers in Detail.
Judge Mann takes the various
charges up singly and ANSWERS them
in detail. giving his record as Con-
federate soldier and as An attorney
for the Norfolk & Western Railway.
while a member of the state leSiS-
iature; denies that the Anti-SalOon
League has made any compact with
the Democrats or anybody else for
the furtherance of his ambition to
be governor, and says it is absurd
to believe that the antisalOOn con-
vention gave any promise to the
liquor men tor the purpose of aiding
his campaign, winding up with flat
denial that he is the candidate Of
any ring"
His Seat in Senate.
Regarding the charge that he &C
cepted his first seat in the Virginia
senate while his right to it was un-
der a cloud, Judge Mann says tina.
no evidence of any kind was ever
produced to show that there was any
fraud in his election; that no charge
OF fraud was ever made except by
his political enemies. and that he did
not know then and does not know
now, who took the papers from the
clerks office or for what reason they
were taken. and that he believed
then. and believes now. that he was
honestly elected.
Judge Mann says that he offered
10 resign his seat in the senate If
any evidence Of fraud could be pro-
duCed.
Was Special Railway Counsel.
Regarding the charge that he was
attorney for the Norfolk & Western
Railway while a member OF the state
senate Judge Mann says that his sole
connection with the company was to
defend damage suits in which he was
specially employed; that he did not
receive any salary. but charged a fee
in each case. and was never un-
der any obligation to the company
He never accepted a retainer or fee
about any except strictly legal bust
ness. and never about anything on
which the legislature would have 10
pass. On several occasions he voted
for measures which were opposed by
the Norfolk & Western.
The Rhea Nomination.
In regard to his action touching
np0n the confirmation Of Judge Rhea
Il. be a member of the state corpora
ton commission. Judge Mann says
that as a member Of the committee
on confirmation, and as a member
OF the legislature. he voted for the
confirmation tecause the evidence
produced before the committee com
PEELED him TO do so. The charges
against Judge Rhea. he says. were
not sustained by the Republican mem
hers making them. and that the re-
port OF his committee was sustained
by an overwhelming majority Of the
StstdtuIN
Says"Ysnkees'' Threatened Him.
Judge Mann then goes on 10 relate
his record as a Confederate soldier,
Z, Hing how he volunteered while yet
: lad. about the several engagements
in which he participated. how the
threat was made by the Yankees that
Inc would be hung IL captured because
lof his activity in penetrating their
lines and how he was finally dis
charged from active service because
81 physical infirmitiss from which he
J. vet suffering.
A. TO Ring" charsea
As 10 the general charge that he
is a ring candidate. Judge Mann save
, tina, he has not made. and will not
make. anv compromise or combination
o. any kind and that he has made
no promise or pledge TO any men or
set Of men. and adds that II elected
governor he will be absolutely free
10 act and will act for the best in.
ferrsts Of all the people. He says
the Anti saloon League has not en-
dorscd him nor has been asked 20 DO
80 He says that so far as he knows
there are no facts TO justify the