The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-11-12
Mr.. las. P. TURNKEY
Replies to Letter of Mr.. R. C. Blaydes,

COAGF I'D Ills sAAAA
full actions with his accustomed bra
zen effrontery. and though us
like and abhor newspaper contrO-
versy of this kind. | feel IT my
duty TO reveal the treacherous ma
ture of X. c. Blaydes and the
shameful conduct OF himself and as
sociates in connection with the Re
publican mass-meeting at Sp0isyl
vania. While | do not believe
Blaydes to be the author OF either
this letter OF the extreme misrep-
resenting report of the meeting. as
published in Free Lance. yet as he
has fathered them. will have to
address myself principally To him.
he seems to have special venom
against me for opposing him for
Coun.y Chairman, and says was
-four months prior to the meeting
underhandedly sneakingly, and
treacherOusly" working against him
Now. II my very emphatic disap-
prevail of his conduct. both of omis-
sion and commission. in connection
with the primary and election OF
/ last year. expressed openly and
IabOye-board whenever an occasion
required it.can be so construed then
| he may have grounds for such d
charge
When his nephew. G. X. Coleman
became candidate for the Legis-
lature. considering the Relationship
and extreme intimacy existing be
tween them. had ne had any respect
for hiu self. or any consideration for
the larty. he would not have re-
manned Chairman during THAI cam
paign Yet he did remain. And il
he in any way helped Warden in
that election (save for few days
ride in Berkeley township in com
pany with Warden and in Warden $
buggy /. or anyone else whom /
talked with on the subject. ever
saw or heard anything OF *. II ne
ever attempted TO organize the
workers at any precinct Tor Warden
if he ever wrote TO a single commit
tecman ~ any precinct. II he ever
tried 20 induce a single voter 10
vote for Warden. never heard OF
II. nor have ever seen anyone
who has. have not talked with
man yet on the subject. either
Republican or Democrat. who did
not belive he did what he could
privately. to induce Republicans 10
vote for Coleman, both in the pri-
mary and election. he did vote
| for Warden. mad was very pariicu-
/ lar 20 have that vote witnessed. II
he had done what he should have
done ia the campaign as County
Chairman. IL would not have been
so necessary for him TO have been
so very particular 10 have some
one witness how he voted.
He does not 90 back far enough
as 70 the time when my under
/ handed work" as he calls il. be-
gan: for ever since the primary
and election of last year. when
was thoroughly convinced il was a
shame and a disgrace that the Re
publican party OF Spotsylyania
should have at its head such a
character. l then. and there. made
up my mind that | would do all in
my power to relieve the party OF
this stigma; and whenever an op-
portunity presented itself. from that
time on. spoke of him as an un-
/ fit person 10 be chairman OF the
| party seldom met a Republican
/ who did not breach the subject and
speak Of MS unfitness for the posi-
ton. and / emphatically echoed
the sentiment.
Now. no one knew better thar
Blaydes that l was opposing him
and would do what | could 70 de
feat him: and he further knew thai
! .nere we're many other Republicans
in the county who looked upon his
removal from the craftsmanship al
a blessing TO the party II was
| this knowledge that caused him tC
act so unfairly and treacherously II
not having the time Of the meeting
properly published.
Why was it necessary for him tC
depart from the heretofore univer
sal way OF giving notice through
the newspapers OF the mass-meet
ings. and 20 TO the unnecessary eX
pense and work OF having handbilii
printed and mailed. when ne coulC
have had notice put in the Freder
icksburg papers without cost an'
very little trouble? He (but
think it one OF his political groom
ers) was hasty enough 10 publish
in the papers an exaggerated an(
fiattering account of his base vic
tory. II was my intention to e
10 work in earnest as soon as
knew the date OF the meeting. bu
Blaydes and his ring advisers knew
TOO we'll it would not do to give
myself and the rest Of the Republi
cans of the county this opportunity
He says he did not know tina
Powell would be candidate unit
he received Powells postal writer
on the 18th and received by hin
on the 18th. This is simply bosl
and false, as his tactics IN giyinl
notice of the meeting proves; bu
ne uses this as a menas by which
to work up a sentiment TO deceive
the credulous- usual deceit
full way of doing-and anyone witt
knows him can recognize his Gus
tomary treachery in adopting thi
plan to work upon the credulous Z
get out votes for himself
In the short time l had afte
hearing Of the time of the meeting
for | never saw a handful, by per
sonal notice and letters, ] was In
strumental in notifying and in get
ting out some 40 or so OF the Re
publicans who voted against him
Many of my letters did not reacl
% their destination until too late ant
only had a chance to get over
- portion of Livingston district. ant
} not one whom | saw and notifies
had seen or heard of the notice o
= the meeting. The idea of holdin
a mass-meeting and not giving tn
voters notice, is sufficient evidenc
of his incompetency and unfairnes
as chairman, and shows plainl
that he did not want the date Q
i the meeting known. Every one 9
those | notified we're registered VI
. ters and staunch Republicans, amon
Them Alexander Brooks. an oil
| Confederate soldier. who on az
|, count of his age. advised not
come; but he came, Impressed VIII
a sense of duty to his county.
Blaydes produces statements frol
: CrismOnd and Baggett stating ths
Powell personally told them that b
would not oppose Blaydes undo
: any circumstances | was at IN
y Court House the day the converse
ion took place between Powell an
Crismond. Powell told me Of
that day and repeated the conve
sation, and there was nothing in
that could in any way justify Cri
mond's assertion. and | believe h