Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1906-08-30
THE POLL TAX.


DEAR PENDLEToN:-I am afraid you
and your readers will think l am guilty
of willful fraud, for it is more than prob
able, will not be able to reach the poll
tax question in my present letter, buff
l do not l am going to beg your indul-
gence for time.
Twas reading, today, the Ladies Home
Journal and was amused by squib,
which 1 think pertinent. A young
American lady at great London din
ner was trying to eat an egg after the
English fashion and awkwardly dropped
it to the floor. She was seated beside our
ambassador, the Hon. Joseph Choate,
she was much distressed and turning to
Mr.. Choate, ooh! Mr.. Choate," said
she, ri have dropped an egg, what shall
l do?" "Cackle! Madam, Cackle"-
Well from the amount of cackling go
ing on among our Democratic friends l
Judge they have dropped an egg; and
no doubt they are like some old hens of
mine; the smaller the egg the louder the
cackling. The Democratic papers with
singular unanimity speak of the wonder
full enthusiasm, but to one reading care
fully between the lines this enthusiasm
is strangely qualified. 1t was, in one
respect, the most singular convention,
which has assembled in Southwest Vir-
GINA for long while. Itwas in violent
contrast with the Republican conven-
ton at Marion in June. At this Marion
convention there were dozens of men
eager to take the nomination; not one
of them talked about making a sacri-
flee of himself upon the altar of his
country. No indeed, each was after
easy fruit, their mouths fairly watered
for the nomination. There was an Gag
er, greedy, wanting look in the eyes of
these many candidates that actually
frightened the onlopker. Each one OF
these candidates was for himself first;
and Col. Slemp was the second choice of
them all. And 80 the Colonel was an
easy winner; but even he did not prate
about the Office seeking the man. There
was not Republican in the convention
whose modesty would have prevented
him from accepting that luscious plum,
the nomination. / blush, dear friend,
for my own worldly practical and unpat-
riotic party, but my faith in the gran
deur and magnamimity of man is fully
restored when / contemplate the action
of my Democratic brethren. These
men after weeks of preparation, cleans
ing, purifying self-abnegation meet in
Bristol, inspired by high resolve
They are determined the Office shall
seek the man. So they place the nomi-
nation on silver plate and make an Of
fer of it to the various leaders. They
offer it first to the Hon. VIM. Rhea of
Bristol, to him Of the sinister and satur-
nine countenace, dressed in customary
suit of solemn black, with long slick,
slim thing like snake, coming from un-
der his coat twining and twisting
through his legs. Offer it not to me-"
says he, unworthy am 1! NolO Episco-
pan. / do not want to be bishop. See'st
thou not, have not yet shed my devils
tall" He throws dirt on his head and
takes his seat luguriously. -Cloyd By
ars and Frank Buchanan press eagerly
forward, cheeks flushed and desire in
their eye, but overwhelmed by stern
look from Hon. Taylor Ellyson, they
sink back into the ranks abashed. 1t
is then offered to the Honorable Judges
Fudge and Duncan; each in breath,
says what "Are you in earnest?" and !