Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-10-18
AN DEE YEAR.

The Republicans are making what is
Known as desperate effort to carry
the State In so far as their gubernato-
rial ticket Is concerned. They are
the Federal officeholders,
they are seeking campaign contribu-
tiOns from without the State, as well
as within it, and they are working the
poor man the negro" invention to its
utmost capacity. They are not max
ing even an ordinary effort to carry
the legislature, although this is to be
the most important legislature that
has assembled for years. Possibly they
have faint hope of carrying enough
counties to give their governor a
chance to control legislation by the
use of his veto. But in this they are
mistaken. They have no earthly chance
OF being able to elect One-third OF the
members. They have but a few mem.
bers in the Constitutional Convention.
Had they been as strong in the State
as they now assert they are, they
should have shown it a few months
ago, when that election was held.
Take this county for instance. What
possible show have the Republicans to
carry it? Mr.. Coyner, who was nomi'
mated by them for the House of Dele
gates, had no heart in the fight and
saw the handwriting on the wall. Mr..
Clark, who is on the same ticket, will
continue to build walls after the cleo
tion on which hand writings may APP
pear. Mr.. Cochran, the nominee for the
Senate, stands practically alone in the
fight. He has time and money, if he
chooses. to devote to the task of elect
ing himself, and personally he is pop
ular. But he was placed On the weak
est ticket ever nominated in the coun
ty by that party and left to hew his
way out as best he could.
Had they had any hope that their
candidates would have been success.
full, better known and ADLER men would
have been selected for the House, and
some spirit injected into this part of
the fight. AS it is no enthusiasm can
be instilled into it, and all the Demo-
Gratis have to fear is apathy.
But what could Mr.. Hoge, their can
didate for governor, do if elected He
would be figure head, he would sit
alone, unaided by any official at the
capitol. unless the Attorney General
On his ticket should be elected with
him. He would doubtless undertake
to accomplish few things beyond
bis power and thus cement the oppo-
sltlon. His whole term would be one
of uselessness and vexation, resulting
In no good to the State, save as death
blow to the Republican party. The
effort of the Republicans at this time
is for one purpose only. 1t is an effort
to control the federal patronage. Tu1s
is something, of course, but what if
alter this superhuman effort, as they
term it, the president should see a
Jones around and drop the plum into
his mouth? We are not in the prophe
sying buainee and need not be to fore
tell what would happen, nor would we
need an ear trumpet to hear the howl
that would go up.
1t is pity with all the prosperity
boosted, and the opportunity offered
for most men to make an honest liv-
ing, that there ara not more of them
willing to eschew politics, and earn a
penny or two by the sweat of their
brow, and not 60 about damning the
very people and institutions to which
they owe their existence. After the
our Republican friends can
explain to their co laborers that this
was an off year.