Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-04-12
THE ELECTION TOMORROW.

hE
The primary election takes place
tomorrow. We have such aplolne
faith in the good sense of the people
of Augusta and Staunton that we
have no fear for the result. Ihere
are four good men offering IN tnls
county, two of whom will be chosen
and let those be whatsoever they
NAV, they will represent the county
conscientiously and faithfully. VI
course every one has his preference as
between men. We do not differ from
other people in that regard, we have
ours, but we bow always to the Will ol
the majority and will abide the result
with that loyalty to our party,Whlcn we
have always observed in the past. we
have never yet strayed from the paths
of Democracy, we have never yell
voted for any but a Democrat lor
Office, no matter when or where our
vote has been cast. We never hao
any use for the "best man" theory,
which means that the person who is 10
vote will vote for anybody, but the
right man. There are always enough
good men in the Democratic party to
choose from, hence we never go outside,
when we do we will not masquerade in
false garments, but 60 boldly into the
party whose candidates we intend to
support.
We trust therefore that our party
will make wise selections, and that the
election will pass off harmoniously.
The office now being filled is an uuu-
sual one. 1t occurs only once in life
time, and or it the men best fitted to
write constitution should be selected
throughout the State. No class or fac
ton should send candidate, but
broad minded men, men OF learning
and ability should in every instance
be chosen, because in constitution
every word is weighed. Some States
are now enjoying constitutions III
which nearly the whole organic law
of the land is embodied. Should such
an one emanate from the approaching
convention we would feel like turning
it down. The paper should be mas
ter piece, and for this reason master
hands only should be employed. 1t is
to be regretted that the office holding
class in Virginia are strongly assert
ing themselves and have candidates in
the field in many places, the obvious
intention of which is to preserve their
jobs. 1t is apparent that we cannot
have economy without reduction OF
expenses; a reduction of expenses
means a reduction of officers; and
this being apparent the office holders
are moving in a mysterious way their
wonders to perform. On last Friday
in Henrico county MI. Joseph Bryan,
editor of the Richmond Times, was
defeated by the clerk of the county
court of that county. 1t has been very
questionable with US whether an OIL
Ger now holding position is eligible
to the Office of delegate. He cannot
attend to both at the same time, and
they are thus surely Incompatible. A
man ought not to be allowed to draw
two salaries at the same time, and
surely men ought not to be sent to fill
positions and perform official func'
lions if their official heads are likely to
fall by the very axe they WELD. No man
can serve two masters. If a question
arises as to whether the State can dc
without his Office, he is not the man to
decide the question. So that under all
the circumstances men entirely free
from such entanglements should be
selected.
The Democrats of Frederick county
have nominated Circuit Judge Harri-
son as their candidate for the conven-
tion. This is, we think, a grave
mistake, for the reasons above stated.
In Allegheny county we learn that the
Judge of the county court is the only
candidate for this position. AS high
as is our regard for that gentleman.
we doubt the wisdom of his candidacy,
and we cannot see how he can attend
the convention and the court at one
and the same time.