Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-08-06

N'"i"iS W Pay lor themselves. They
can carry the majority Of the voters to
the boxes and have their votes honestly
counted and returned"
1t is painful to witness such singu-
lar transformation in the nature of our
Richmond contemporary. IL has form
erly held position as. one of the fairest
and most amiahle newspapers in Viz
ginia. Now it has not only become
rudely critical of the Democrats but in
sulting and slsnderous in its treatmcr
of the Republicans of the Ninth. SO
much for its resolve to go to the devil
with the Bryan Democracy"
The above quotations from the News
Leader are an impeachment of the in
telligence, honesty and courage Of the
Democrats of the Ninth; and they are
as gross Misrepresentation of fact in
connection with the Republicans Of this
district as it is possible for the faoi'e
pen of the editor of the News Leader
to indite.
The Democrats out here have done
everything the News Leader now urges
them to do, except to have the votes
honestly counted and returned. This
latter they have been forced to do by
the Republicans, who have fought all
the time for an honest ballot, fair
count and true returns. The Demo
Gratis first tried to destroy or drive out
the Republicans 10y an unfair applica-
ton of the understanding clause. &"
Thousands of white Republicans were
refused registration under that clause.
while not single ilhterate Democrat
was knowingly turned down by the IN
sworn partisan boards of registration.
Failing to make the district Demo
cratic by means of the understanding
clause, " the aid of the courts was in
voked TO accomplish the desired end.
Republicans were dragged into the
courts upon trumped-up charges Of bri-
berry, upon charges of violence when
they demanded and secured honest
elections at certain precincts, and even
upon the charge of murder, where they
had killed notorious ballot thieves
IN self-defence. But even Democratic
courts and juries had to acquit in every
instance when they would have been
delighted to convict, if possible. Let US
turn from this picture to the one which
the Democrats have painted of them
selves.
Since the new constitution was put
into force the Democrats have been de-
tected in the attempt to commit numer-
Gus frauds. They systematically alter
ed the returns in 1902 to secure Rhea's
election to Congress; and were only pre-
vented from accomplishing that crime
by the prompt action of Republicans
who invoked the aid of the courts.
Democratic treasurers in several coun-
ties have left hundreds of Republicans
who had paid their poll taxes off the
voting list, and these men who were be-
ing robbed only secured their rights by
calling upon the courts for assistance.
Democratic judges of election have
been caught red handed stuffing ballot
boxes at several precincts, and Demo-
cratic courts and juries have inflicted
upon the contemplate criminals SEN
fences so light as to render the crime
amusing.
Can the Richmond News Leader.
when supplied with these facts, longer
continue its campaign of vituperation
and Islander against the Republicans of
the Ninth? Will it again declare that
Republican politicians are making this
district Republican by "corrupting the
people and appealing, with low and
cheap cunning, to the prejudices of ig-
norance?" If the editor of the News
Leader could have been present at the
Republican convention held at Norton
on the Both ult., and seen the splendid
gathering there of the best citizenship
of the Ninth District, men of intelH-
gence, men the equal in every respect
of the best men in the Virginia Democ-
racy, men who are the worthy descen-
dants of the heroes of Kings Mountain,
he would never have written those
hateful words Thew are NOT trna not