The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1892-05-06
For Mayor.

ent contest for the Office Of Mayor, and in
favor of the candidacy Of Mr.. W. K. Shell
by for that office.
I take it that the qualifications sought
for in candidate for this Office are, first a
thoroughiknowledge of the principles of
law; second, judicial temperament and
spirit Of fairness and impariality in the
administration of the legal duties Of the
Office, both criminal and civil; and third,
frmess of character, honesty of purpose,
attention to the executive duties of the
Office, and that intelligence and address
of manners so often needed in the chief
municipal Office to give to the strangers
and men of affairs a proper conception
Of the real strength of the town, both in
! its citizenry and material wealth.
| / have no fear of successful ontradc-
ton when 1 claim for Mr.. Shelby the pos
session of all these elements in marked
degree. His knowledge of the principles
of law is second to that of no one of our
bar. He has been thoroughly educated
in the theories of the law, and is q lawyer
of several years standing and active prac-
tice, and his abilities are recognized by
all of his fellow attorneys. 1t should need
no argument to convince the voters Of
this town that it would he serious mis-
take to place any one in the Office Of
Mayor, -tenths of the duties Of
which office are strictly legal, not thor
oughly informed on the statute law of the
state, and rules and laws of evidence and
pleading The Mayor has final jurisdic-
ton in all criminal matters not felonous,
and sits as an examining justice on all fell
ony charges, and in addition has jurisdic-
tion Of all civil matters up to one hundred
dollars. Tdentically the same questsons
in pleading and evidence as well as ques-
tons of fact must be passed npon by him
as by the judges of our counties and circuit
courts. Many nice questions of law per-
tanning to contracts Of the town, franch-
les, revenue, ETC., are constantly brought
before the Mayor, either as presiding Off
Ger Of the council, or otherwise, which no
man can properly advise upon without an
extensive knowledge of law. The town is
now in its infancy, presidents are few,
| and mistakes made might produce meal
lcuablc mischief.
All who know Mr.. Shelby are Impress
ed with the impartial and judicial tenn
permanent Of his mind, the capacity to
weigh evidence and appeals and decide
! those who know him best know that he
possesses in an eminent degree the cour
age of his convictions, tirmness ofpurpose,
and an honesty absolutely mpeachable.
I understand that the chief arguments
being used against him, are that he is the
candidate of the Improvement Company
and the "Kentucky clique" whatever that
NAV mean If it means that he is one Of,
and is supported by the young men who
have come to this point from Kentucky,
cast their lot and their fortunes, large or
small with the town, have stood by it in
adversely, have worked untireingly in sea-
son and out of season for its interests, and
intend to stay by it until triumph crowns
their efforts, then on his behalf enter
the plea of this latter charge. 1T it is an
innuendo that none but the Virginia
ns need apply for Office or honor here,
then repel it as unworthy Of the attention
of even the most reckless and time-serv-
| ing of his opponents, much less the great
body of intelligent and fair minded Vir-
ginians that make up a majority OF the
voters Of this town.
! Neither is the other objection mention
ed worthy of notice to those who know
Mr.. Shelby at ALL The writer Of this.ar-
ticle is not in any way connected with
the Improvement Company, or any OF its
dependent companies, and he wears no
mans collar, hut he is not one of those
who Join in the hue and cry against the
improvement Company and other corpor-
atoms, and who thinks it is the unpardon-
able political sin to be connectad in any
way with them. It is not my purpose,
however, here to. turn aside from the real
issue, which is 'who is the ittest candi-
date for this Office now Offering" but |
will simply say that this suggestion
concerning Mr.. Shelby is totally false.
He is not in any sense OF the word the Inn
provement Company's candidate, nor the
candidate Of any other corporation or in
dividual, nor will he be influenced in
the slightest by any corporation, or
the officials of any corporatirn, even should
they attempt it, to swerve from what he
thinks the public interests will demand.
He does not own one dollars worth Of
stock in the Improvement Company, or
in any of the dependent companies, has
no official connection with them whatever,
nor is he their attorney. No man in the
town could be found more untrammeled
than he in this regard. On the other
hand he is, believe, the largest single
investor of real estate in the town., and
consequently has larger interests at stake
in seeing that the city government is
wisely and economically administered.
All this is but feeble attempt to appeal
to the predjudices ofvoters and turn away
the issue ftom the real point, which, as
before stated is "who is the best qualified
to fill this Office of those now Offering
Il