Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-03-26

ing ehAS SdHipdlSH, EVERY WOlu SdN
will meet with criticism from my op
ponent. and trust with the approva
of my friends. have to be particular
in what l say, but not from the stand
point of trimmer, as propose to voice
my honest convictions from this plat
form"
Senator Lassiter keyed the audience
to expect deliverance on the liquor
question by his introduction, in which
he said that in order to accomplish any
great reform it is necessary for the re.
former to be specialist. 1T very
often happens, he vent on, "that q
reformer, meeting with opposition,
becomes an extremist. When this hap
pens the opponents of the reform begin
to speak of him as fanatic, but in the
history of human civilization few great
reforms which have ultimately accom-
plished good for the people have been
achieved without the inspiration, the
devotion and the seIf-sacrifce of some
so-called fanatic.
RESPONSIBILITY A SAFETY VALVE.
''The best safety valve for men hold
ing extreme views is responsibility.
Rarely has it happened that great re-
former has failed to become more con-
servative when the people have finally
been won over to his views and have
intrusted him with the responsibility of
putting them into execution"
After reviewing his relations with
Judge Mann in the State Senate and his
record on a number of public questions,
Senator Lassiter said he had refused in
the campaign of 1907 to commit himself
to certain propositions then advocated
by the Anti-Saloon League, believing
them contrary to the State Constitution.
zone of these propositions, he con-
tinued, "was Incorporated into what
was known as the Byrd bill, and
rushed through the House of Delegates.
When the bill came over to the Senate,
/ offered an amendment, and stated why
/ thought it unconstitutional. Judge
Mann, who had charge of the bill in the
Senate, stated that he thought / was
right. and himself prepared amendments
to meet the difficulty.
'While it is true that Judge Mann
has been identified particularly with the
measures seeking to regulate the sale
of liquor, and while it is true that his
position on these questions has secured
for him the support of large number
of people who hold similar views, it is
also true, in my judgment, that in the
event of his election he will be found
capable of representing worthily the
people of his State. not only in regard
to one, but in regard to all her great
interests.
TO "THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Judge Mann spoke for just one hour,
his views meeting with sympathetic
applause from both the platform and
the house, his Introductory remarks, in
a humorous vein, being addressed to
'the Commander-in-Chi Mrs. Mann,
who occupied box to the right. The
most vigorous applause of the evening,
however, came when the speaker de-
clared that the advancement of the
cause of temperance under present con-
ditions was best served by the policy of
local option. Rev. James Cannon, jr.,
in the audience, taking vigorous part in
the handclapping.
The speaker was positive and une-
quivocal in his denial of charges that he
had compromised his position on the
liquor question either to secure the sup
port of the State Democratic organiza-
tion or of the Anti-Saloon League, quot
ing from his platform of four years ago
to show that there was no modification
of his views.
81 have made no agreement or bar
gain with any one," he said, nor has
any one made one for me, nor have
been asked to make one, directly or in
directly. should like to have, If may
have it without pledge or promise, the
support of the Anti-Saloon League, and
| should also like to have the support
of the great Democratic organization in
Virginia, which some people call the
ring; but if have to make pledge
which violated my oath of office, will
never have that support. 1t has never
been asked of me, or even suggested.
do not want the Office at the sacrifice of
the principles for which / stand"