The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-04-04

has begun to punish my presumption
in avowlng myself candidate for
the Senate, which would rise 10 the
dignity Of disrepute IL 1t did not
sink TO the level of contempt. From /
the day OF my announcement last
January. close friends of the con- I
temporary appointee have threaten
ed my business enterprises in Lynch
burg; the menace of IAN opposition
newspaper" is about the streets
and my own employees have been
communicated with. In my congress /
sional district. alone OF all the
districts OF the United States, "a
"backfire" has been lighted, and In
the midst of my campaign for the
senate. | am to be harassed at
home by avoyed candidates for Con-
gress two years before my present |
term expires. and some weeks be I
before | will have taken the oath OF /
office
More than that. and worse by far, /
the attempt has been made TO block /
the legitimate avenues of publicity /
and il has been measurably sue /
cessful.
Right upon the threshold of this
senatorial campaign in Virginia we
have some cannot yet say how /
many cases of shameful prostitu-
ton. am prepared here with the
proofs. The facts of one case, brief I
IL recited. are that a certain news 7
paper in this State, for years bitter
" hostile to the political ma
chine. recently expressed views en-
tirelv favorable to the anti-machine
campaign in Virginia and character
lied the ring" as the "corruptest
and most outrageous that ever dis
graced Virginia. with the possible
exception Of that which flourishsd
during the Malone dynasty In a
few DAYS the columns of that paper
were filled with articles defending
rand advocating the very cabal which
the paper had previously condemned.
The articles were paid for. but there
,fas 40 mark to indicate the fact.
1 : mt to the newspaper in question
the formal announcement of my can
didacy for the Senate, which most OF
the Virginia papers had printed as
current news II not only rejected
the matter as nows. hut positively
refused TO. print il as an advertise
ment at full rates. II would print
the cards of candidates for sheriff
or clerk or county treasurer. but It
could not print the fact that rep
d. -,
iidate for the United States Senate.
subsequently the same paper re-
printed as a paid advertisement a
mendacious attack upon me from ii
machine organ which has for months
made itself q medium of falsehood'
and when | asked the right 20 re
ply at advertising rates the answer
came back and have IL here
that the publishers of the paper
shamefully confessed that 'thei .
columns have been sold TO the other
side. and they cannot put in any
thing relative 10 the United states
senatorial canvass except from my
competitor!
Nv fellow-citiZens. was born in
the newspaper business. ] love my
profession. There Is no political dis
,inction that the earth can aiiOrd
which | would prize above the non
or of the sanctum. Junius styled
the press the palladium of our llDer-
ties. and George Mason. in the
Virginia Bill OF Rights. says 1t Is
one of the bulwarks of freedom
Desperate desperate and defiant
must lie the cause that would per
vert the very source Of public inior-
nation and corrupt the fount oil pop
ular opinion | have not asked a.
newspaper in Virginia to support me
for the Senate. don't intend TO. /
II is pertinent to say that am
a state rights Democrat. and ! De
Hove Congress should enact a law
pormittjng the powers of the state
to deal with interstate shipments OF
liauor from wet or dry TERRITORY. an .
If | am elected to the United states
senate. or must be content with re-
tanning my seat in the House OF
Representatives, shall vote forf
such a bill and actively aid in us
massage. But the question OF PROM 4
bition is not properly involved III
this senatorial contest. | have my
individual convictions upon that
question, but never nave ue-
sired and never will desire 10
convert them into a political asset.
venture TO say, however, that !
would not yield or compromise my
ootteld view ON this question Tor
anv political- distinction on EARN. II
the people of Virginia are search
inc for a Senator who has no con-
victions they should not turn TO me.
II they are looking for a Senator
at any time or in any place who VIII
no afraid TO assert his CONVICTIONS
they are not looking for me
II has been suggested and pre-
dicted that | would assail the record
of my competitor as a member OF
Congress and as Governor of Vir-
ginia. ! regard his public record
as properly subject to public critl-
cism. and | shall not during the SEN
atorial campaign hesitate to identity
him with the political machine
whose excuses and delinquencies
have described nor to hold him TO
strict accountability, but when
make this criticism of my competi-
tor / want to do 1t in his presence,
and not in his absence. want to
do II face to face before the people
of Virginia, with full opportunity to
give and take, and to let the peo-
pie decide
There is one aspect OF the sub
ject. however, to which ! feel justi-
fled in abiding because it has. been
widely discussed in the newspapers
and because | have beeh in a way /
myself involved in criticism. re- {
fer to the fact that the administra- !
ton of my competitor as Governor OF
the Commonwealth was characteriz-
ed by extravaganza and terminated
In utter depletion Of the treasury