Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-12-03
A SQUARE DEAL.
From the Manassas Journal. ]

Der winds have ceased to echo the news
of one election is calculated to give the
quiet citizen the shoulders. Just nov,
few Of US are disposed to give heed TO
the personal ambitions of any man, nor
to listen anew to platforms aud plati-
tuces, ymuch less take part in political
turm0Ils.
Indeed, there are doubtless good men
aspiring to Congress, who recoil from a
canvass for next summers primary,
dragging from now on through thes SHOWS
Of winter, the mud and rains OF spring,
endless speechmaking, circularizing, a..
But We will not PREJUDICE Dir. Gordon's
plea He shall have "squsre DEAL"
de shall be heard FIRST.
GHere follows Mr.. Gordon's card
which appeared in the Gazette OF No
yember 2S.
Mr.. Gordon's attack upon the primary
| lay is little far.feiched, smacks OF the
political and Is somewhat post mortem.
If Mr.. Gordon had been the recipient
of the plurality vote, as was Mr. Car
lin. does anybody believe be would have
| "fqueaIed? 2"
The editor of this paper did not voc
for Mr.. Carlin. His individual prefer
ence, by reason OF long association, per-
sonal friendship and esteem, was for Mr.
Ryan Of L9udoun; but, as all his in
teresis were in Judge Nicops county
aud Judge NicOl being q citizen of high
standing, he decided early 10 support
him and so advised Mr. Ran. Aside
from that, whatever influence be hsd
personally vas always exerttd against
Mr.. CAflin.
But when Mr.. Calm wop, he won
not only merely formal election, but be
won the right and title to the foil snd
cordial support of every participant in
that primary. The plurality provision was
a part of that primary law and 1t seems
to us msnifesty unfair 10 cast shadow
upon Mr.. CarliD's election for what
sesms to some defect 10 the primary
law for which Mr.. Carln was in no way
responsible. Very many OF US greatly
prefer the plurality provision to dual
politicsl campaign. Not only Is Mr..
Carlin's ii ,ciion iu fall accord with the
provisions CT that Law, and absolutely fair
and square, but 80 far IS we know Mr.
Gordon never wrote line attacking he
law until he 60, left. Then he squeals.
Did he go on record in the great consti
tutional convention sgainsI this feature
of The lawY Perhaps he could not then
read his political horoscope.
But this is not all of the "square
deal" to which Mr.. Carlin is entitled.
We will waive the point that it seems
only fair that a man should at least have
a full term and come to a very vital
point.
When Mr.. Carlin takes his oath ss
congressman he accepts the duties OF
Congressman and bis obligations 10 his
constituents, his district. State and
country.
Then be will have to do o1e OF two
things: Do his duty as congressman and
remain at bis post in Washington and
trust to the sense of justice and fairness
OF his people, or seriously neglect bis
duties there and enter the field against
"a active competitor and ask the people
for another election before he discharges
the duties of the Office for the half term
to which he has just been elected.
Certainly he can not DO both.
We cali upon Mr.. Carlin to stand by
his duties as Congressman. Ii lie does
that in the face of what seems to US an
ill-adyised, premature campaign, and SD
unwarrsnted attack upon his election,
We pledge him the support of at least one
voter, who opposed him, and we believe
there will be hundreds Of others.
We cay unwarranted attack. l. is
more than this. The idea that Mr..
Osrlin was the beneficiary Of Mr. Ryan's
withdrawal does not seen to US to be sus
tanned by the facs.
Let US lcok at the cold figures. They
will speak for themselves.
The total vote In Loudoun, Mr.. RYan's
home, was: C2rliD, AIS; NicOl, 463;
Gordon, 1888. If that does not show
where Mr.. Ryan's vote went, what
| dOes?
Even further, if you please. Take
Mr.. Ryan's home precinct, Gunspring,
aud we find Mr.. Oarlin received III
votes; Judge Nicol, IA and Mr.. Gordon,
IA.
Since you have dragged Mr.. Ryan
into this, let us go through with it;
Wsxpool, where John Rysn's friends
are as thick as leaves in the autumn
winds, the vote stood Carlin, 3; Nicol,
g.; Gordon, ~. FAREWELL, near by,
gave Gordon ilst four times as many
votes as Carlin and Nicol toge her poled.
Leuab, another Ryan stronghold, gave
Carlin. 5; Nicol, II; Gordon, %. The
other Broad Run precinct (Ryan's home
dislric), Guildford, gave CsrliD, 10;
Nicol, 81 and Gordon 81.
Would you like to have little more
of this analysis? Take Hickory Grove,
Mr.. Ryan's stronghold in PRICE Will
liam, and we fad the vote stood Gordon,
81; Nicol, Is; Carlin, 0
So much for the cid figures.
But nobody who knows John Ryan,
or the character of his Giend', believes
! for one moment that you made deal
with him, though The returns might sug-
gest this.
Some very naughty things have been
told about your vote in Louisa but we
never give credence to campaign roor-
backs. As nothing has ever come ont
| in the omen we knoW absolutely nothing.
And we accept without question the
tribute paid you by your county.
| Az 10 Your ulaifnrm. please don't.