Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1908-04-18
An Open Letter In Reply.
Mr.. John r. Rev,
ParksleV, Va.

/
sonally belittle you and heap unkind
personal abuse upon you.
| congratulate myself on the fact
that can discuss men and measures,
| in public manner, without attempt
ing to hold them up to ridicule and II
| the strength of my arguments rested
on personal villification / would GER
tainly not expect the reading public
to place much credence in what | had
to say on any subject. A public man,
holding public office, elected by the
public must expect criticisms of his
acts and doings as their representa-
tive ii such criticism becomes neces-
sary and the local press is where SUCH
criticism is usually to be found as 1t is
supposed to represent the sentiment
of the territory it covers.
Whatever criticism you have been
subjected to through the columns of
my paper arises from your public acts
as a representative of the people of
this county and 1 might add here that
you do not enjoy the sole distinction
of having been singled out as any
special target have seen fit as the
Editor of the AccOmack News to con-
denim and criticise other public repre-
sentatives of our people where others
have remained silent, as is perfectly
and entirely proper if they should see
Iit to do so, hence there is no reason
Mr.. Rev for you to get red in the face
and allow your lips to tremble in anger
because of my performing what l con-
ceive to be a conscientious duUy to the
reading public who see fit to patronize
my paper. | am not a mind reader
hence do not know what you "be-
lieved," yet l am not willing to admit
that you represented 1.-THE wishes of
the majority of the people of Acco-
mack county" in the course you pur-
sued in reference to the late election
of Judge for this circuit. Nor am !
willing to admit that the majority
members of the Accomack Bar should
have guided yOu in your course when
the majority was made up by yourself
and brother, who would naturally fol-
low you. Nor do consider your argu-
ment good when you lay special stress
on the question of licensed attorneys,
in which list Mr.. Wescott's name did
appear for reasons as we'll known to
Yourself as to me. He was relieved
by the Commissioner of Revenue from
payment of this trifling fifteen dollar
fee because of his absence in Europe
after the money was rendered and re-
fused on his return, yet you and those
supporting Mr.. Mears attempted a
great grand-stand play of this trifie in
the published pamphlet of Mr.. Hears'
before the members OF the
without any explanations
whatever. Is this clean, open fight |
ing against a county gentleman to
whom you owe debt OF gratitude for
aiding you in the achievement of what
political success you have attained?
We're such pretexts as this basis for
your turning turtle over night and |
leaving Mr.. Wescott to go to Hampton
to work for Mr.. Mears after you had |
guessed" to me and others that Mr..
NIears would be the winner? You
ed from Richmond for the recess and
no one censured you so long as you
county man. When did
you receive the petitions and endorse
nents you claim to have? Did they
lntedate that trip to Hampton, Mr..
Rev? In two days time, if l am cor
rect, you were in Hampton with the
eaders of the Mears candidacy seek
ng to pull off Representative Harry
Houston and the members of the Bar
Town there from Mr.. Wescott. Is it
lot a fact Mr.. Rev that these petit
ions were instigated by yourself,
through Mr.. Mears' friends, in order
O give you a basis for backing your
position and which you now find ex-
remedy handy and necessary?
Is there consolation in relying on
hem now? Why does not Mr.. Gunter,
epresenting the two counties, have a
much larger batch of Mears petitions
han yourself?
What juicy plum did they promise
-ou that you now find cannot be de-
ivered? Does the Congressional bee
till buzz in your bonnet? So you
would sacrifice a county man. for
.OOds that can't be delivered. Why
i'd not Mr.. Wilkins see the same
ecessity for omplimenting the
johnson forces when you voted for
l admit all you say in reference to
Ir. Mears. He is gentleman to the
lanor born and | count him among
~ friends and count his friends as l
~ friends and number among my
earest blood relatives his relatives.
" the very nature of things | should
ave supported him in this contest
nd had he been a resident of Acco-
lack most unhesitatingly say that
would have done SO. |, however, q
spresented county newspaper sup g
orted mainly by "hOmefolks" and |
onscientiously and without hesitancy
lpported county man. You did not,
lough your course and duty to your
onstituents was far palmer than mine {
nd the lines of your pathway were !
lore clearly drawn. You possibly did t
OF see what Hon. VIM. J. Bryan said G
| his Richmond speech. He said a
The man who cannot conscientious
, vote for what his constituents con-
want, ought to be con-
,ientious enough to resign" Your
erm is up and you must be elected e
gain if you desire to serve this peo-
lie again. If you believe your entire t
ecord in the past Legislature meets n
le approval of your constituents l Ii
ould advise you to seek vindication, a
nd thus save further discussion at F
lis time. I shall certainly not at t
,mpt to continue it now for / am apt a
} be worsted by going up against
lch wonderful brain power as you
'em to possess and again you may
, above further discussion with such s.
/ "unintelligent person. as myself.
hank God the "Prodigal Son" has
turned. For if che could not stay
way" he is happy to know that he is
rain in his fathers household with 1
e fatted calf killed and new raiment d.
/ his body and despite his former F
ivations and sufferings he has not ST
st so much of his intelligence but q
at he can detect right from wrong.
.OdiooI con indaod 7 MIGHT ratort