Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-09-28
E. LEE TRINKLE
OPENS CAMP PAICN
AT CLINTWO0D
Fires Opening Gun Tuesday
At ClintW0od, Dicken-
son County
KEYNOTE SPEECH
Democratic Nominee For Governor
Renews Assurances Given Voters
In Primary Campaign

In this, my opening address, to the
voters Of Virginia as the duly noml-
mated candidate of the Democratic
party for Governor, | desire first to
express my sense of profound CRATE
fulness for the distinguished political
preferment conferred upon ne by the
Democratic electorate Of the State.
And | also take this early occasion
TO renew the assurance which | eX-
dressed in the primary campaign that
when elected to the chief magistracy
of the Commonwealth, shall conse-
crate all that is best within me to the
faithful, efficient and conscientious
discharge of the exalted trust. There
is no promise | made during the re-
cent primary that shall not earnest
~ attempt to redeem in factt; there
is no assurance | then rendered that
shall suffer neglect or indif-
ference at my hands. shall
be absolutely unfettered by
any condition or promise or en-
gagement whatsoever, that might
tend to obscure my alert recognition
of the fact that | am Governor OF
the entire people Of Virginia, and
that as their public servant they have
full right to expect diligent. progress
sive, constructive administration dur
ing my term of office. | shall do my
best to assure that they shall not be
disappointed.
Believe me, my fellow-citizens. am
deeply impressed with the Importance
of the present campaign. The Demo-
cratic party has enjoyed uninterrupt-
ed control of the State Government
for sc years, and hence in appealing
for an expression of renewed contld-
ence from the electorate, It IS under
the solemn obligation to render
faithful account of its stewardship. II
is also under attack from the nominee
of the white and colored wings OF the
Republican party of Firginla--one
headed by Colonel Henry ". Ander-
son, of Richmond, and the other by
John Mitchell, Jr., colored, of Rich
mond; and it should respond to such
attacks fairly, frankly, feariesS!y.
This service it is eager to. render. The
Democratic Party appears before the
people of Virginia with clean hands
and stainless standard. 1t appears be-
fore the people of the State with clear
conscience, with open ledgerS, with
nothing to conceal, with nothing OF
which to be ashamed, but with eN-
hibits rarely rich in the plentitude OF
good work to be ashamed, but with
exhibits rarely rich in the plentitude
of good works upon which it confident
ly Graves public Judgment. The Demo
cratic Party does not Nassume attitude
of defense, save in so far as the clta-
tion of truth is necessary for the re-
futation of error, and as the force OF
fact is ncedful to smash the smlrkln2
countenance of Misrepresentation
Democracy does not claim to have III
all things been perfect. 1t may have
made mistakes; it, doubtless has; no
political organization on earth can
claim that in the discharge of its du-
ties it has established an absolutely
perfect record But the Democratic
Party of Virginia does claim, and it
stands ready to prove, that taking
Nirgina's history by and large. dur
ing the time in which it has served
the States interests. it has demon,
strated beyond reach of doubt or
cavil that the rapid DEVELOPMENT of
Firginia'S prosperity. and her prog
ress in all lines of government have
been contemporaneous with Demo-
cratic rule, and have resulted from
Democratic rule; and that the record
would have been written in letters Of
blight and disaster and dishonor had
Republican policies prevailed, instead
of those projected, maintained and eX-
handed by the party now in control Of
the affairs of the Commonwealth
Naturally, therefore, l take proud
satisfaction in the thought that am
the nominee of the Democratic Party
whose achievements and traditions in
State and nation suggest the most in
spring chapters of our political his.
tory. exult in the consciousness thai
it was due to the Democratic Party
that Virginia was 'wrested from the
regime of Republican tyrrany. corrup
ton and misrule way back in that
tragic period of her prostration I'M
Continued on page five)