The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-19

not Democrat, whereas have chal-
lenged my opponent 90 assail my De-
mocracy. As shedding an interesting
sideliEht on my contention, l propose
very briefly TO touch upon the politi-
cal character and Affiliations Of some
OF those who signed this Richmond
and vicinity appeal
Petitioners Not Democrats.
Among the more prominent men
whose names are attached to this pa
per are Messrs. John Shelton Will
liams. Henry l.. Cabell, X. A. Ian
caster. Jr.. l.. M. williams. Egbert
G. Leigh and William Nj, Habliston.
These names call to my mind other
names signed to another political
plea, In 1905, in the campaign for
President between Taft. Republican,
and Bryan. Democrat. there was
printed in the Richmond papers a
full PACED advertisement such as this
is. To that advertisement were APP
pended the names of the six gentle
men ! have Just mentioned. together
with a few others. The 1908 plea
was not. as some Of you credulous
Democrats might assume, in behalf
OF Democracy or the Democratic can
dtdate; but in behalf OF William II.
Taft. the Republican candidate for
President. That plea appeared in
vember /, 1908. just two gays before
the election. Editortaliy. the Times
Dispatch dissented from the Tart
propaganda.
Thirteen days before this full
PACED advertisement appeared sign
ed by friends who MOVE endorse Sen
ator Martin MIR. Taft visited Rich
mond and made a speech against
Democracy and plea to the South
+. To break ranks. On this occasion
Mr.. Taft was met at the depot by
distinguished outpouring Of Repub-
ficans and alleged Democrats. Mr..
Taft was the social lion of the hour.
The elite Of Richmond filed the i'm
mense horse show building to see
| MIN. On that occasion. too there
stood side by side Mr.. Alvah II. Mar
tin. Republican national committee
man from Virginia. and the gentle
nretr whose names are signed TO
/ Thomas S. Martins present appeal
FOR votes.
just one week after this meeting
Charles Francis Adams Of Boston
Mass, fso made a speech in Rich
mond: He spoke in the interest Of
Mr.. Taft and the Republican party.
He opposed Bryan aud the Demo
cratic party. At this meeting H. l..
inently in the list signed to Senator
Martins appeal for votes called the
meeting to order. He introduced Mr..
| Egbert q, Leigh, whose name is also
attached TO Mr.. Martins plea, and in
! turn MIR. Leigh introduced Mr.. Adams.
| Others who godfathered that meet
! ing were Mr.. Chris Manning and
Judge George l.. Christian. not to
mention Mr., James ". Gordon, who
at the present time IS Senator Mar
/ tins local campaign manager in
I Richmond. and all Of whose names
are signed To Senator Martins pres
ent appeal
That Kent Dinner.
/ Three days after the foregoing
meeting General Luke e Wright,
+ then secretary of war. spoke In be
! hair of Mr.. Tafts candidacy, and
against Bryan and the Democrats He
was presented by Nj John shelton
Williams, who, in the course of his
remarks, said that BRYAN was shin
ing wili-o' the wisp. and declared that
/ he intended to vote for Mr.. Taft. On
/ the committee in charge Of this meet
ing we're r. A. Lancaster Jr., Egg
bert c. Leigh, Messrs. Williams. Ian
caster and Leigh are now pleading
/ for votes for Senator Martin
Before dismissing this extremely
/ Interesting paper that has come out
in your capital papers, there is just
I one other incident that might be OF
interest in this connection. On Au-
| gust 80, 1909. when Mr.. Kent was the
| Republican candidate for governor. a
/ little dinner was given in his honor
/ at one OF the Richmond clubs The
{ committee In charge consisted OF
/ three men, two Of whom were Messrs.
Leigh X Page and Waller Morton,
j both of whose names ! find attached
j to the plea issued in behalf of Sena-
I tor Martin