Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-08-07
POLITICAL.

iceps of the smith may be useful
Mr.. Taft is so much encouraged by
he reports of Democratic disaffection in
Virginia and Georgia that much money
s to be spent in these states to carry
them for the Republican ticket.
Democratic advices are that q hot
fight will be waged in the East, New
York especially being the storm centre,
where the position OF Hughes gives the
Republicans much uneasiness.
Bryan is at work on his speech of |
acceptance which he will deliver Au-
gust 18th at Lincoln, Neb., when Off
cially notified of his nominating for the
Presidency. 1t is stated that his speech
will not exceed 5000 words.
Taft promises, so say the press re-
ports, that if elected he will give the
country rest. Well. that is certainly
encouraging, for at the strenuous rate
we are going on rest will be needed u
long, good rest from Rooseveltism.
Those who think that Mr.. Bryan has
no chance to win do not realize how pro
foundry this country is Disguised with
the old guard of Republicanism, nor do
they make sufficient allowance for the
collapse of the artificial prosperity argu-
ment which has made the protective
tariff a thing to conjure with. Norfolk
Landmark.
John Mitchell states that he will
under no circumstances take any pan
in the presidential campaign. This is
surprise to many as a short while
ago Mr.. Mitchell was reported to have
stated that he would do all he could to
aid in the election of the Democratic
candidate. Meantime Mr.. Gompers,
the Labor leader, says he will work
for Bryan.
The Republicans speak with the ut
most confidence of carrying the election
in November; but we imagine a great
part of this assurance is accompanied
by lot of inward anxiety. No man
knows how the election is going, but
evidences multiply that the Demo-
Gratis are going tokeep the Republicans
on the anxious bench until the votes
shall have been cast and counted. -
Staunton Dispatch.
The Republican papers are asserting
that the main difference in this cam
paign is between men-between Taft
and Bryan. But the difference is world
wide. Mr.. Taft justifies all the vast
expenditures of the Roosevelt admins
tration and says no word of reform in
this matter. And Roosevelt has spent
for the people of the United States in
his day already more than three billions
dollars.
81 expect to see Bryan elected this
fall, - said Congressman II. ID. Flood
of the Tenth District 81 have given
the various reports some attention, and
there is every indication that Mr..
Bryan is very much stronger through |
out the country than he has ever before |
been, and the party is better organized |
than at any time since the last election |
of Mr.. Cleveland. There is no question |
as to how the South will vote"
Democratic newspapers should stop |
over the dead past and get
busy with the duty of the living present.
1t is far more important to elect BRYAN
and Kern this year than for newspapers
to abuse each other about the issues of |
eight or twelve years ago. For the
purposes of the present campaign we
don't care baubee how any newspaper
stood in 1900 or in 1896. Let us stop
fighting among ourselves, and go fight
Philip, the common enemy. Petersburg
lndex-Appeal.
A large number of papers edited by |
negroes and devoted to the interests of |
their people, probably nearly all, oppose
the election of Mr.. Taft as being Roose- |
veit's representative and substitute. |
Those urging the race to assert itself |
print vast amount of information re-
garding the present attitude of the
colored citizens, showing how their
political and civic societies, congrega-
tons, clergymen, bishops, educators
and social leaders throughout the country
are encouraging revolt with the
object of teaching the Republican party
a lesson.
The Democratic vote in Virginia has
already dropped from 116,OO in 1901.
to IS, 900 in 1905, and should the decis-
ION of Judge Martin be sustained the
next few years would disclose another
tremendous decrease in the popular
vote, besides putting partisan treasurers
practically in control, for if the treas
urers in the counties fail to send depu-
ties, or sit at stated periods in the
more remote parts of their counties.
there is not going to be any great rush
OF voters to pay toll taxes in person
when they can send checks or messen-
gers to pay other taxes. Ledger Dis
patch.
Rev. ID. T. Milton, president of
the National Negro-American Political
League, which claims a membership of
10000, is credited with the statement
that Mr.. Bryan may count on rs ner
cent of the negro vote in the coming |
election. 1t is hardly possible that such
a weaving of the colored vote can take
place. after so many years of 'docile