The Washington herald., 1909-05-02
Mann Deprecates Debates.

Judge Mann replied that he deprecated
Joint debates between Democrats, espe-
cially in a close county such as Mont
gomery is. and that he would leave the
matter to the Democratic county commit
tee The letter said further. however.
that he claimed the appointment as his.
and therefore named the following terms:
Mr Tucker 10 open in one hour, Judge
Mann to reply in an hour. Mr.. Tucker 20
rejoin in fifteen minutes. and Judge Mann
70 close in fifteen minutes. Judge Mann
stipulated that there should be no new
matter introduced IN the last fifteen min
utes' speech
Mr.. Tucker said very promptly that he
cid not wish 10 DO anything contrary 10
the wishes Of the committee, at the same
time declaring he was desirous Of having
q joint discussion. and asking that the
county committee be called for the pUr-
pose Of expressing an opinion as TO
whether the debate should OCCUR
Capt Dick johnson. a member Of the
committee. at once hustled around and
found one other member. there being 10
others in town. Capt. Sheltman, chair
man. and Capt Johnson called in six
members Of the Radford city committee.
Committee Against Debate.
Il was admitted by Capt johnson that
M Tucker did not have a friend at the
conference. These Democrats prepared
the following. which was presented to
the candidates, Judge William Hodges
Mann and Hon. St George Tucker:
Gentlemen: The question has been
submitted 10 the Democratic committees
Of this county and the city Of Rsdford
whether there shall be joint discus
sion between you gentlemen to-day. we
have carefully considered this question.
and as cnly the chairman and one mem
Der Of the committee IS present from the
county, and the chairman and two mem
bers from the city. We have called into
consultation a number Of prominent Dem
ocrats. and il is our unanimous and de-
cided opinion that there shall be no such
discussion We earnestly request that II
speeches be made no personalities be in
dulged in by either gentleman
The statement was signed by Sidney
Shsltman. chairman: John R Johnson
Of Montgomery County; r E McNesl,
chairman: r J. NOEL. and ". 7. Bald
win. Of Radford City.
Tucker Protests.
EIr. Tucker protested very vigorously
against the committee so called. which
did not claim TO have authority. He did
not have a friend at the conference. yet
was expected 70 abide by its decisions.
Mr. fuckers protest was very emphatic.
but he finally yielded, moved 10 do so. he
said. by a desire 70 avoid doing anything
which local Democrats might regard as
being calculated TO hurt the party.
Mr.. Tucker insisted that he was de-
termined that Judge Mann should meet
him later. There can be no doubt that
he is very desiroUs 10 have his opponent
meet him in debate
Il was 3 O'Clock when the speakers
reached the town hall The two candi-
dates shook hands. Mr.. Tucker arriving
last. Capt johnson presented Judge
Mann. making no allusiOn to attempts
10 have a joint debate
Speak Together; No Joint Debate.
The Judge did not allude to the mat
ter, and proceeded 10 speak for an hour.
he having been assigned first place. The
speech was Substantially that which he
has recently delivered Coming down 10
a discussion Of the liquor question, Judge
Mann told OF how he had fought for
temperance for LhITty-fve years He said
the temperance cause was not popular
when he first espoused II. but he kept I'D
the fight. and finally saw the Mann
bill enacted into Law
Predicts Prohibition.
Judge Mann said he thought the prin-
cipIe Of local option should prevail
throughout the State, and that in thirty
years Iiquor wouldn't be sold as a bever-
age in this State. He denied that he hac
made any combination with the liquor
people or anybody else. He had not
modified his tempeIa ance views, and would
net.
Mr. Tucker was introduced by Sidney
Sheltman, OF the county committee. and
began by expressing regret that Il had