Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-08-04
1.-THE CONGRESSIONAL QUES-
TIOM"

Under this head in another column
correspondent gives with commemorate
breyity, his views about the mode OF get
ting Congressman among the plentlfui
aspirants in the seventh district. His let
ter is in the interest of the sitting mem
beers, whether intended to be so or not, but
to this we do not object, save that It's
views jar on our sense of fair play, to those
who do not happen to be sitting members.
In the first place he wants dead calm,
thinking that it is ''rather unfortunate to
have Congressional canvass with
is altogether mistaken. The mere fact that
at the same time distinguished man is to
be called to the Presidential Chair, those
who think proper should try and send there
to support him congressman who. in
their eyes, is, to use homely phrase, "the
same sort of man, is by no means likely
to distract" a party, but rather to more
deeply interest each member Of it, and
make him more keenly alive to the i'm
portance of electing the chief while he Is
busy in choosing his supporter.
If we did not know the writer, we should
think his Arcadian simplicity about hav-
ing convention 'sto make candidate"
but not to s'decide between asplrants, i" was
an exhibition of political astuteness. He
may rest assured that there is always at
least one ''aspirant," who is to be decided
s'between, for Or against, and that is the
sitting member. His friends are always
prompt in session. and at the close of the
session, in arranging for the next election.
So anxious are they sometimes, that they
call meetings on their own account with
out authority from the State organizations,
and out of few loungers around the
cross road store send delegation piano.
piled with selecting authority. The
'sscrambling," which nauseates our cor
respondent, almost invariably commences
with the friends of the incumbent, who
also keep upa gentle scratching all along
through the term. in order that nothing
shall be lost by their favorite.
These things are to be condemned, as
are all things which do not come up to that
Olu duu ROOu IuC1 VI lCtolu6 OhO olAiSo oOOh
the man, but one cannot well reform the
world, not even if that one be our old
friend, Beverly" AS to the packing
of the primary meetings, we don't see how
that can be done if the people will only
exhibit an interest in them. If the friends
of Messrs. BUMGARDNER and HARRIS in
this county will only exhibit some inter
est in the meeting Of the 26th of August,
and attend them there can be no doubt that
the next day will show who it is Augusta
wants to represent her in Congress. You
cannot "pack" meeting that two men on
opposite sides want to carry-the oppo-
nent, if he is properly interested, won't,
and ought not to let it be packed.
We take it that there is a very decided
division of opinion in Augusta, as to
whether the vote of the county in the con-
vention shall be cast for Mr.. HARRIS or
Mr.. BUMGARDNER, and we infer this
from reading in another column call
on the latter gentleman, signed with some
two hundred names, including some Of the
most prominent citizens of Staunton and
the county. With such a division we are
decidedly in favor Of giving both sides a
hearing. and not trying to choke off the
people who, after all. have the matter in
their own hands.