Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-02-01


gance and party despotism which has
in by-gone years been so detrimental
to the party, and which has heretofore
been condemned by the Register. with
as much ability and effect. possibly,
as that of any other Democratic paper
in the Commonwealth. 1t is only
necessary to quote here one of the
many similar expressions in the edito-
rial to illustrate the correctness of
this construction
Mr. Montague's friends will be duly
vigilant SO as not to be caught nap
ping. They mean to control the dele
cation in his interest. and they can do
80 without being dragged into fierce
fractional melee that may be preeipi-
tated in other counties. Those who
are entrusted with the management of
of other candidates interest, once duly
apprized of the Montague sentiment
here, should refrain from provoking a
contest that can only result disastrous
ly to the cause, and-what is decided
ly less xcusable-disturb the present
good will among our own people,
We, of course, living in another and
adjoining county to Rockingham, and
advocating the claims of Lieut.. Gov
ernor Echols, who is not only the only
Democratic candidate for Governor
from Augusta, but from the entire
Valley of Virginia, are unable to state
what the true sentiment of Rocking
ham Is upon this question; but if the
editor of the Register is correct in his
diagnosis of the sentiment there, which
is that practically all the Democrats
of Rockingham are for Mr.. Montague,
for such is the only proper interpre-
tation of the statement that "Mr.
Montague's friends mean to control
the delegation" under the present
plan of representation in Rockingham
then Mr.. Montague, who is neither
from Rockingham or from the Valley,
but from Southside Virginia, en-
joys degree of popularity that has
never been accorded any other guber-
Material candidate since the founda-
tion of the Commonwealth. We dc
not believe this is SO; and we are con.
vinced that the editor of the Register
in the enthusiasm of his zeal for his
fayor1te, has only that enthusiasm as
a basis for the statement that, not
only are the Democrats of Rocking
ham in favor of Montague, but that il
is offensive to them that any other can
didate should solicit their support.
We do not question the right of Mr.
Montague, or of any other Democratic
candidate, to contest with Mr.. Echolf
the delegation from Augusta; and
whoever obtains the nomination at the
State convention will have our most
earnest and hearty support. But to
urge in behalf of any particular can
didate that any opposition to him by
the friends of any other candidate,
either at the primaries or in the coun-
ty convention of any county, will be
the occasion of party strife. is the enun-
citation OF proposition so un demo
cratic and SO manifestly unreasonable
that merely to state it is to demon
state the fact that it's enforcement
would certainly create the very condi-
ton of affairs which it is alleged would
be avoided. Without any disparage-
ment of Mr.. Montague or of any other
candidate, and with all due respect to
the editor of the Register and other
friends of Mr.. Montague in Rocking
ham, we think that the Hon. Edward
Echols is entitled to the earnest sup
port of the Democrats of Rockingham
and of the entire Valley of Virginia.
He has been an active, untiring and
earnest Democrat at all times and I'M
der all circumstances; he has never
held any Office in the party for remu-
neration, but on the contrary he has
most efficiently lat all times worked for
the party success generally. He is a
man OF large business interests, and
great experience. both in business and
in governmental affairs. He has had
the legislative experience that no other
candidate has had, having been, for
many years, first State Senator and
next Lieutenant Governor. While be
does not pose as an orator be is a
speaker of force and vigor, and be is a
lawyer of recognized ability and man
of fine executive capacity.
Therefore, because he is their near
neighbor; because his interests and
their interests are the same; because
of his party fealty and his great expe-
rience in both private and State affairs;
and because of his conservatism and
sound Judgment, we think that the
Democrats of Rockingham, in the ex.
ercise of the wisdom and hard com.
mon sense that characterizes the people
of this great Valley, should support,
along with the people of Augusta and
the other Valley counties, Edward
Echols, the Valley candidate, and we
hope that on reflection our cotempura
ry will see the injustice of his article,
and in that spirit Of dignifed journal
ism which has always characterized
the Register, will cheerfully correct it.
A CASE OF FOE MANIA.
We are making wonderful prepare