The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-10-20
LETTER FROM Mr.. S. P. POWELL
He States His Position With Reference
to Contest for County Republican
Chairman.

mass meeting at Spotsylvania G. II.
on the 18th ult., that | promised
not TO oppose Blaydes for the coun-
~ craftsmanship and then allowed
my name to be presented. | learn,
however, that Crismond continues
to circulate the statement among
those not present at the meeting
and that Mr.. r. c. Blaydes himself
furnished the report of the meeting
that was published in your paper
on the 22nc ult., in which he fails
to mention that | replied TO Girls
monds statement. denying that |
promised not to oppose Blaydes.
and otherwise misreports the pro-
ceedings of the meeting. and | think
Il due my friends and myself TO
state the facts again.
Ever since the last Democratic
primary, which swallowed much OF
the Republican party in the coun-
". had been urged by Republicans
from every section of the county TO
become a candidate for chairman
al the next reorganization.
Last April at Spotsylvania told
Blaydcs this and inquired ii he
would be a candidate for reelection
lie replied. Il doubt If l will be a
candidate" l replied. Il do not
care 10 oppose you and would like
20 have your support. as | do not
want split in the party and would
like TO see everything harmonious
He replied, If you want TO run,
you run: this is a free country. /
do not think l will oppose you
replied. An right. am consid-
ering H.. We then separated and
later / had a similar talk with Girls
mOnd and later on with Baggett.
both OF whom seemed satisfied with
Blaydes as chairman and not TO de-
sire any change. but If either OF
them or Blaydes understood from
my remarks that promised not to
oppose Blaydes they WILLFULLY
AND PURPOSELY MISUNDER-
STOOD both the common and lit
eral meaning OF the words | used,
as they conveyed no such under
standing or even inference.
Mr. William p. Mansfield. OF
Washington. was present during my
conversation with Mr.. Baggett. but
am sui NACAN W0o ~ OAN RANo
ent NJ the talk with Blaydes nor
with Crismond. l stated substan-
TALLY what these conversations were
before the mass meeting after Girls
mond had made his statement.
Crismond never ceased talking and
interrupting me, however, until
the vote for county chairman was
taken and il may be that Colonel
Blaydcs was so enraptured with
CriSmond's oratory that he did not
hear my remarks and, therefore,
failed 10 state that made this de-
NAL when he reported the proceed
ings of the meeting. Neither
Blaydes or Baggett alfred or de-
MED the truth of Crismond's state
ment or OF my reply before the
meeting. and If this is what
Blaydes means in his article by
''VOuched for Mr.. CrismOnd' 5 state
ment as correct" il applies equal
ly to my denial. do not offer
either of them as my vouchers,
however, as they are too deeply in
terested and partial to the other
side The vote for chairman was
Blaydes 81, Powell So. This ma
jority may have appeared large"
and handsome" TO Mr. Blaydes by
reason OF the large number of DEM
ocrats voting in the meeting for
Blaydes. without whose votes he
could not have won. c. Richelieu
Coleman. T. Stokeley Coleman Fred
were also present, apparently ac-
lively interested in the success of
Blaydes. but abstained from voting
in the meeting The Colemans evil
IDENTITY thought their uncle would
suit them better for Republican
chairman than l would. as they
were not Republicans. The DEM
ocrats voting for Blaydes may have
been a part of IAN increase of 25
per cent. in the Republicans of the
county since he had been chair
man. which. he reports. he said
there had been. IL seems he
should have said since the last Dem
ocratic primary, because for the
term of his office preceding the
election returns show a decrease.
He was not called for and made no
speech
The year before Blaydes became
chairman. NJ H. Dickinson carried
the county against the Democratic
nominee by a majority so large
that Fredericksburg could not over
come it,
Two years later when Blaydes had
been chairman one year Jas. r. Evans
carried the county by as majority
against the Democratic candidate.
Last fall when Blaydes had been
chairman three years the Republican
candidate lost the county by $40 votes.
Contrary to all custom Blaydes did
not publish the date of the meeting in
any paper nor was there any reasona-
bic notice Of it given in any other way
TO any but his own supporters outside
of his district and great number of
Republicans knew nothing about it
until it was all over.
He had some handbills printed the
7th of September calling for the meet
ing on the 18th, at IL O'Clock a. m, but
did not get any notice of it until the
18th at night, nor any Of my friends.
The hour of meeting was also changed
to 10 O'Clock a. m, resulting in a num-
Der Of Republicans who went down
from my district to vote for me getting
there too late.
Had there been reasonable notice of
the meeting or even had the hour of
meeting remained IL a. m, would
have been elected in spite of these I'M
fair methods and the united opposition
Of Coleman-C rismond- Blaydes influence.
] allowed my name to be presented
as candidate for chairman in response
to the desire of many who thought the
party could be benefited by change
in its organization and management,
and only after much consideration and
great reluctance.
Personally am sorry this opportuni-
ty was not given me and glad the honor,
responsibility, work and expense, which
the duties of the position make neces-
sary, were not.
attribute the marvellous growth,
development and prosperity OF our
country largely to the policies inaugu-
rated and pursued by the Republican
party in it's national administrations and
believe that those policies if adapted
to and pursued in our State and local
affairs, especially with reference to ed
ucation, internal improvement and
economic nom partizsn administration OF
government, would be largely to the
interest of all the people. AS county
secretary of the party desire TO CO.
operate with the chairman and county
kANe