The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-06-19

trustees of that institution.
was governor Of the division of
history and education and social
economy at the jamestown E.xpos,-
ton, and was awarded a medal COM
memorating my services.
In 1905 l was elected to the honor
able position of lieutenant governor 81
Virginia. and ! have been twice re-
elected.
For twenty-five years | was chair
man OF the Democratic state COM
mlttee and for many years was the
representative from Virginia upon tho
democratic nationaf committee, hold
ing these positions continually and al
ways at the unanimous request of my
party. and during all this time there
was an unbroken series of Democratic
victories Of the state.
During my long career there has
been no greater honor conferred upon
me, and, indeed. there could be no
greater honor conferred upon any
man, than the adoption of the resolu-
tons by the great Democratic state
convention held in Roanoke last June,
m which it was said, in part that
had been wise in counsel Impartial
in judgment and just in action" and
that I'm the voluntary retirement of j.
Taylor Ellyson from the honora BILE
ana aTduous positions which he has so
long filled with such signal fidelity
and ability. the state and nation abs
lost wise counsellor and trusted
leader. and We hereby express to him
our gratitude and appreciation for
his splendid service to the state and
nation, and wish for him a long life
of success and happiness"
tn more than one occasion here
tofore ] have desired TO become a
candidate for governor Of Virginia
but in the interest of good feeling and
harmony within our party. / have
given way to other gentlemen and
waited for a more opportune time
when | might ask my fell w citizens
for the highest gft in the common
wealth
| feel now that my services justify
me IN submitting my claims TO the
Democrats of Virginia at the primary
10 he held -aa-the It'll da%ef- next
August. realizing that by reason of my
advancing years / should not he asked
longer to defer the qualification Of my
Public Health.
The organization of the state
health department in 1908 marked a
new era in the history OF the com
monwealth. The splendid service rem
dered by this department. through the
medium Of carefully pre- pared iitera-
ture and entertaining speakers. has
resulted in educating our people to
the importance of hygienic and SAM
tary measures as they have never be-
fore heen appreciated. This depart
ment has twenty field agents at work
who are keeping a watchful eye upon
health conditions throughout the
state. School sanitation, inspection of
hotels effective lighting against hook
worm, consumption and typhoid fever
are a few of the things accomplished
toy the department, and which have,
in a large measure. helped to bring
about the prevention, as we'll ms the
cure, of diseases which never before
had it's proper place in the thought of
our itizens
In 1907 | organized in connection
with the jamestown Exposition a pub
He health exhibit which was Il won
derful incentive in promoting state
legislation on this subject, and I shall
continue to support all measures need
ed to strengthen and increase the eff
fectiveness of the work of this de-
partment.
Prohibition.
Akin to and lnseparable from the
question Of the health of our people
comes the great question OF prohibit
ton, and since its adoption in Virginia
have been so apparent as to command
the almost universal commendation
and support of all classes of our citi-
zens. and even many OF those who
at first doubted the wisdom of such
a policy are now among the most en-
thuslastic in proclaimng the great
blessings resulting to the morals
health and happiness ef -ettF people
My record upon this question is an
open book. More than thirty years
ago, when in the state senate, voted
for the first local option law ever
passed in this state. and since :hat
time | have stood shoulder to should
Ell with the temperance forces. ad-
vancng step by step as rapidly as we
deemed for. the best interests of the
cause of the state. In the senate
of Virginia the proudest act of my
public life was when. as lieutenant /
governor and presiding officer of the
senate, ] cast the deciding vote which :
broke the tie and passed the bill Civ /
ing the people of Virginia the right to
decide whether the saloons should be
a abolished 1t was overwhelmingly de-
cided that the saloons should be clos
ed
| had the honor to preside at the
nrst meeting of the campaign under
the auspices of the Anti a loon /
league. and nay interest and effort
continued undated until the victory
was won
| know that the people of tkis COM
monwealth are law-abiding and that
they expect and demand from those
to whom they have entrusted the exc
cutiou of the laws their strict and
rigid enforcement, and to this end. if
erected, shall exert my best endeay-!
ors, not only TO enforce the laws now
on the statute books. but also to Sc
cure the passage sand enforcement of
such other laws as may be necessary
10 make prohibition a success wr~n
! cASA the deciding vote for the En-.