Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1907-09-19
SMASH The. FLESH POTS


The Richmond News Leader is very
much exercised about the seeming de-
sire of the Republicans of Virginia to
look for the flesh pots, rather than for
a victorious party in this State. 1t has
cried aloud: Smash the Flesh PotsY'
This cry was aroused. by the Petersburg
Index-Appeal saying that the Republi-
cans of this State were merely playing
a game of bluff in their announced pur-
pose to fight for all they can possibly
get in the coming legislative election in
Virginia. The Index-Appeal said:
''The Republican party, not only of
Virginia, but of the entire South, is far
more concerned with the flesh pots than
with the success of the party, and the
leaders know full well that Republican
success in the South means long divis-
ion of the spoils, with chances that
new and stronger men will come to the
front to control party affairs"
Our Richmond contemporary then re-
marks: 1--WE regret to have to admit
that in our view the Index-Appeal does
not shoot very wide of the mark. !"
Then the News Leader proceeds to pour
forth long string of regrets, because
it assumes that the Republicans of Vir-
ginia are in no sense influenced by prin-
ciple in their almost hopeless struggle
with the corrupt Democratic machine,
but are making their fights to get ac-
cess to the flesh pots and pie-counters.
If this be true, why did the Democrats
find it necessary to almost destroy the
electorate of Virginia? OF course our
Richmond contemporary will say that
this was done to get rid of the negro.
But Republicans know that the new
constitution was made because it was
evident that the white vote of the State
was rapidly drifting to the Republican
party. That was why one hundred
thousand white men of voting age had
to be turned away from the ballot box.
The News Leader becomes lachry-
NOSE and pathetic when it proceeds to
furnish some of the reasons why it is
so anxious to have the Virginia Repub-
licans cease looking for the flesh pots.
1t says:
''It is not because we have any love
for the Republican party, but because
we are devoted to and would have un-
tainted Democracy remain in regnancy
that we regret that the observations of
the Index-Appeal are true. We cannot
conceive of anything that would be of
more advantage to Virginia, bringing
the case specifically home, than that
there should be an end to the BUSH
whacking of the little coterie of flesh
pot hunters and fight in the open for
every seat in the General Assembly.
''Such a revolution in the order of
things as has prevailed ever since the
hSS ~ NSSoiAiS q ACShSADAS AdCCOI III pOl-
itics could not but have the effect of
bringing into prominence the best and
strongest men in both parties, inspiring
respect for differences of opinion, edu-
eating and enlightening the masses,
and assuring the publication of Democ-
racy, and the hewing of the latter to
the lines of honesty and principle and
economy"
These two paragraphs, taken from
the columns of our Richmond contem-
porary, are rather inconsistent in their
statement of fact. In the first it
names as it's reason, that it is devoted
to and would have untainted Democracy
remain regnant."
In the second paragraph the reason
is, for assuring the publication of De-
mocracy, and the hewing of the latter
to the lines of honesty and principle and
economy"
When did we have an untainted De-
mocracy in Virginia? Not during the
past twenty-five years. It's organiza-
tion and leadership have been tainted
with every political crime that has been
possible of accomplishment under the
dishonest election laws that were sug-