Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-08-31
THE WAY TO DO IT.

THE WAY TO DO IT.
There are many. thousands of good
men in Virginia who are Democrats but
who have grown weary of the machine
rule of their party. Several move
ments have been started, one by ex-
Governor Tyler, and the other by Gov
ernor Montague, to get rid of the ma
chine and ofice-holder's trust. The
great trouble with these movements
was that their leaders were hampered
by the fact that they had accepted the
aid of the machine to elect them to
office; and being the willing beneficial
ries of it's questionable methods, they
were unable to execute movement OF
genuine reform in the party.
The primary system was introduced,
it was said, to give the people chance
to smash the machine and restore pure
election methods in the State. But the
results of the late primary demonstrate
clearly that the machine can control at
such elections as we'll as at conventions
and general elections. The primary has
seemingly strengthened the hold Of the
machine on the party, as the list OF can
didates nominated truly shows. 1t has
further served to demonstrate that such
political reforms as are needed cannot
be brought about within and through
the Democratic organization.
If the Democratic party in Virginia
is now so constituted that it will not or
cannot reform itself, what are the sin
cerely honest citizens who have hereto
fore been loyal to the party going to do?
Will they continue to give their sup
port to men they do not trust and a
policy they despise? Are they so we'd
ded to name, Democracy, that they
will let their duties as citizens be alb
sorbed by that name?
Now, Mr.. Honest Democrat, you say
you are opposed to machine rule; that
you stand for honest elections; that you
are not satisfied with the way in which
several of the departments of our State
government have been conducted; and
that you are not pleased with the unim-
portant position Virginia has occupied
in all great national movements that
have been carried on for many years
past. This being true, don't you think
it is about time for you to be citizen,
In the true sense of the word, and to
cease to be partisan?
In 1879 political reforms were SO
greatly needed in Virginia that new
party of reform, called the Readjuster
party, was formed. The Democratic
organization as it then existed bitterly
denounced and contested the reforms
that were advocated by the new party.
But the Readjusters won the State,
passed the Riddleberger bill for the
settlement of the public debt, rescued
the free schools from destruction, re-
duced taxation and restored the credit
of the State. The Democratic party
did not succeed in returning to power
until it had accepted and pledged itself
to carry cut the policy of the Readjus-
tiers.
Today reform is as much needed in
Virginia as it was when good men,
Democrats and Republicans, united to
organize the Readjuster party and eff
feet the great reforms they accom-
plished.
The Republicans in the State have come
to the front as the reform party. They
hayea State ticket which is compos-
ed of men of brains, and character, and
who are representatives of the stalwart
citizenship of the Commonwealth.
Even the Democratic press and leader
ship can say nothing but what is good
about the men who were n9ainated at
the Roanoke convention. They HaRst
and do say that the affairs Of the State