The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-10-24
To The Voters of SpOtsylyania
County.
My Fellow.Citllens.

! am Tor DeJarnette hefhnse he hhu
the courage and manhood tn refuse "a
Join the Ring
When MIR. lee j. Graves was urging
his own appointment as Clerk OF spotsyi
yania county. with all the zeal and energy
he possesses, was he opposed To DeJar-
nette or did he sugg, 1t that his own ap'
pointment AS County Clerk would clear
the way and open the door Tor peJH'
nette 10 step into the office oil common
wealth's Attorney
/ lit be true, and | believe II ~ true,
that Mr.. Graves suggested and favored
the election OF DeJarnette as his succe 'Sor
in the office of Commonwealth's Attor'
new. then the real ground. aud the only
ground OF complaint against DrJarnetIe
/ today. IA that he refused to enter INTO
combination and deal which woulu nave
at once put him into office. Inc real
grievance against DeJarnette Is tnat Le
declined to lend his aid to put Mr. Lee ).
/ Graves into one office in order thal He
/ DeJarnettel might step INTO an"'ner T,
Suppose DsIarnette aud his lriehuH hHl
given Me Graves their support Tor 'ne
/ rlerkship aud that Mr.. Graves hau oesn
annointed To that office. who can DOUBT
/ tbat DeJarnette would today he tom
monwealth's Attorney OF Spotsy wanna
countyo Where else would the Judge oi
tho Conntv Court have turned 20 hnd "A
sncc.ssor to MIR Graves Instead OF Sc
curing one of the most desirable olhces
in the county by this quick ana easy
scheme." DeJarnette has come out IKE
a man into the open field TO make a
s,nare Gghtupon public issues aud trusts
his political fortune 10 the sounu lput
ment and siscretion ot his fellow cit'I'hs
/ Does he deserve censure ana rohurilnh-
tion for this or does he deserve cfedit!
In view Of the fact that Mr. lee d.
Graves had for four years grossly neg
lected his duties ~ commonwealth Al
tornev could DeJarnette do otherwise
than refuse 10 enter into this com hlna.
ton. deal or RlNG2 DO Mr.. drh'es
friends claim that DeJarnette Ought 10
have gone into this combination " not
what il their grievance against hun
Ietuslook into this matter a l'tlle
further and see what m'gn' INV n"P
pened suppose Mr.. Graves nan 'ern l
apuointed Clerk and rJarnette ma
been appointed TO succeed MN as '3in
monwealths Attorney. suppose p"'
lard had held on 10 the Office oil lrea"
urer and Harris had held on to me Once
of Sheriff. do MIR. Graves friends claim
that that would have been Ring II
not, why not}
OR suppose that after Harris had been
annointed Clerk. the Judge had appoint
ei Mir Garner Sheriff do Mr.. uraVes
snnnortars claim that that would nave
been Court House Ring? Or. once
more suppose that Mr. Graves had been
annointed Clerk. that DeJernette had
been appointed Commemorative Attor
new. that Harris had held on as sheriil
that Hon. j. II. BiscOe had been re'noIni
mated for the House and that billiard had
resigned the Office of Treasurer and VII
r Bi.coe had been appointed 10 hir
stead wonld the men who are now sup
norting Mr.. Graves have claimed that
his vas a Ring? or would they have
fought against these gentlemen upon
thai ground -
distinctly decline TO make use OF th'
word Ring" 10 thi connection. ! mas
no accusation against anyone OF the gen
,lemen have named. They have righ'
all ~ them-to aspire 10 pubHc oilc'
and the voters have the right 20 eiec'
them What want IN make clear Il
that this charge OF Ring il without
foundation other than the fact that VIZ
Iaa / Graves has not been able To ru'
things TO suit his own pleasure or AM
bition in SpOtsylvania county.
lie has held the Office OF Common
wealtb's Attorney since April court s3'
more than four years. At the end o
each month since that time IL has beei
his bounden duty under the law To eX
anime the records OF the Clerks ono
and 10 certify the result at that exam
nation upon the tax book prepared 10
that purpose. Not once mas ne oorJe'
or complied with the clear, e1phe't en'
jmperstiye mandate OF the law.
, More than two score times ADD ten ha
no neglected TO perform this duty TO
! which he is paid II bis failure to compl.
with the requirements of the law wa
due Tn ignorance. his fellow citizens ma
Ioroiye this derellction Of duty, but
} there any reason why they should r.
ward him for it
y On the other hand, il he knew bis dut
: and did it not. shall contempt LOT IN
law and hsbitual neglect oiduty ne MAJ
the tests of fitness for office and the stef
: ming stones to political preierment!
II Mr.. Graves had obeyed the PLANES
and most positive requirements OF th
. law there could have been no shortse
In the accounts OF the County Clerk dul
ing the last four years. During IN
. neriod the law required Mr.. Graves {
, do and AZ Commonwealth Attorne
: he was paid 70 do, at the end oil eac
: month. the identical work which the II
D yestigating committee has just compls
T Cd Mr. Graves il in no way responrlo
q Tor the condition Of the Clerks Oih'
!; prior to April, 1899. Since that TN
D every dollar OF the shortage Is due TO n
!. negligence and neglect OF duty II
D duties were plainly. clearly and explici
e ly laid down, "a have said. II he cho'
e To neglect them, should the county no
y be made TO pay the Investigating Ooi
u mittee for doing the work that VI
n Graves has already been paid to 90,
B. should MIR. Graves himself, as q matt
le Of Justice and fair play, pay the penal'
e. of his own ignorance, Incidence or neg
>, gence? -, !,
We ouired to make good every dollar lille
sr ally taken by him lie should be app
IL hended and brought to the bar OF iusti
ne m answer for bis crimes Let him a
20 aver for his sins and let Mr. Graves a
>, swer for his own neglect OF duty. WI
TX should properly bear the expense OF d
IN inc the work that Mr. Graves was pa
y TO do? am not laying down a leg
III proposition, but it does seem TO me Ell
III nently fair and just that MI. drs'
should refund to the county the amou
IN of money required to pay the lnvestig'
Dg ing Committee for 80 much OF tn
TIC work az Mr.. Graves should have 90
and 40 much as he was paid to do. II
as no offered TO do this or does he sta
ne upon his legal and technical rights?
ne have heard no suggestion that Mr.. Ora
ue was willing or Ia willing TO do anythl
es- of The kind. Instead of this, the vot
on M this county are seriously asked TO
~, ward Mr.. Graves Reward him Tor VIII
oi What in the name of Heaven, except
four Years of negligence and neglect
n'S I,.,q Ifrcmmonyeal.h'g Attorney
bu' J. Graves knew anything OF the della
nr. lions Of Clerk CrismOnd, he said moth
ior and did nothing until County Treast
tne W. G. billiard brought the matter
liie Now. mark the difference in the cot
d pursued by the two men.
nm After having brought to light the
isit condition of affairs, Willie billiard
ana cljned TO permit the use OF his name
Inis candidate for the appointment AS ci
fd- LIE and his ifiends believed that be