The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-04-30
TUESDAY...........APRIL- 30, 1901.
Weather forecast for Fred
eTicks6urg and Vicinity,
Fair Tuesday light change
able aoiRdS.
REASON VERSUS PREJUDICE.

pOrary threw out some reasons why
itwould advantage Spotsylvmia and
adjacent counties to send delegates
to the gubernatorial convention this
summer that were favorable to Mr.
SwansOn's candidacy. Some may
have thought it rather calculating
and cold-blooded, but we should like
to know what political move of this
dayand generation is not inspired by
the same sentiment. Every one of
the four gentlemen who are aspiring
to be our next Governor has purely
personal aim in it. 1t has been many
a day in politics since men were called
and forced to serve the people in such
high positions. But this does not
detract one whit from mans deserts.
We presume Senator John ". Daniel
has served his State more faithfully
during a long career-a career of war
and peaee-than any other public
man now before the people, yet today
if he aspired to the GOvernorship, an
Office which comes directly from the
people, he would have to hustle to
get it.
So each of the present aspirants is
looking out for number one. Why,
then, should not each section look
out for its own interests when its
welfare is at stake? If it were alocal
office that were under question you
would seepretty quickly that no man
was chosen over another if the local
interests were to suffer by so doing.
1t is all very well to talk about the
dear people, and the peoples can
didate," when one side or another
wants to get "in," but if the "dear
people" don't look out for their in
terests they are soon forgotten. Mr..
Montague friends are shouting that
he is the peoples man, but what
marked service has he ever done the
people? He has made a good Attor-
ney-General; there were others, but
they did not ask the people to elect
them Governor because OF their faith
ful service. They were content to fill
to the best of their ability an office
with which they had been hOnored by
the whole people, and for which they
had been amply paid with thepeOple's
money. If it is to be looked at in
this light Mr.. Swanson has even bet
ter grounds to ask the support OF
Virginians. While he, too, has been
honored and paid by the people
Though a tenth part OF them,
only the popularity OF his Office is
snch as has made it other than a
sinecure. He has had to fight every
hour, you may say, for every inch of
the rights of his party and people of
the whole State.
But these things are neither here
nor there. No dishOnor has been cast
upon either gentleman, and we hope
no attempt will be made to do so, for
we all but know that one or the other
will within year be sitting in the
Chief Executives chair at Richmond,
and it would be a pity to have his
name tarnished-even though it be
unmerited. The men who have raised
the cry Of "the people against the
machine" have been unable to pro-
duce any good easonfornot electing
Mr.. Swanson, and it has partaken of
the oft heard wall of the "outs F"
against the Gins"
When these truths confront us we
must become impressed with the fact
that the whole campaign is calculat-
ing and cold-blooded. There would
seem, then, that there is but one
thing for our people to do-both men
being considered above reproach-to
apply the rule laid down by the Star:
Support the man who, by his ability,
affiliations or inclination, may be
able to accomplish the most good for
our particular section. Fredericks-
burg and Spotsylvania have their
Battlefields Park project; the First
District has it's water interest, and
the Eighth District her varied inter
ests, affected chiefly by national leg
islation. Given the inclination Mr..
Montague's affiliations are not such
as would enable him to promote the
welfare oil any OF these sections on
the lines suggested. On the other
hand, Mr.. Swanson, who is already
one of the most influential men on
the Democratic side in Congress, it
must be admitted can advance these
interests to a greater degree than
any other man in the field. He will
have six of the members OF Congress,
and maybe more, who are on such
good terms with him that they will
not refuse to aid worthy undertake
ings which are urged by his friends Of
the localities interested. He has as
warm friends the two able Senators
from yirginia-a working team which
has no superior from any State.
Decry such policy all you may,
but itisacondition which confronts
us: thechiei opposers Of Mr.. Swanson
and Senator Martin are looking out
for themselves, not the "dear peo-