Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1904-08-19
SLEMP MUST
BE DEFEATED
Richmond Paper Says Salvation
of the Country Depends on
Election of Democratic
Congress-.

special effert TO defeat Judge Camp
tell Slemp for re e-electIon to congress
aud should take SPECIAL pride in do
ing IT.
The issue in the fight for control of
congress is not on the tariff or the
currency or any other point of
avowed difference between the two
great political parties. 1t is for
higher, deeper and wider than any
of these.
The house of representatives of
the United States congress repre-
sents the direct voice, will and
thought of the people in the conduct
of the Federal government. When
this great assemblage Is treated with
contempt, when the rights and
powers reserved to 1t by the consti-
tuition are disregarded, the people
are insulted and their liberties are
threatened. The people have no
voice i'm the creation of the Federal
courts. A change in the political
control of the senates is n slow, to-
dious and complicated process. We
may elect president but once IN
four years. The house of represen-
tatiyeS is the one imm ediate express
sion of the peoples viii! and wishes.
1t should be the most jealous guar
din of the peoples rights. IL should
be more vigorous and vigilant than
any other body In the world IN de-
Tending its own dignity, because il is
the dignity and rights of the people
concentrated and gathered.
During the last sessions of con
gress, President Roosevelt missed no
opportunity to insult or belitile the
house OF representatives. He invad-
ed ITS rights absolutely and fragrant
ly when by executive authority he
added scores of thousands Of names
to the pension roll. Congress had re-
fused to pass any bill adding these
names. Congress under the consti-
tuition is the one law-making body.
The house OF Representatives Is the
one body authorized by law to spend
the public money. The Roosevelt
administration disrcgarded the law
and the rights OF the congress and by
exec utive order put into effect the
measure the congress had rejected.
For INSULTING the parliament Of
England no more fagrautly, for
overriding its rights no more inso-
lently, King Charles the First lost
his head.
This was the most outrageous In
stance but it was not the only one
of the kind, and at the finish the
house of representatives virtually
was prorogued as If by monarch's s
mandate, Fastening its adjournment
in obedience to orders.
Judge Slemp was a member of
this house which yielded Its rights so
sbamefully and grovelled so misera-
bly, at the feet of the master of the
Republican party. AS far as the
record shows, he never expressed by
yoi ce or vote faintest protest. He re-
presented the Republican party, but
not the people of Virginia of any
party; for Virginians above all pec.
pie in the republic revere the consti'
tntion, and they should be first and
mort eager OF all to resent, resist and
punish encroachments against them
We hope TO see the voters OF al
parties in the Ninth district stand
shoulder to shoulder in defense oi
liberty, law and order and of tht
. foundations Of free government anC
against a man undertaking to repre-
sent a Virginia constituency who
sanctioned and aided assaults agains
them and usurpations OF authorit,
which would have stirred our father
TO righteous violence.
: The News Leader was the first o
all the Democratic newspapers t
demand that Judge Slemp should re
] ceiye his certificate if he had ma
t jority OF but one vote ovor hi
4 Democratic opponent. We have en-
g couraged the idea of establishing /
e Virginia a strong, respectable, well
Y led Republican party. But the Re
!, publican party cannot attain res
pectability or strenth In Virginia b
representing policy of cringing I
a president and rendering th
S rights and degrading the dignity {
n the Representatives of the people I
It congress assembled. Judge Slem
him which will express their love al