Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-09-08
NOW CAN THEY wIN9

eressional District. We are at loss to
understand upon what theory they base
their hopes and expectations. Every such
CLAIM is coupled with an Acknowledgement
that the will of the people as expressed at
the last two elections in the district whl
have to be reversed
At the Congressional election of 1917
the Democrats had for their candidate one
whom they claimed to be their ablest
leader and shrewdest politician. Judge
Rhea had been selected as the only man
who could possibly beat General Walker
And having accomplished that end in
satisfactory way TO the Democrats, though
tho most disgracsful methods were used,
he was selected without opposition in 1907
to again make the race. Colonel Slemp
was put up by the Republicans and de-
feated Rhea by good, sound majority
The result of that race demonstrated the
fact that the district was Republican when
an honest election was held. There we're
certain Democrats in the district, among
them Mr.. Wysor and bis friends, who de-
clared that the defeat of the Democratic
candidate was due more to bis weakness
than to the strength Of the Republican
candidate and party. They claimed thai
the district was heartily tired of Rheaism
and the Democrats had helped to procure
Rhea's defeat to get rid of him. 1t vas
also contended at the time that with Mr.
Wysor or some other clean man as the
Democratic candidate that the party
would be triumphant.
Such contentious at the time may hav,
appeared reasonable, but subsequent
events proved that they were not SUBJ
stantial. In the Legislative election last
year the Republicans of the Ninth Dis
trict won the most signal victory they
have ever gained. On the aggregate vote
they had majority of nearly two thous-
and-electing eight of the members Of the
House of Delegates accredited to the
counties of the district and the only State
Senator who had to be elected from it
There facts and figures ought to be sutfi
Gent to show that the Democrats are max
ing idle boasts when they insist that theil
chances to elect Mr.. Wysor are almos
assured. But there is another reason fol
casting doubt upon these claims and cal
culations of the Democrats. all theil
newspapers have been publishing as q fac
the statement that in the payment OF pol
taxes the Republicans of the district have
gained great advantage over the Demo
Gratis. If this be true, and we have abun
dant Democratic authority for thinking i
is so, the Republican majority in th'
district should be much larger than it wal
at the Legislative election last Fall, anC
certainly should be larger than Colone
Slemp received in 1902.
Nothing has occurred since the last cleo
ton to weaken the Republican party or 1T
candidates with the people of this section
Upon the contrary those who voted fol
Colonel SIemp in 1902 are more earnestly
for him now than they we're then. Th'
administration of the general govern
ment by the Republican party has been sc
successful since 1897 that Republican,
here have become more firmly fixed in
their faith in the principals Of the party
Another thing that will weaken the Dem
ocrats and strengthen the Republicans il
the reluctance of many men who have
voted the Democratic ticket to dol SO again
upon the idea that change of administra
ton will seriously disturb business condi
TONS This is particularly 30 with the farm
ers AMI laborers. For the past seven years
the farmers of this section have prosperec
as they have never done before; and work
ingmen have never had such happy ex-
perience in the way of getting regular EN-
ployment and big wages.
We are at loes to know upon Nha
grounds the Democrats base their hopes Of
electing Mr.. Wysor.