The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-11-03
The Virgin1an's Mistake

GILMAN last week IN an editorial noticing
the proceedings of the Democratic County
Convention, is attempted to be magnified into
huge ofense by the two Bourbon Journals of
this place. SO far as the actual facts and the
surface proceedings are concerned, the VIR-
GINIAN was in error. So far as the influences
operating were concerned, it was substantially
correct. That the two resolutions commented
on were not introduced by town delegates we
are now satisfied, and had we been more care
full and read the proceedings, this we would
have known in advance of writing the article
and it would not have appeared in the form 1t
did This was our fault. But the fact re-
mains that the same character of influences
controlled in the result of the Convention
as have heretofore determined such matters.
Messrs. Skinner and Hanger are not popular
with the masses of the people of the county,
if we are to believe the utterances that have
come from them for years past. 1t is possible
they may receive the vote of the party whose
representative they now are, by the action of
the Convention, but it will be simply ODE
dience to party form and party allegiance that
will make it so. They are gentlemen against
whom we have not word to say personally
but they do not represent the people in their
habits of thought nor reflect their wishes in
this canvass Their opponents, Messrs. Harms
berger and McCutchen, are far more represen
tative in their business experience and asso-
Citations and their understanding of the
wants of the people. The Democratic nomi
nees may be more polished in manners and
better acquainted with the ways of legislative
life But for solid>business sense, familiarity
with the needs of the people, and the elements
of practical Legislative duties, they will GER
tainly suffer nothing in comparison with their
opponents. 1t is great mistake to assume
that because gentlemen can get up and :de-
claim, without embarrassment, prepared
pieces that it indicates the strong qualities to
represent an industrial community. The Re
adjuste- nominees stand among our best men
for correct and successful business habits
Their experience has called for as much
brains to make their undertakings successful,
| as it requires to speak piece before the pub
| lie. And it is but fair that the county people
should have solid men of their own class to
| reflect their views in the Legislature. It re-
| quires as much comprehension and as much
robust brains to run farm successfully. or to
conduct the business of sheriff's office, as it
does to practice the graces of the social circle
or entertain an audience with smooth sen
| fences. Especially at this time do the people
want practical representatives in the Legisla-
| ture. The absence ofsuch has caused the COM
| plications we are now dealing with. Until
the views of the people are absolutely reflected
in the legislation that may be enacted into law,
| this contention and agitation will have to go
on. Each voter has been brought to realize
! that he must think for himself, and hence the
edicts ofcoteries and cliques will not satisfy the
great mass of the tax-paying classes We must
have practical legislation, and it requires
practical men to bring it about and the election
of Messrs, Harnsberger and McCutchen will
fill the bill -."-''-@
For the Senate there is not that wide differ
ence between the candidates in their associa-
lions and schooling that there is between the
candidates for the Legislature. But we are safe
| in saying that there is not man in the county
who is better acquainted with the people and
their wants than the Re-adjuster nominee, Col.
Turk. His whole life has been actively spent
in serving them in one capacity or another.
He would not only make an efficient but an
influential member of the body to seat
in which he aspires. He is man of
,,f 81, 90
his energies to practical ends and practical
| laws, COMFORTING with the necessities and de-
mands of his constituents We say this in no
sense todisparage his opponent for whom we
haye the kindest feelings and greatest respect,
but to give the assurance that there will be no
mistake in electing his opponent, nor would
the county suffer by it. .....
| The technical mistake of the VIRGINIAN
last week will not change the nature of
this canvass one particle, however much our
city contemporaries may seek to distort the mo-
tive which prompted it or the object had in view
We said then, and say now, that influences
have controlled nominations and political
events in the county, and given direction to
popular action, emanating from mere personal
| considerations, which are not in sympathy
with the interests Of the people, because the
instigators of them do not feel with the people
| or know their wants. 1t is considered a
great triumph when in the conflict of wits be-
tween caucus delegates, a favorite is success
| full in securing nomination. This goes far,
we know, in controlling the votes of the mas
SEES, because usage and habit have schooled
! them to this slavish subservience. But, we
think, in view of what the State has suffered
and is now suffering from sentimental politics
and machine methods that the time has come
| for the people to speak with their ballots, and
not through the agencies of, too frequently,
self-appointed delegates to a county .conven-
| ton. but by their own sense of right and JUS
tice to themselves, and the interest of the Com
monwealth. We have had enough of the
management of the few now let the many
| voice their wishes in the only effective and le
gal way they have to do so-at the ballot box.
| The members of the Woman's National
| Christian Temperance Union, in session at
D