Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-05-05
No Discussion Saturday Between
Judge Mann and Mr.. Tucker

No Discussion Saturday Betweel
Judge Mann and Mr.. Tucker
The following report CT tn
widely published meeting a
Christiansburg last Saturday be-
Judge William Hodges Mann and
Hon. Harry St. George Tucker az
peared in Sundays LynchburG
News, from a staff correspondent:
ION the occasion Of the visit OF
Judge Mann and Mr.. Tucker here
today to address the people OF
Montgomery, there was no great
outpouriug of citlsens; and there
was no joint discussion to enter
tain those who did attend. Nor,
indeed. was any incident connect
ed with the day of ct oil exciting
or stirring naturs.
$50 far as surface signs could
show, everything, including the
speech making ofathe two gubsr.
material aspirants, was as serene
a. the proverbial May morning
and twice as quiet. No candidate
with the bells on; none with the
gaffs in--no victor, no vanquished
nothing except all promise of q
lively tilt between Mann and
Tucker, gone hopelessly to protest
and in period Of placid calm
whore thunder and lighting were
expected.
"But In the wherefore OF 1t all
lin the preliminariss that ocourr-
ed with respect to challenge BY
Tucker and reply by Mann and so
forth and 90 forth-all ending in
an hours speech each, without the
element of disputatiop--in this
wherefore there's something o bit
interesting. That tho people
thought anyhow, who were near
on the inside to know what was
going on. For it had to do with
the means by which the joint dis.
cussion movement was hit over the
head and summary put to sleep,
together with the speculation as to
who suffered most In consequence,
Mann or Tucker. About these
things the public will have to hear
the evidence and judge for itself.
"Mr. Tucker arrived here at /
O'Clock and lost no tine in formal
ly challenging Judge Mann to joint
discussion. Judge Mann replied
by deprecating discussions be-
tween Democrats. ESPECIALLY in a
close county such as Montgomery,
and reiegated the matter to tho
County Democratic Cen mittee. TO
this Mr.. Tucker agreed, but at the
same time, expressed the hope that
the committee would not veto the
discussion. Then came the fat
that settled tbings-a written
signed by two members
of the Montgomery County Com.
mittee and three members of the
Radford City Committee, deciding
against any debate and urging that
no person aIities be used in the sepa.
rate speeches of the two candi-
datee.
"This program was promptly
The two candidates al
once put in appearance at the
Town Hall, and proceeded to have
their say. The audience was small
one count indicating $50. A
liberal estimate would be 225. Not
only u comparatively elm atten'
dance was ~, for an occasion CT
this sort, bat it lacked enthusiasm
woefully. Courteous. closely at
tentive and all that, this gathering
Of eovereigns, but somehow the
ginger wasn't there; or If there
it didn't put in appearance. The
resson perhaps lay in the fact that
the people, or many of them, ex-
pected Joint discussion with some
brilliant thrusts and counter
thrusts; the attack and parry
straight from-tbe-shoulder blow
and deity executed side step; the
OF wit and fire Of retort--a
forensic duel, in short, which Viz
ginians, God bless thier politics.
loving souls, love 60 much--per.
b APPS this is the reason why there
was no 'arousement' here today.
LAS to the speeches, they follow
ed closely the tenor Of the address
es which Messrs. Mann and Tucker
have been delivering in this cam
paign for some weeks past, outlines
Of which have from time to time
in various Virginis news.
papers. Applause was scant,
Judge Mann coming in for the
larger share of it,"