Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-06-02
TAZEWELL. VA, THURSDAY JUNE 2, 1904

youth, and, if am not mistaken. has never
yet held public position to which he was
not elected by the voice of the people,
Regarding M. Dixon's reference to the
meeting of the District Committee at
Bristol on April 10Th, and his allusion 10
' MIR. Summers in connection Herewith, it
Seems 10 me that this is most contemrti-
be, not only because Of its misleading
statements and infereuces, but because of
the genLlemanly treatment accorded MIR.
Dixon by the committee. Not being a.
to attend It's deliberations, he yet joined
the committee at its private meeting place
and accepted Tue courtesy extended to
him by unanimous vote Of tue commit
tee to remain during it's session. Viola
ton of professional confidence, especially
playing the part of spy, is as revolving in
politics as in other relations of life. Cen
tlemen always govern themselves accord
ingly.
Neither does Mr.. Dixon state the facts
in regard to the appointment of clerk of
the U. s. Court at Big Stone Gap. The
original bill establishing this court was
amended by the Senate Committee under
the direction of Senator Martin, who was
courteous enough to take charge of the
bill in the Senate. The amendments
10y that committee were practically lie
same that the Senate had adopted in The
bulls establishing courts at Charlottesville
and Roanoke. The matter of the appoint
ment of clerk was an immaterial one,
and as the session of Congress was near its
close, the convenience Of a whole section
of country should not have been endan
gered by opposition to the amendments
in tie lower house, which would no doubt
have resulted in the bill laying over. 1t
was no fling at Messrs. Fowler and Lind
sey and even an evil imagination cannot
give the amendment such a construction.
1 cannot see why these gentlemen cannot
| Bull U6 uODlCs VI ave dnQ hulQ hRbb-
ing Republicans" as Ms. Dixon says they
are. Why they or he should be so inter-
ested in the individual who is to be clerk
at Big Stone Gap, is not clear to me. 1t
would be a curious, il not an alarming
commentary on their fealty to their polit-
cal convictions, were they to cease to be
less "brave" or "noble" on that account
So far as know there is no applicant
for this clerkship from Wise county, MIR.
Dixon to the contrary Notwithstanding.
Mr.. Dixon in bis bitterness of mind
casts reflections on other gentlemen that
are equally as unwarranted as those be
cast on Col. Semp. He reflects seriously
upon Gen. Walkers appointment of Judge
I. M. Anderson as U. S. District Attorney,
because Judge Alderson lives IN Wise
county, when it is we'll known that there
Is no better or more deserving Republican
any where than Judge Anderson, nor has
the government ever had more efficient
officer, as the records of the Department
show.
Hon. r. w. Blair, Hon. W. 5, Poage
and Col. j. S. Browning whom he also at
tacks and Hon. r. W. Dickenson, whose
motives he impugnes, are too well known
throughout the district and in fact
throughout Virginia, to be injured by
anything Mr.. Dixon may say. They GER
tainly need no defense at my hands.
His insinuation that the people of Taze-
we'll county are to be purchased by a
cerkship or a marshalship is certainly too
absurd to need comment.
Referring now to appointments in which
Col. Slemp has made remmendations, l
wish to cay that Col. Slemp has generally
followed the plan of endorsing men
recommended by the local organizations.
While no plan of making appointments
has ever yet been invented that will give
universal satisfaction, yet, as a general
rule, this seems TO be most satisfactory.
Mr. Dixon cannot hope to enlist the SYM
pathy of such men as Mr.. Goodell, Mr..
Lincoln or Mr.. Hurt. The Republican
party is not run on basis of purchase
and sale. There are principles for which
Republicans are fighting, principles which
are true and eternal, principles upon
which the prosperity Of our country and
the happiness of its people depend. 1t is
not for men, for Office or for pie that the
Republicans of this district are the organ
lied fighting band that has beaten the
enemy gloriously in every important
battle in the past two years. Can it be
that the Republican party and its leaders
should cease their struggle for pure cleo
tions, freedom of the ballot, the enfTan-
chisement of its people, or cease their bat
ties for the national principles Of protec-
tive tariff, for sound and stable currency,
for commercial and territorial expansion
and lower itself into a scramble for Office ?
If man fails to secure an appointment,
shall be for that reason forsake his princi-
pies? These questions l submit to ;he
Republicans of the Ninth District. 1t
was not for Office, nor for pay that the
Republicans two ears ago organized this
district 80 thoroughly that they have now
ten members of the Virginia Legislature
out of a possible thirteen.
In closing this article, l wish only to
cay further that Col. Slemp does not OBJ
ject to criticism when that criticism is
honest and decent, but he will not permit
himself to be drawn into mud-slinging
or villifying campaign in newspapers or
elsewhere. We shall, therefore, take no