The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-10-26
HON. W. A. JONES
Delivers Strong Speech here-Dls'
cusses Issues Of Campaign.
Etc., ETC., Etc.

The me gathering OF DenOCTdIs ~
the courthouse here Friday night, who
heard the splendid speech of Congress
man w. A. Jones, were highly enter
tanned for nearly two hours. Mr.. Jones
was introduced in appropriate terms by
Mr.. w. ID. Scott, secretary of the City
Democratic Committee, who represent
ed Col. +. ID. Cole, city chairman, who
was prevented from being present by
sickness. Capt. T. McCracken also oc-
cupied seat on the stand.
Mr.. Jones plunged at once into dis
cussion of the State campaign. lie
told of the record of the Democratic
party. which has controlled State al
fairs for the past 25 years, and said 1t
was for the voters to determine by It's
record whether to continue the suprem-
acy of that party.
lie stated that he had voted in the
primary for his personal friend, Mr..
Tucker, for the gubernatorial nominal
ton, but Judge Mann was nominated
and now Judge Mann and not MIR. Tuck
err is his candidate. The Republican
convention at Newport News was dom
mated by one individual, Hon. {. b.
Slemp. State chairman, who dictated
every nomination and the men named
were not the choice of the party. Gill
lespie declined the nomination. Slemp
himself declined and Slemp then noml-
mated Kent, a Federal Office holder.
The charges made by Kent and the
other speakers are in the main without
foundation and on the question OF ex-
travagance and expenditures he chal-
lenged the Republicans TO state what
appropriations they would cut off. lie
referred TO the fact that Republican
CORRESPONDENTS, who report every meet
ing to Mr.. Slemp, sent OIL highly eX-
aggerated reports to newspapers with
the hope of putting enthusiasm IN the
Republican campaign, ana cited the
case at Heathville, where Mr.. Kent
was scheduled TO speak. but did not APP
pear and some of the papers the follow
ing morning said a rousing meeting was
held, that Kent received an ovation and
made a great impression.
Mr.. Jones discussed the candidacy of
Mr.. Brent for Superintendent of Pub
lie instruction, one of the most import
ant positions to be filled. The Repub-
licans in their intellectual poverty had
settled on Mr.. Brent as the nominee,
because he voted against Bryan and
voted for Taft. Mr.. Brent in public
speech at Warsaw in answer TO an in
quiry by Mr.. Jones as TO how long he
had be a Republican, answered 'since
the primary. Mr.. Brent said that if
Tucker had been nominated for COVER
nor he would have voted the entire
Democratic ticket; he had been nOml-
mated by the Republicans in July and
this statement was made in September.
Mr.. Jones. referring to Mr.J. l.. Shell
ton, said he had powerful voice, but
uses very little logic. Quoted him as
saying in a speech at Bowling Green
that the Democrats had had only two
respectable Governors since the war.
Mr.. Shelton has denied using the word
respectable" but Mr.. Jones called on
Mr.. NJ. G. Willis, in the audience, who
was present at the Bowling Green meet
ing, to corroborate the language used
by Mr.. Shelton. the word being either
respectable. indecent or Of some similar
expression. Mr.. Jones paid high tri-
butte to Gen. Kemper, Ex-Governor
Holiday and Gen. Fitz Lee. all now de-
ceased, and said il was not necessary
to tell of those still living who have
served as Governors, as everyone is IA
milar with their records.
"No wonder" Mr.. Jones said, that
the Republican campaign has fallen fiat,
when their speakers go around and dis.
gust the intelligence of the people OF
Virginia. Mr.. Jones said the prerequi-
site for Republican preferment seems
to be a Democrat who has abused
the Republican party.
When the Republicans turned affairs
over to the Democrats % years ago, the
State was bankrupt, warrants were not
honOred, teachers not paid and the
credit of the State ruined. The charges
made by Republican speakers now, he
said, are as reckless as the men them
selves. He charged that the Repub-
leans were stating that they would
give more money TO various objects and
yet charged the Democrats with ex-
travagance. Tax values have increased
TO such an extent under Democratic
rule that the rate of taxation was re-
duced and still the revenue increased.
The State of Virginia is second in agri-
culture, Texas only being ahead. Vlr-
ginia's corn crop last year brought $3o,-
900, 600. Virginia is first in the country
as trucking State, and one county IN
Virginia raised last year one-twentleth
of all the sweet potatoes produced IN
this country. There has been built in
this district a great enterprise, The
Newport News ShiPBuilding Co., which
has built AZ per cent. of the ships OF the
American Navy.
The Democrats got rid of the cOnsti-
tuition put on them by Republicans;
called for a constitutional convention;
created Corporation Commission; rail-
roads and other corporations now pay
their portion of taxes, bringing in more
than 81 900, 600 per year. The consti-
tuition disfranchised some people and
enfranchised others and gives pure
electorate.
He referred to the two cent rate on
railroads; separate cars for white and
colored passengers; the new electorate
and asked with telling effect if the peo-
pie would have these things II Republi-
cans had been depended upon to accom-
plish them.
Mr.. Jones said the last Legislature
controlled by Republicans appropriated
81. so towards Confederate pensions, the
last Democratic Legislature appropri-
ated 1926. 900 for that object. In addi-
ton S427, 900 was appropriated for the
insane hospitals. He asked if the Re-
publicans would deny these appropria-
tons. He stated that the Democrats
established an agricultural department
that does not cost one cent of the money
of taxpayers; brings in revenue to the
State from the tax on the tags oil
fertilizer manufacturers.
He spoke of the Bureau of Labor;
reformatory for colored reople; Normal
School at Farmville and Harrisonburg
and the one to be established at Fred
ericksburg; of the University of Vir-
ginia, where any Virginia boy can enter.
SJ a. ,,,,hI;c schoola The record of