Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-07-24
PERTINENT ENQUIRY.
Staunton, Va. July 20, 1908.

Dear Sir:-Will you kindly inform
the public through your paper why the
following named gentlemen publish in
this community newspaper so denun-
ciatory of Democracy, so at variance
with the policies of the party, so bit
terly opposed to Mr.. Bryan and so per-
sistent an advocate of sumptuary laws
as the Dispatch-News? These are the
gentlemen l refer to. They are the of
ficers and directors and | clip the list
from the columns OF that paper as pub
ilshed every day.
OFFICERS.
Hon. w. ii. Landes, President.
Clarke Worthington, Vice-President.
c. r. Caldwell, Treas. and Gen Mag'r
Herbert J. Taylor, Secretary.
DIRECTORS.
Newton Argenbright.
John M. SPOTS.
Capt. w. p. Tams.
Capt. r. S. Ker.
Geo. A. Allen.
Hon. Joseph A. Glasgow.
X. E. r. Nelson.
l.. w. H. Peyton.
Hon. Edward EchOls.
The Hon. w. III. Landes, President,
is Democratic office holder. Mr..
Clarke Worthington, the Vice-Presi-
dent, is reputed to be Democrat. The
politics of Mr.. G. r. Caldwell, Treas.
and Gen'l Manager, are not known to
me, but Mr.. Herbert J. Taylor, the
Secretary, is a member of the Demo-
cratic Committee of StauntOn. OF the
directors, Mr.. Newton Argenbright,
Capt. r. S. Ker and Hon. Edward
Echols hold Democratic elective offices.
Mr.. j. M. SPOTS was, until recently, a
Democratic councilman of this city,
Mr.. Jos. A. Glasgow is the chairman
of the Democratic County Committee.
The other directors with one or two ex-
ceptiOns are regarded as Democrats.
The names of these gentlemen and
the positions held by them in Demo-
crat councils have given tone and char
acter TO its utteranceS, which | regard
often as unmerited, and have been the
means Of circulating seditious doctrines
and placing them in the homes of many
people in Augusta where they could
~ 0f hnr nNnah 10
the surprise, chagrin and at times dis
gust of Democrats. Why do they thus
foist these ideas on the people? Why
do they profess to be for Mr.. Bryan and
at the same time do so much against
him? Do they not know that they
are building up sentiment against the
Democratic party and against Mr.. Bry-
an, and that largely through the in.
fluence of their publication a prohibit
ton candidate will take the field this
fall against Mr.. Flood for Congress
Do they not know that the promulga.
ton of doctrines through their paper is
thought to have greatly reduced Mr.
Echols majority in the last Senatorial
election, and was largely the means o.
electing number of Republicans as
members of the council in the recent
city election, and is otherwise doing the
party great injury? If they do moi
know these things they should wake
up and bestir themselves, and Learn
something of the amazement of Demo
Gratis in Staunton, and Augusta ovel
their action.
The people would like to know The
degree of their responsibility. Whether
they are active agents in this seditious
work, or mere Seats paws"
Trees are known by their fruit.
Very respectfully yours,
ENQUIRER.
Search us. Kindly give us a nut that
can be cracked. Nobody has evel
dented this one, or can do so with a
sledge hammer. These gentlemen are
all p years of age and free agents.
Their course in any matter may elicit
surprise, bui not necessarily interp re-
tation. We have heard that some OF
them differ widely from the Dispatch
News in its advocacy of sumptuary
laws, and have heard that until recent
ly most of them have been in hearty
accord with its political policy. If this
be so let us hope there may be a change,
though poison scattered is often hard
to reclaim. Let us hope that they will
either make their publication Demo-
cratic, or withdraw their endorsement
and support of its political policy.