Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-03-30
THURSDAY. MARCH 80, 1905.
NOT A JOKE.


ces at the election next Fall. One of
our contemporaries, the Staunton Spec
tator, treats it as "a huge joke" that is
being practiced by our State chairman,
Mr.. C. B. Slemp. The Spectator says:
"He judges the State generally by the
Southwest"
Well, is there anything unreasonable
or improper in his so doing? Is there
any part of the State that is more pro-
gressive or that is brainier and Drawer
than this? Was there any section of
the Commonwealth that responded
more cheerfully and literally to the call
for men in time of war, or that was
more solidly Democratic after civil
strife had ceased? If certain conditions
have turned the Southwest from De-
mocracy and made it as strongly Re-
publican as it was once Democratic,
may not similar conditions exist and be
applied in other sections of Virginia?
We remember that a certain promi-
nent and worthy Democrat was nomi-
mated a few years ago for Congress in
one of the Virginia Districts. A man,
comparatively unknown, announced him
self as a Populist, and our Democratic
friend spoke of the Populist's candi-
dacy as "a huge joke" The Populist
was elected. Why? The people of the
District had grown tired of Democracy
and quietly voted against the candidate
of that party.
The election last year proved con-
clusively that the people of Virginia
have become tired of Democracy. In
the Ninth District, where the Republi-
cans made resolute contest and where
the Democrats waged most determin-
ed battle, the results where such as to
startle the Democracy. In other dis
tricts of the State, where the Republic
ans were not in position to make
strong fights, the outcome was nearly
as disastrous to the Democracy. The
Democratic press appealed to the voters
as earnestly as we have ever known it
to do. Roosevelt and Rooseveltism
were painted in the most horrible colors;
and the old cry of niger and social
equality was employed to give strength
to the Democracy. But the false issue
raised by the Democratic press and lead
ers failed to accomplish what was de-
sired by them, full vote for the Demo-
cratic candidates. According to the
statement of one of the Parker electors,
eighty thousand men who had formerly
voted with the Democracy remained
away from the polls. Were these men
merely playing "a huge joke" on the
party with which they had previously
acted? Or were there substantial reas-
ons for their absence? Many Of them,
no doubt, failed to vote because they
had been treacherously deprived of suf-
frage by the very people and party they
had supported so faithfully. Itremains
to be seen why the large number of vot-
ers who were qualified to vote refused
to do so.
Mr.. Slemp, the chairman of the Re-
publican party, is justified in believing
that the State, with an honest and full
expression of opinion, is Republican.
He knows that it was apprehension on
the part of the Democracy that Vir-
ginia was surely drifting to the Repub-
hcan party that made the making of
new constitution so imperative and
caused the Democrats in the convention
to use every possible device to prevent
the realization of their apprehensions.
To effect that purpose they have perma-
nently deprived themselves of the most
potent issue for holding the support Of
white voters, the fear of negro DONNA
ton. With that fear removed it is
more than likely that thousands of white
men in the eastern part of the State
will now align themselves with the Re-
pubiieans. Those who kept away from
the polls last year, of either the quail
fed or disfranchised class, will not be
eager to vote the Democratic ticket in
the future. There are many thousands
of men in the cities and eastern coun-
ties of Virginia who have no respect or
love for the Democratic party, but who
have not had the courage to declare
themselves Republicans. They have
been controlled by fear of social and
business ostracism. Perhaps the time
will soon arrive when these men will be
brave enough to vote their honest con-
victions. That time may come next
Fall, and the campaign may not be such
"a huge joke" for the Democrats as
our Staunton contemporary is inclined
to think