Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-03-24
Judge Mann Opens His Cam
paiQn for Governor

Judge Mann Opens His Cam
paign for Governor
Judge William Hodges Mann o
Nottowsy, candidate for Governo
of Virginia, formally launched hi
campaign In an address delivered Ii
Petersburg last Thursday night
He outlined at length the platform
on which he will stand the position
he will take on many question
now agitating the public mind, in
Guiding education, good roads ant
the control Of the liquor traffic.
Judge Mapn briefly referred t
the fact Of his having come t.
Petersburg in 1867, at the age OF
Ia, with a suit of clothes and SIC
with which to uegin the battle OF
life. He knew the obstacles which
q boy without money haze to en-.
counter and said that when be
entered public life he determined
Gas far as it was possible and fol
the good Of the poor boys of Vir.
ginia, ] would strive to have the
State extend that help which would
open to every one the door of equal
opportunity, and no boy or man
should ask for more than THE,
which is the foundation principle
upon which the party to which !
belong lie founded. l have steadily
supported the candidates sof that
party in county, State and national
elections. l have had questions
end problems to submit to that
party, which is great enough to
meet and solve them all, but my
questions were always before the
primary, and when the decision
came from the majority, have
always accepted the platform and
followed the flag of Democracy in
the hands of its standardbearer.
| have never been wiser or better
tran the great Democratic party,
which brought Virginia out of the
throes of reconstruction, destroyed
the power of the ignorant and vic
eious, and established forever upon
constitutional basis the suprem.
acy of the Anglo-Ssxon race
On the liquor question, which
was the feature OF main impor-
tance under consideration, Judge
Mann stated that be would run his
campaign as local optionist. An
swering the question which has been
so.often prorounded, Judge Mann
stated that if Legislature elected
by a constituency before whom
this question had been an issue
should adopt Statewide prohf
bilion bill, and he was thoroughly
satisfied that u majority Of the
pee pie favored such bill, he
would sign 1t as Governor; but, on
tne other band,l q bill was brought
20 him for his signsture declaring
for Statewide prohibition, passed
by Legislature without previous
instruction from the people, he
would veto such il bill.
"For more than thirty five years
J. have been a jealous and, trust,
consistent advocate of The cause OF
ter perance. l have proclaimed my
convictions in every section of
the State, and | had thought
until lately that my life would be
a satisfactory answer to the ques-
tions propounded to me.
eff elected. and if during ny
term of Office, the Legislature
should pass prohibltory law
withC ut previous Instruction by
the people, 1 should veto 1t as vio
lative of the fundamental principle
IF local option and as damaging,
from my standpoint, to the bes.
permanent interest of the tenn
peIance cause.
"But should the psople elect a
Legislature upon that issue, under
such circumstances and conditions
as to satisfy me that the will of
the people had been clearly and |
fairly expressed, and should a
Legislature 80 elected pass a bill
clearly responsive to the wide
spread demand of the people ex
pressed at the polls, believing
that the Governor of Virginia is
as much the servant of the people
as are the members of the General
Assembly, Ishould feel obliged to
sign such bill. securing to them |
their wishes So expressed, by their
instructed representatives.
"Should l be elected Governor
of Virginia and should the Legis-
lature during my term of office
psss an act submitting the ques-
ton of Statewide prohibition to
the vote of the people, recognizing
as i do the right of the people to
pass upon all matters pertaining to
their interests, would sign the
BILL"
DIR. McCormack's Address
The Medical Society of Lexine