The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-20
ROANOKE, VA, SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 20 18e5

| Su"i'eh ioE tHs ROanOKe GaS and
! Water Company; which, on his mo-
ton, was read the first, ordered 10 be
read second time, and referred to the
committee on general laws"
| "These paragraphs, foregoing, are
from the official record inscribed by
sworn officer of the senate. Thew show
that Mr.. Watts was apparently unwill-
ing to be responsible for bill to i'm
| prove public roads. But he is shown to
! % the sole sponsor for the Gas and
water Dill, which at first contained
provision to over ride and nullify q de.
ctsion OF the State court of appeals in
order to enable that greedy corporation
to extort more money from the public
under the form of law. That provision
Mr.. VISITS says he advised his corporate
oiient to strike out for no other reas IN
than that 1t was useless to offer it
when an Indignation meeting was
heid In this city to protest against the
bill the people would not rely upon Mr..
watts to dispose it, even,though they
paid MIN to REPRESENT them. They di-
rected two city officials to 90 to Rich
mond and soc that the bill was killed.
"Apologists for Mr.. Watts say that
In acting as attorney for the Water
Company he only pursued his EVERYDAY
occupation. That is true. But IL his
everyday employment compels him to
Cypress the people then HIS EN- ployment
ia opposed to the public interest and for
that reason disqualifies him to represent
the public. Itis principle as old az iuris.
prudence itself that no honorable lawyer
can or will undertake to repre- sent both
Sizes OF the same cause, because a prom
erly Jealous fidelity to one interest will
essentially involve more or less of dis
loyalty to the other as long as men re-
main human and humanity remains sol.
fish
There Is surely nothing in Mr.
Watts' method OF making himself
candidate to indicate unselflshness and
the people do not overlook that in cast
ing their votes.
There are whispers IN the air to the
erect that the surplus profits of tho
Roanoke Gas and Water COMPANY and n
few other allied corporations are to
play an important part in crushing pu b.
lie opposition and forcing Mr. Watts
into the legislature. But l really don't
think they have enough money between
them all to elect hin in the present
state OF public sentiment"
What do you think OF the chances
for the other two candidates running as
Democratic"
las in the case Of Mr.. Watts, Mr. Nc
Cartney's individual interests and every.
day occupation plainly disqualify him
TO mako faithful legislator even
though he is no; disqualified in other
respects.
Captain Berkely is pretty fair can
didate as machine candidates 20 these
days, He has so often and earnestly
assured the public that he is only q
plain, blunt man that believe him In
general he is so much less Objectionable
than his associates that l believe he
will rum ahead of his ticket"
Shall The TIMES quote you on this
matter?"
"As 1 am no politician that could do
no good. nj y only object in wishing to
his activity in foisting this iniquitiously
oppressive Gas and Water Company
upon Roanoke and then attempting to
enlarge its original powers OF oppres.
son.'
abuses?"
They are too numerous to be de-
tailed to-day. Come and see me again
and will try TO give you dates and
names as we'll as instances"
do you know many Democrats who
VIII oppose the machine ticket?"
about hundred or So"
"Will you give THE TIMES some
names?"
No. They are mostly men in
somewhat dependent positions and do
not wish to subject them to the petty
persecution which would cert4inly fol-
low If their political views were pub.
llcly known. Toas is machine m ethod.
Rule orruin. But as soon IS these peo-
pie who coniscated tho Democratic
temple find that there is nothing con-
vertible in il they will abandon it. In
that way it will get good airing and
putty the atmosphere by the time the
whole organization is ready to assemble
again Thus defeat will do the party
good These self-made patriots never
stay long where there is nothing to
divide"