Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1907-11-01
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES
Define Their Position on all Vita
Questions Involved in this
Campaign.

OdIilpdlyu.
addressed to them, the Democratic
candidates for the Legislature from
Augusta county and city of StauntoD
nave come out in card over their own
signatures fully and frankly defining
their position on all the vital interests
involved in this campaign, Their dec
Iaration of principles is an able expo
sition of all public questions. and is
of deep interest to all of our readers.
We give below their statement in flu II:
Oct. Goth. 1907.
EDITOR THE DISPATCH.
In compliance with the request con-
tanned In your letter of this date, and
recognizing the responsible source as
we'll the reasOnableness of the inquiry
you make, as to our position on GER
tain measures likely to require con-
sideration at the hands of the next leg
islature, we take pleasure in saying
that, as the legislative candidates. re-
gularly nominated in the recent Dem
ocratic primary, we stand squarely
upon the declared record and policy of
the Democratic party of Virginia. If
elected. we shall advocate liberal ap-
preparations for the .betterment and
continual advancement of our public
schools and the increased pay of public
school teachers. We believe in a sin
gle and not in multiple list of school
books. We believe in the building,
construction and improvement of the
public highways under improved
| methods, and under conditions most
advantageous to individual counties
We believe the state should make lib
eral appropriations for the support Of
our unfortunate insane; that the lib
eral policy heretofore adopted toward
the school for the education of the
deaf and the blind should be continues;
we believe that to the full measure of
our ability we SHOULD care for the
needy confederate soldiers, all of which.
under democratic administration, we
believe the state is in position finan-
ciaIly to do to an extent never possible
before. We believe that the cardinal
principle of the democratic party de-
mands that the people of each com
munity should be entitled to vote for
all local officers, and we are therefore
in favor OF the election of the COM
missioners of the revenue by the peo-
pie and we 80 voted in the last legis.
lature. We advocate a conservative
and economical administration of the
state government and at all times a
careful and prudent expenditure of the
public monies.
We believe in temperance. and it is
not true that we are pro saloon candi-
dat IS or that we stand for the inter-
ests of any class. We advocate the
enforcement to the letter of all TEN.
perance legislation that has been en-
acted by the Democratic party, and
will support any legislation that ex
perience has shown necessary to carry
it into effective operation.
In this connection. believing them
to be democratic measures, we will
seek:
l. To secure the passage of a meas
ure that will clearly define the req ui-
site qualifications and fix the limita.
lions for voters in local option cleo
tions.
2. To require that all social clubs take
out regular retail liquor license at
the regular price.
3. That our state chemist be req uired
to analyze mixtures supposed to con-
tain Intoxicating liquors upon the of.
fetal request Of any state or munich
pal officer, and that certificate over
the chemists signature and seal of
Office shall bs evidence in court of
law.
4. Believing as we do in the princi-
pie of local self government which has
always been basic principle of the
democratic party, We would be in ia
vor of a measure which would leave
to the voters OF the district of coun-
ty the question of whether distlllery
should be located in that district.
5. To amend our local option laws SO
as to apply to wards of city.
6. To prohibit agents or dealers from
soliciting orders for intoxicating Ii
quors in no saloon cities, towns. coun
ties and districts.
Z. To secure an anti blind tiger law
with adequate penalties by conine.
ment in Jail, and such bond as will Sc
cure respect for and obedience to the
law.
Thanking you for this opportunity
to express our views through the valu
able columns of your paper, and trust
ing that they meet with your approval
and with the approval of the voters of
this city and county and of this sena-
torlal district we are,
Very respectfully,
EDWARD ECHOLS,
j. W. CHURCHMAN,
8. H. WALKER.
Circuit Court.