The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-12-07
FREDERICKSBURG, VA, SATURDAY, DECEMBER T. 1907
A SQUARE DEAL
from Manassas Journal }

The opening OF next summer congros-
siona Campaign before the November
wind, have ceased 10 echo the news Oi
one election is calculated TO give the
quiet citizen the shuddeIs just now
lew Of us are disposed 70 give heed TO
the personal ambitions Of any man, or
10 listen anew 10 platforms nnd pldti-
tudes, much less take part In political
tut mUils.
Indeed, there are doubtless good men
aspiring 70 congress who rccul ltOm
CANVASS for next summers prlmhr q,
dragging from now on through the
SHOWS Of winter, the mud aud rains oi
spring. endless speechmaklng, circular
iziug, DC.
CHere appears Mr. Gordon's card,
which has been published
Mr. GOrdon's attack upon the primary
law Is "a little lar-ietched, smacks ol tie
political and is somew hat post MOI ten
II Mr.. Gordon had been the recipient
OF the plurality vote, as was Mr.. tarlin,
does any body believe he would hove
"cquealedY'
The editor Of this paper did not vote
for Mr. Carlin. dis individual preference,
by reason of long association, persnnal
friendship aud esteem. was Tor Mr ~ an,
of Loudoun; but, as all his INTEREST
were IN judge Nicors county aud Judge
Nico being "A citizen Of high STANDING, he
decided early 10 support him aud 40 al
vsed air Ryan. Aside from that, what
ever influence be had personally was al
ways eKerted against MIR. Carln.
But when Mr.. Carl.n won, he won not
only merely formal election, but he Won
IN right aud title to the full aud cordial
support of every participant IN that pri-
mary. The plurality provision was
a part Of :hat primary law, and
IL seems to US maniies,ly uniaif
10 cast a shadow upon Mr.. Cat
lin's election for what seems To some
defect in the primary law, for which Mr.
Carlin was in no way responsible. very
many Of us greatly prefer the plurality
provision 70 dual political campaign.
Not only IL Mr. Cariln's election In iuh
accord with the provisions OF that law
and absolutely fair and square, but 80
far as We know Mr.. Gordon never wrote
a liue attacking the law until he got leii
Then he .queals Did be gO on record IL
the great constitutional cOnvention
against this feature Of the law Per.
haps he could not then read his political
horoscope.
But this is not all Of the square deal
to which Mr.. Carln II entitled. We viii
waive the point that 1t seems ouly iair
that man should at least have iui
term aud come To very vital point.
When MIR Carlin takes his oath ns
! congressman. hes saccepts the duties of
congressman aud his obligations TO bis
constituents, his district, state and
country.
Then he will have to do one Oi two
things: DO bis duty sscongressman and
remain at his post in Washington and
trust to the sense OF justice and fairness
OF his people, or seriously neglect bis du-
ties there and enter the field against al
active competitor and ask the people Tor
another election before no discharges the
duties 81 the office for the half term to
which be has just been elected.
! Certainly hs cannot do both.
I We call upon Mr.. Carlin TO stand by
| his duties as congressman. Ii he dOes
| that, in the face OF what seems To US al
| ill-adyised, premature campaign, and al
unwarranted 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 say unwarranted attack. tits more
than this. The idea that SIR. Carln was
the beneficiary OF Mr. Ry ans withdrawal
does not seem to US to be sustained by
| the iacts.
Let us look at the cold figures They
will speak Tor themselves.
The total vote in Loudoun. Mr. Rysn's
home, was; CaSlin, 41S; Nicol, 463;
Gordon, 73S IL that does not show
where Mr.. Ryan's vote went, what does?
Even further, il you please. Take Mr.
Ryan's home precinct, GumspriDg, and
we find Mr.. Carlin received 10 votes;
Judge Nicol, ii and Mr.. Gordon "a.
Since you have dragged Mr.. Ryan into
this. let US 20 through withit: WaIpool,
where John Rysn's friends are as thick
as leaves in the autumn winds, the vote
stood OeNin 3; Nicol, 3; Gordon AZ
Farmwell, near by. gave Gordon just
four times as many votes as Carlin and
Nicol together pOlled. Lenah, another
RYAN stronghold, gave Carlin, D; Nlcol,
II: Gordon, %. The other Broad Run
precinct (Ryan's home districtl, Guild
ford, gave Carlin, 16; Nicol, 81 and Cor
don "a.
Would you like to have a little more ol
this analysis? Take Hickory Grove, Mr..
Ryans stronghold 10 Prince William,
and we find the vote stood Gordon, 81;
Nicol, 10; Carlin, OF
So much for the cold figures.
But nobody who knows John Ryan,
or the character OF his friends, believes for
one moment that you made deal with
him, though the returns might suggest
this.
Some very naughty things have been
told about your-yote In Louisa, but we
never give credence to campaign roor-
backs. As nothing has ever come out In
the open, we know absolutely nothing
And we accept without question the trib-
ute paid you by your county.
As to your platform, please don't
We have only recently had an allopathiC
dose Of It, We prefer Santa Claus.
Bot the election figures OF later dat
remind US OF another tribute that sur
passes In expression OF confidence anC
esteem anything in this day OF politica
enmities that we ever remember to hav'
read. Alexandria city gave the lament
ed Ri1ey, who enjoyed almost universe
. confidence and esteem In the district, 7ol
votes and his competitor 152. The nor
NAL republican vote OF Alexandria i
probably 800; but Alexandria gave Mr.
Carlin 1862 votes and his Republican
competitor only AZ, and yet Mr. Howard
bis competitor, is gentleman ofchsrac
ter and standing
Those who are In position TO know
! Mr.. Carlin the beet seem to stand by hin
: strongest. Suppose we at least Civ
: him a trial.