The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-03-27
GOODRICH A CANDIDATE
viii Seek Reflection TO the House,
Subject TO Democratic Primary.
GIVES STATEMENT As TO POSITION

| IaleKAfAa from
this legislative district, IN a Statement
addressed TO the people OF Spotsvlvaria
and fredericksburg, announces his can
dldacy Tor Reelection 70 the HOUSE. suh-
lect To the Democratic primary. aud In
the same statement gives full aud frank
explanation Of hi- position on the pnblic
questions of the day, Including a cl-ar
oehnition OF where he stands ON the IIo-
uoe question. Mr.. Goolrick states in
plain language thet he iavors the policy
OF the local opti m laws" but that be
VIII. II the demand be- mate by the recog-
nized temperance orgauiz Ltion- Ia Viz
glnia, vote to submit the question Of
statewide prohibition To the people
This statement is In line with those m ada
by both Aessrs. Tucker and Aanr.
He feyors the "old Confederates " in
Tor further State aid for roads, endorses
the "child labor law" and iavors every
possible aid for the free schools
he explains the alleged promise pot
TO run again, and calls attention To the
Tact that the custom of alienation Is a
poor one at best, and that the county
voters have twice here lately repudiatej
it. Mr.. Goolrick expresses great conf
dence In the outcome OF the campaign
with Mr.. Coleman. and says that be will
poll rom two to three times as many
In town. Among his friends in the coun-
ty Mr.. Goodrich says are some OF tha
most prominent Democrats and leading
farmers and business men. According
10 Mr.. Goolrick and his friends. he will
defeat bis opponent by large majority.
The statement follows:
To the People OF Spotsylvania and Fred
ericksburg.
In announcing myself a candidate for
reelection to the House OF Delegates
from this district, subject to the Demo-
cratic primary, | want to state that be-
lore u King this step | have consulted
with large number OF Democrats In
town and county and have been guided
largely by their advice.
Ii has been charged In the county and
10 number OF anonymous and one or
two signed articles that l pledged my
sell not to be q candidate this year.
This is true only In a qualified sense It
has been charged by Mr.. c. 4. Coleman's
political friends that made this pIedue
by letter and speech. As the only letter
| ever wrote on the subject was "strictly
CONFIDENTIAL l am at a loss to under
stand what excuse they have for using
its contents for political purposes with
out my consent; but IN this letter did
not pledge myself not to be a candidate
egsin. but did pledge myself not to be- a
candidate should the late DR.. Massey
desire TO run" Following out this Quail
lied promise | stated at Spotsylvanis c.
d. that | did not expect to be a candi-
date and expected with my friends to
support county man. In this latter
statement did not for obvious reasons
mention Dr. hassey's name, but IL was
well understood, and by no one better
| than t.nlQman nd e. -.
my promise not Co run applied only 10
Dr. Massey, who was then, believe. the
choice OF the county for the House. be-
1eve had DR.. Massey lived be would have
recognized the necessities of the present
situation, which seem 70 demand the re-
turn az an experienced member so the
House, and put aside FOR time his am
billion to serve In that body. Under no
circumstances. however, had he have
lived and been a candidate would have
opposed him. | am not similarly bound
to Mr.. Coleman, and further am under
no manner OF obligation to him.
VIII explain these matters more fully
al April court, when | can meet the peo.
pie OF Spotsylvauia face to face and
answer ell questions. As to this social.
ed custom existing between town and
county IL Is true that stated during the
last campaign that IL was the clty's
time. This plea turned out to be such a
weak one that IL did not prevent tbs
county going for my opponent, Mr..
Evans, nor did Its force appeal to Mr..
Coleman and his friends or TO the county
Democracy when Mr.. Swift opposed DR..
Massey In the primary two years before
! ran. This custom, II continued, means
that this Legislative district eau never at.
tain In the councils OF the State any
great amount OF influence by reason OF
constantly changing our representa-
tives; bat even II IL Is to continue under
ordinary conditions. IL Is not so sacred
that under extraordinary ones Il cannot
be departed from II the material nterests
OF the district demand IL. Whether the
latter conditions now exist the people OF
course must decide. IL has been stated
TO me that the Hon. Oscar Crutchfield. OF
Spotsy ivania county. represented this
district for about twenty years Just
prior to the war, and was Speaker OF
the House for most OF that time. and |
am also informed that since the war this
custom has been departed from
II am reelected TO the House will:
| First DO eyerything In my power per-
sonally and by calling on others to Sc
cure large appropriation OF SIS 900 or
300, 900 TO complete the State Normal
School. for which q splendid site h - lust
been selected in Spotsylvania county
This will, perhaps. be our most Import
ant local matter and it should c mmand
the attention OF all OF our people.
Secopd. | stand for the local option
laws as enacted by the Democratic party.
but II the question b, raised and the de.
man6 be made on the General Assembly,
by the recognized Temperance organiza-
lions 10 Virginia. | will vote a. have
heretofore stated would do, for toe sub
mission to the people at the polls of the
question OF Statewide prohibition. |
VIII support, as | did in the last House.
all proper measures for the regulation OF
the liquor traffic
| Third. | will continue to favor IeQisla.
ton Tor the Improvement of our public
roads. and esp scially a forther direct Ar
preparation for State aid OF at least
$3.50 900 per year aud more, IL justified
by our financial condition.
Fourth l favor the most liberal nan.
sion policy towards the old Confederate
soldiers and their widows, and " fIl WORK
snd vote for all proper measures intend
ed for their benefit, as did at the Iast
session.
Fifth. stand by the action of the
last General Assembly 10 its Legislation
IN the interest OF labor, aud especially do
! stand Tor those measures known as the
''child labor laws"
Sixth. | am heartily In sympathy
with the efforts OF our educational an.
thorfties TO further increase tbs eficis ncy
oil our free schools, and as long as am
q member OF the Legislature viii render
them what aid can.
Seventh. / am In favor OF ths re-eiec-