Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-09-22
JUDGE MANN OPENED HIS
CAMPAIGN


Democratic candidate for Governor
of Virginia, opened his campaign in
Culpeper Monday, and delivered an
able and eloquent address, in whicn
he defended the course ofthe Demo
cratic party in its administration oil
the State government, and showed
that the people Of Virginia can best
serve their own interests by the
support of that party at the ap-
preaching election in November.
Judge Mann was given cordial
hearing. He took up and discussed
some Of the charges brought against
the Democratic party by the Hon.
W. P. Kent, the Republican candi-
date for Governor, who opened his
campaign the week before at Wood
stock, and in his address on that
occasion dwelt largely on what he
charged as Democratic incapacity to
manage successfully the affairs OF
Virginia.
Tn his address. Judge Mann dis
cussed the public schools, good
roads, agriculture, equalization OF
taxes, election methods, and other
matters pertinent to the campaign.
Following are excerpts from his
address:
The Public Schools: THE stand
ard of our public schools has been
steadily but conservatively raised.
Our system ranked number "a four
years ago, and now stands number
10 among the States Of the Union,
and we expended on them in 1903
$40. 042 more than in 1899. Besides,
we have established in the last four
years something like ESQ high
schools, at an expense to the State
of only s165, o00 During the past
four years, we have increased the
average salaries of white male teach
ers from $42 81 to $52 20. and white
female teachers from 500 SO to $780,
r."
Good Roads: "As a part OF the
program for the advancement of the
agricultural interest, o State De-
partment of Highways has been
created and is doing efficient work
in giving information to the people
and skilled direction to the build
ing OF permanent highways. Work
is nov being done on 283 miles in
"a counties, of which 1T is now
completed. The State has been aid
ing the counties with convict labor
for some time, and last year appro
priated 1915. 900, available during
1919. for building permanent roads.
under certain reasonable condition.
or at the option of the counties re-
ceiving State aid, to be used in
building permanent bridges.
Agriculture: The State under
Democratic administration has been
looking after the interests of the
farmers. Our Agricultural Depart.
ment; the agricultural and Mechan'
ical College at Blacksburg; the Elk
detrimental Station the Departments
of Agriculture in the rural high
schools, bear out the assertion. In
1900 we produced corn TO the value
of SO, 300. 900, in 1906 this crop
yielded $50, 600, 600. But more i'm.
portant still, there has been Great
ed by these institutions an enthus-
astic interest In agriculture, lead
ing up to better and more scientific
crops and great improvement Of our
lauds."
In speaking of his own record
Judge Mann said: II ann not ashsm-
ed of my record as a public man, nor
do Ishrink from OH honest analysis.
Even on the questions about which
! have been criticised I have voted
with majority of my party, and it
has not been shown that I have
been wrong in single instance. I
voted with a majority I think OF
seven in the Senate against the en-
ployers' liability bill, because that
bill did not protect my constituents,
but vt the next session I voted for o
much stronger bill which did pro-
tect my constituents.
II am in favor of the equalization
of taxes and in favor of an assess
ment which shall be fair to all, and
have so repeatedly declared. !
believe that every man should bear
bis just share Of the public burden.
"And now, in order 10 prevent
possible misunderstanding, I de-
sire to say that on the temperance,
as upon all other questions, stand
on my Petersburg speech"
Rev. DR.. W. M. Morrison and
Rev. W. Fl. Shepherd, missionaries
OF the Southern Presbyterian church