Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-05-14
JUDGE MANN'S
STATEMENT.
Cogeni Reasons Against Democratic
Debates.

Mr.. Tucker, is a temperate document,
in good taste. and will carry weight. IL
will go a considerable way toward con-
vineing people that he is not afraid to
meet Mr.. Tucker.-Staunton Dispatch.
Judge Mann has given the following
statement 10 the press:
The newspapers have asked me why
L am opposed to JOINT debates. There
are several reasons why do not believe
in joint discussions between candidates
for nomination, of the nature of those
which have been offered me.
First. think such discussions are
manifestly against the interest of the
democratic party. tending to create fac
tions, and to make many members of
the party, certainly the strong friends
of the defeated candidate, dissatisfied
with and unwilling to support the nomi-
nee, whoever he may be.
Second. Because there are no i'm
portant issues to discuss upon which the
position Of each candidate has not been
fully stated in the newspapers. There
is nothing to be discussed that does not
involve personalities.
Third. Because / am tetotally op-
posed to mud-slinging and personal
abuse, and do not wish to engage in il
l am candidate for the nomination
upon my own merits, and not upon any
dement's my opponent may possess.
My instructions to those in charge of
my headquarters were that no word was
to go out from them that could in anv
possible way be in disparag ement of nv
opponent. An examination of nv files
will show that my instructions have
been obeyed to the letter. The reports
of my speeches will show that |. too.
have strictly observed this rule. I wish
from the bottom of my heart that the
campaign could be fought out along that
line.
Fourth. Because it is undignifed.
unbecoming and unseemly for gentle
men to engage in personal discussions
OF this character. What happens is
this: one man sits on q platform. while
another abuses him in manner that is
insulting and offensive, and under any
other circumstances would call for and
result in blows, while the crowd sits off
and hurrahs. Then the first man takes
his seat. and the other is expected TO
repeat the performance. Ihave never
done such thing in my life, and l don't
want to commence it now. / went
through the campaign of 1906 without
saying one unkind word about either of
my opponents, either, privately or in
debate. and without either of them saw
ing one unkind word about me. met
them occasionally and our relations were
cordial and very pleasant.
Fifth Because debates of this kird
do not enlighten the people. They are
filled with demagogery. and there is |
tendency to try to catch ones opponent
unawares. Hasty and ill-considered and
often unfounded charges are made.
which sometimes create an impression
that could be easily explained, if OPP
were afforded and if existing
were Immediately available.
Sixth. Because newspaper accounts
d such debates are never full enough
20 enable the reader to form an intelli-
gent judgment as to the merits of the
,harge, or the explanation, and are
never entirely fair. The reporter is
usually partisan of one or the other of
he candidates, and he writes his story
70 as to make it appear that his man
Won great victory, when sometimes
he reverse was true. have suffered
It their hands, even when there was no
oint debate.
Seventh. Because there is a fairer
Ind better way to acquaint the people
With the facts. If Mr.. Tucker knows
my reason why | should not be COVER
Tor of Virginia, let him make the
,harges over his own signature and in
ietail IN the newspapers. A number of
he daily newspapers are friendly to
him, and they will gladly publish them.
All ask of them is that they publish
NY replies. will ask all newspapers
friendly to my candidacy to publish any
hing Mr.. Tucker may wish to say. Let
ZACH party agree not to send anything
through the mails derogatory of the
'ther. Let everything be open and
hove board, so that all the people NAV
now all the facts. There is nothing in
ny life or in my record that have the
lightest desire to hide. l am human.
no doubtless have made some mistakes: /;
ut can say in ell earnestness that 6
hey have been mistakes of the head {
nd not of the heart. Il
These are my views and these are the q
easons why am opposed to Joint G
ebates- l am not afraid to meet Mr.. G
ucker, as some newspapers have en- v
Favored to make it appear, and / am s
ire that no one who knows me thinks S
am. have not avoided meeting Mr.. a
acker, and do not propose to avoid "
Getting him now, although, as I have b
i'd, the whole idea of such discussion t,
distasteful to me in the extreme: and a
believe will be hurtful to the demo- c,
attic party. and if persisted in will IL
hmately destroy the supremacy of g
at party in the State.
was prepared at Christiansbure and
Lebanon to answer Mr.. fuckers at
cks on me, and had there been a Joint
'cussion at either place would have
ne so. was prepared also to discuss IT
record in certain important regards ~
d reserve the ripht to do ca 49,, -. ~