Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-06-25
OUR FAVORITE.
From James River Clarion

WheCner we have said it before or
not makes little difference, we state
now with much pleasure that the Clar-
ion Internationally supports Judge
William Hodges Mann as a candidate
for Governor before the August primary.
ConEelentiapsly we COULD not well sup
port another candidate, for we are con-
yinced that Judge Mann is the best man
available for the place
In the first place. this man is clean
In his political life and has always
stood for sound principles. We do not
believe he is now or ever has been in
any way influenced by the railroad
company which formerly employed him
as attorney, and we do not believe he is
tied to any corporation. We do not be-
lieve he has done anything but his duty
in the Legislature of which he has been
a member for so many years, and we
think Mr.. Tucker is reduced to extrem-
tiles when he undertakes to attack
Judge Mann's record as a member of
the Virginia Senate.
Judge Mann has been the best friend
that rural Virginia ever had and has
done more for the State in general
than any man who has lived in the
State for the past fifty years. We
mean, of course, with his Mann Bill
which succeeded perfectly In riddng the
rural sections of the hated and despised
heroic fight against the saloon when he
was in the minority and had the ridicule
of his companions. and ne fought it out
before the eyes of the people hesitat-
ing at no difficulty and stopping at no
obstacle until his bill became a law.
The rural bars went, and with the rural
bars went an unspeakable amount of
debauchery and political corruption.
All honor to Judge Mann for this great
and heroic fight.
He still stands for temperance and all
forms Of prohibition wherever he thinks
it will do good, and he states openly
that in statewide fight he would vote
''dry."
Mr.. Tucker, on the other hand, has
done little or nothing for temperance,
stands in with the liquor people, and
delights to get up before crowd and
state that in a statewide election. he
would vote wet" Thus Mr.. Tucker
seeks the influence of the liquor people
and all those who were disgruntled at
the passage and enforcement of the
Mann Law.
Judge Mann has been more consis-
tent Democrat than Mr.. Tucker. He
has always fought for the party, though
in high and honorable way. and has
stood by that incompatible Democrat,
William Jennings Bryan, in ali his fights
for democracy. Mr.. Tucker bolted the
party in 1896. when the party needed
him most, and was disgruntled for
several years. If he had stuck to his
principles and stated openly that he
could not conscientiously vote and speak
for free silver, We would not say any
thing about this. But Mr.. Tucker
now comes before the people and seeks
to make them believe that he has been
strong party man and an active
worker In the ranks. The people of the
Tenth District know better than this.
But we do not attack MIR. fuckers
character. He is capital fellow, well
reared. highly educated, man of many
good parts. Those who know him love
him and trust him, and he would nc
doubt make a very good Governor.
But with all that. we cannot see how
any good Democrat or any good mar
who loves the cause of temperance, fol-
which Judge Mann has so long stood
can vote against Judge Mann and fol
Mr.. Tucker.
And our belief is that Judge Manr
will win with a handsome majority, anC
that daily his strength is becoming
greater and his supporters more loyal
Mr.. Tucker is raising hurrah, but Judg.
Mann is going to get the votes on elec
tion day.