Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-09-15
FOR STATE SENATOR.
EDWARD ECHOLS.
FOR HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
SILAS II. WALKER.
JOHN W. CHURCHMAN.
JUDGE LEWIS AND THE RACE ISSUE.

Judge Lewis, the Republican candi-
date for Governor, opened his cam.
paign in Harrisonburg on the End.
Col. Campbell Slemp, Hon. John
Acker, Col. 8. Brown Allen and Mr.
q. Bascom Slemp, were also present
and gave of their fuIlness to the occa-
sion. The assembled politicians, saving
the young and vigorous chairman,
Mr.. G, Bascom Slemp, recalled the
days when Gen.. Malone led his forces
in their onslaught upon Virginia's cit
adel. Judge Lewis was then Repub-
lican, but heartily in sympathy with
the movement as evidenced by ac-
cepting the position of President of
the Supreme Court. rendered him by
the Malone regime. Col. Acker, and
Col. Allen, and Col. Slemp. we believe,
were active participants in that move
ment, at least the two first named
were. Col. Allen found the warm
shelter of the Auditors office at the
same time Judge Lewis fell heir to the
judicial crown. OF these Judge Lewis
and Col. Allen have persistently held
office and drawn salaries, and at pres
emit two of them, Coils. Allen and SIemp,
are being fed from the public crib,
whilst Judge Lewis has for the time
being left off feeding there with the
understanding that in the event he
fails to become Governor of Virginia
he will resume bis seat at Uncle Sam g
table.
Judge Lewis speech, we are told,
was very conservative. This was ex.
pected. He declared that the growth
OF the country was due largely to Re-
publican policies, and be further said ::
"Y GU can t get three prominent bust
ness men of Richmond to bind them
selves now to vote for the next Demo.
cratic nominee" Protection, progress
and popular education are the three
cardinal principles of the Republican
party, he said. Then he came to the
point which we knew he would accen-
tuate. 1.-The race issue is dead. and
gone forever out of American poll
tics" These were the key notes of his
speech.
When did the race issue die? Judge
Lewis to the contrary the race Issue is
as live today in Virginia as 1T has been
In years. Without the negro voter
the Republican party is without life
In this State. 1t might, as it did in
the days CT Malone, seize temporary
control of the State, but as was done
then, one term would so disgust the
better element of our people that they
would hurl it from place after the
first brief period of it's power. To-
day there is secret understanding
between the Republican party in Vir-
gInia and the negro, as we verily be-
lieve, to restore to him what they call
Ibis rights, " in the event they succeed
in carrying the State. Judge Lewis
may not be party to this, indeed he
may deny that he knows of such an
understanding, but all the same it is
IN existeiice, and On this hope the negro
Will contribute to the campaign fund
and do what he can for Republican
success.
Wlll Judge Lewis deny that he will
not do all he can, if he becomes Gov-l
ernor, to repeal the Jim Crow laws
VIII he deny that he will not nse
every effort to break down all the laws
In the State which be and his confreres
ailege bear heaviest upon the suffrage
of the negro?
We ask him the direct onestion
Are you in favor of the repeal of the
Jim Crow Laws and challenge him
to reply.
Such question is legitimate. The
laws are on the statute book, how does
he stand as to them? Before the |
Campaign is over he must answer these
as lie must answer many other cues |
lions. He must show what his party
Will do for Virginia, and not what be |
alleges it has done for the nation. He
must declare himself on State and not
National issues. He must show how
the race issue died, if dead, he must
tell whether or not he would repeal the
Jim Crow laws.