Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-04-09
HOLDS FOR
LOCAL OPTION.
In Rousing Manchester Meeting
Judge Mann Reiteratss His
Stand of Years.
Saturdays Times-DispatchD

closed the most successful speech of his
campaign for the governorship of vir-
ginia In Leader Theatre. in Manchester.
last night, his audience being large and
responsive, greeting with enthusiasm
his humorous sallies. From the volume
of applause. it might be inferred that
the position of the candidate as to
schools and on the liquor question, met
the approval of his audience, but ap-
plause was lacking when he talked for
quarter of an hour or more on good
roads.
The speaker made no reference to
his manuscript, and. throwing in MANY
side comments which kept the audience
IN good humor, from time to time he
stirred the entire house to applause.
Charles L. Page. Commemorative
Attorney of Manchester, introduced
Judge Mann. his easy manner and fluent
tribute giving the candidate a good
send-off. Mr.. Page went into some
detail to defend the record of Judge
Mann as Confederate veteran. saw
ing that at the age of seventeen. he
had enlisted az private soldier in the
Southern cause, and had sustained
severe injuries at the battle of Seven
Pines. which would have justified him
in retiring from the service. However.
with some necessary intermission. he
had continued in the service to the
close OF the war, and came forth as he
had entered, private soldier.
"A sheer was cast on his record from
this platform last week." he said.
The wonder is not that he did not
come from the army a general or a
colonel, but that he continued in the
service at all to the close of the war. -
Mr.. Page concluded by presenting
Judge Mann as ''the next Governor of
Virginia." and the candidate received a
most fiattering reception.
A Self made Man.
His address was mainly on three
great issues-schools, roads and the
liquor problem. He declared himself
self-made man, and said the struggles
he had gone through as poor boy had
taught him to devote himself to smooth
ing the path and opening the door of
opportunity to those of his kind, so that
no man might be denied a fair chance
in life.
Il have been a Democrat all nv
life, F" said Judge Mann. 81 have never
claimed to be any better or any wiser
than that great party, and l have to
thank God that there has never been a
time when couldn't follow its platform
in all of its planks.
las to our old veterans. they are
fast passing away. The first appropri-
alton will recommend to the Legisla-
ture will be for the relief of Confed-
crate soldiers, and will ask that that
appropriation take the right of way. j"
An Opponent OF Liquor.
On the liquor question his views met
with the greatest applause and the
closest attention. On this point the
candidate said in part: "Some of the
people of Virginia have been very So
licitous to know what / think of the
liquor question, when for forty years
have fought for temperance. at times
almost single-handed. / have refused
fees from the liquor people and have
taken cases for the temperance forces
without compensation.
81 understand my friend, Mr.. Tucker.
made speech here last week. speak
of him with the greatest courtesy. ms
he is friend of mine-I only wish he
would get out the way and leave me
alone. as he is causing me much IN
necessary trouble. i understand that
he said from this platform that
waited until he gave his views on
liquor, and then that / said. Me. too.
Il have been fighting for temperance
for thirty-five years. When was
Tucker born. anyway? The idea of
his saying that 1 waited for him TO
speak, and then said Me. toop' Wbv.
l don't believe he ever heard about the
Mann BILL"
Would Veto Prohibition Act.
II didn't answer certain questions
propounded to me as soon as Soma
people seem to have thought I should
because / wished to have a we'll rounded
statement of my views on public cues
tons to present in the opening speech
OF my campaign. And then l have had
hesitation in saying what / would do
under conditions which might never
arise, and which l trust will never
arise, and still greater hesitation in
threat of the veto power of |
the governorship, in contingencies
which may not be presented to the
next Governor of Virginia. However.
have no desire to hide my views. and
will state plainly that if the Legisla-
ture would pass bill for Statewide pro-
without previous instruction
from the people of the State at the polls.
would veto it. l would take this stem
regarding such an act as opposed to the
principle of local option, and as pre-
JUDICIAL to the enforcement of law.
But if the representatives of the
'eople, in the Legislature, were elected
m that issue, and those instructed rep.
esentatlves were to pass a bill for
statewide prohibition, would sign it. ,
recognizing that the Governor of Vir-
INA is as much the servant of the
'eopie as the Legislature. and on this
ccount l would sign that bill.
of course, if bill were passed /.