Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-17
COMPARES OPPONENT
WITH THOMAS F. RYAN
Pollard Charges That Interests Of
Davis Are With Those of
Hidden Wealth."
TWO MEET IN JOINT DEBATE
Candidates for Nomination for Gov
ernor Discuss Issues of Campaign
Before People Of Pittsylvania-Ap-
plause About Evenly Divided.
TWO MEET IN JOINT DEBATE
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.,

Especial to The Tim -Dispatch1
CHATHAM. VA. July 1s.-Westmore-
land Davis. candidate for the nomina-
tion for Governor in the Democratic
State primary on August I. held joint
debate with one of his opponents. At
torney-General John Garland Pollard,
here this afternoon in the presence OF
500 persons. Mr.. Pollard issued the
challenge.
BY the terms of the debate Mr.. Pol
lard opered with thirty minutes talk.
SIR. Davis followed with thirty-fve
minutes. Mr.. Pollard was given twenty
minutes for rejoinder and Mr.. Davis
twelve. Mr.. Pollard made no personal
illusions in his hrst half. but stressed
his platform. especially his pledge II
elected TO work to have prohibition
written into the Constitution.
Mr. Davis. in outlining his platform.
urged scientific administration Of State
funds rather than new methods of tax
alton. He made a bid for election on
the score that the election of Mr.. Pol
lard or J. Taylor Ellyson would mean
three city men on the tax board. The
city man. he said, could not understand
the countryman's problems. He denied
striving to array the city against the
country.
DENIES MAINTAINING
RESIDENCE IN NEW YORK
Mr. Davis also denied maintaining
his residence in New York and. looking
at Mr.. Pollard, said: II didn't have to
register with the police or visit direc-
| tory publishers when / left in 1904"
Touching on prohibition. Mr. Davis
said that he was "nobody's servant"
and had voted for local option. He said
he considered prohibition a settled
question. but that he would approve
the constitutional amendment IL the
General Assembly voted it. He prom
ised II elected to make prohibition ef
fective, and said that he would resign
when he coulo not give the people of
Virginia what they wanted.
In Mr.. Pollaro's rcbuttaI he said:
MY friend has displayed unnecessary
feeling in what he said to you.
made no reflection on Mr.. Davis. yet
his first sentence is a charge against
me-" He had reference to a question
which Mr.. Pollard propounoed to Mr..
Davis at the close of his first half.
The question. which was only par
TALLY answered, was: You state in
your platform that care should be had
! that our tax laws be not SO admins
tered to drive capital from the State.
Tell me if you know of any case when
capital has been driven from Virginia
from the improper administration OF
the tax laws. II so. please state the
| case and tell what changes you pro-
| pose in the tax law so as to prevent
| injury to the State by loss of capitals"
SAYS 1T is AN EFFORT
TO DIVERT THE ISSUE
In answering the question. Mr.. Davis
| said that 1t was an effort to divert tho
issue. and that it was answered in his
platform.
| Mr.. Pollard said that Mr.. Davis main
tanned his residence in New York. He
also charged that Mr.. Davis's interests
| are with those Of hidden wealth. COM
| pairing his opponent with Thomas For
| tune Ryan. He questioned Mr.. Daviss
| friendship to the farmer, recalling that
| when Davis was president of the Farm
| ers' Institute he resigned this position
| Of usefulness to write a Letter against
| prohibition.
! Applause was evenly divided. At
one time. when Mr.. Davis made kindly
reference to Mr.. Ellyson. there was
prolonged applause.
John r. Saunders. candidate for At
torney General. hard on the heels OF
Hugh "A. White. who spoke here on
Saturday. was granted fifteen minutes
before tho debate opened. and was
heartily applauded when he said that
before resorting to mudslinging he
| would withdraw.