The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-10
w estmoreIand DavisAt-
tacks Their Activity
in General Assembly.
READS LISI OF
DEFEATED BILLS
Report of Agents of Public Ser
vice Corporations Sent to Him
Shows How Measures Before
Legislature of 1908 Met
Their Death by Ever
Watchful Paid Lobby.

Especial From & Staff Correspondent
stanton. Va. August 9.-Explainins
why the agricultural interest of vir-
ginia had failed to secure from recent
sessions of the General Assembly leg
islaticn demanded, President West
moreland Davis, in his annual addreas
before the Virginia State Farmers In
stltute this morning. read list of
twenty-five bills believed to have been
inimtcal to interests of certain public
service corporations, the defeat of
which was secured by an ever-watch-
full. paid lobby. Many of the bills, he
said there was reason to believe. would
II enacted. have been for the benefit of
the community.
Other features of the presidents adj
drcss were an attack on the State
Board of Agriculture for failure to CO.
operate with the State Farmers Insti-
tute. though ii had funds available for
the purpose: sarcastic reference to the
president of the Southern Railway,
which corporation was charged with
collecting the last penny of exorbitant
rates to ray dividends on heavily wa
tered stock; demand for election of
corporation commissioners by the peo-
pie ana for the passage of unamended
legislation for The farming interests
Governor Makes Reply.
1oNct Hol Nilidm hodges Mann,
the afternoon session. replied partly TO
Mr.. Davis. admitting that all other in
terests but those of the farmer were
represented by q lobby in the General
Assembly. The Governor promised his
support to the lime bill, announced
that he had no political aspirations
Whatever and In discussing the cleo
luon OF corporation commissioners took
the opportunity tc advocate drastic re-
nj n nf iN1E
maries and general elections, to lessen
the burden of Campaign costs. which,
he asserted. practically exclude the
poor man from elective Office
President Davis emphasized his
statement that the State Farmers. In
sutute had received no encouragement
from the state Board of Agriculture,
suggesting that independence in poll
itics and failure to pander to those
In power had been the cause He rec
commended stallion registration law.
lie also recommended a real pure seed
law TO take the place of the "ioker"
enacted last session. which the author.
Ma1or Tynes, saie he could not recog-
hize after 1t hal been emasculated by
legislative committee.
A Difficult Task
President Davis said he was sure
the people OF the State did not realize
the passage by the Virginia Legislature
Oh any law which might prove hurtfuI
10 corporation, however much tho
people might be benefited or how high
the character of those who stand spon
sor to IT. The difficulty, he said. law
IN the fact that those sent to the Leg
isiature IS a rule live in country towing
ana devote themselves to scheming
and political manipulation" The sub-
stantial farmer is overlooked for tho
election of the petty politician, whose
vanity and smattering OF KNOWLEDGE
makes him most dangerous" The
farmer could only appeal to an aroused
pubic sentiment, having no paid lobby
for his defense. The report NJ Tho
agents OF certain public service corno-
a,,ons other than railroads had, no
SOU neen sent 20 him as president OF
the Farmers Institute. and he n,ads
II public In the farmers interest Ar
laws said ~ commenting on the renort.
1T even goes SO far as to name q "
Meredith, S. S. p Patteson and wvnd.
nam X. Meredith as having assisted In
preparing some OF those bills. The
TACT mat these men of high Character
uid assist is to my mind conclusive
evidence that the community at larea
would have profited by their anaet
ment' should be loath to believe tha+
we nave reached point in Virginia
Wnere corporations blacklist disttn-
sulsned citizens because of unsel6sh
renait'on OF valuable services to tba
pubic at large. The farmers of VIZ
gina must judge for themselves as 70
ne condition OF affairs that confronta
them" he said. 's
PREVENTED by Lack of Money.
Governor Mann prefaced his sdar
at the afternoon session on "AryicnI-
tural Possibilities in Virginia. bv sow,a
remarks in answer to the address ~,
fresident Davis. making IL clear That
nhanciai limitations had prevented tho
adoption by the last General ASSEM-
ply or measures otherwise accopta bic.
with limited income and constontI,,
increasing demands he said. the Sea-
could not do everything II desired to
90. The Governor strongly lndorseJ
the proposed lime bill, regrettinr its
nature AT the last session, and prom
isins to recommend its passage. He
stated that he had arranged a con-
ference OF Virginia railway presidents.
to be held In Richmond on September
!. to discuss freight charges on agri-
cultural lime, and he was certain that
some reduction would result. The In
stitmte was Invited to send represent
tatives 10 the conference
The Governor avoided politics In his
remarks. saying that he himself de.
sired no office In the gift OF the people.
He merely asked the cooperation Of
the farming interests that record
OF agricultural development might b..
made during HIS administration.
ut does sometimes SEEM he said
that yon have no friends in Rich.
mond used to think when a man
put In a good bill Il would go through.
found YOU mad to nurse IL like q
baby. While every otherlnterest Is
q !. -