Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-11-19
A REPUBLICAN FORTRESS.

Not great while ago our esteemed
Richmond contemporary, The News
Leader, said that the Ninth District
was Republican fortress, in which the
germ OF Republicanism was being bred
and reproduced. The News Leader also
declared that unless this fortress was
stormed by the Democrats and the
germ destroyed here there was great
danger of the whole State becoming in
tected with Republicanism. 1t also
cried aloud to the Democracy, urging
that every Democratic dollar that could
De raised In the State and every Demo-
cratic orator that could be secured be
sent to the Ninth, hoping that such eff
fort would secure the defeat of the Re-
publicans.
We don't know how many Democratic
dollars were sent to our district, but we
do know that Democratic orators were
sent in numbers. They came, they saw.
they GRATED, but they failed to conquer.
1t was a fearful array, at least the
democrats thought so; and was COM
posed of Martin, Daniel, Swanson.
Tucker, Mann, Glass and Halsey. These
represented all that is best and all that
is worst in the Eastern part of the
State. These orators and statesmen
were followed by the Hon. Henry C.
Stuart, who canvassed in Smyth, Scott.
Wise, Tazewell and Russell counties.
In each of the counties where Mr..
Stuart spoke, Mr.. Slemp's majorities
were increased. this being true of Mr..
Stuart's home county, Russell.
We told the News Leader to send its
Democratic dollars and its best Demo-
cratic orators, all of them, to the Ninth
and we would guarantee that Republi-
canism would be enlivened and strength
ened out here. Our prophecy has been
more than fulfilled. OF the thirteen
counties in the Ninth twelve were car
ried by the Republicans by handsome
msJorities. And in each county where
the Democratic speakers made their
greatest effort the Republican major
tiles were greatly increased. This must
be very discouraging to the Democrats:
and we know it is encouraging to the
Republicans.
The apprehension of the News Leader
that the Ninth District would prove a
dispenser of the germ CT Republicanism
has been verified. The Fifth District
has become inoculated thoroughly with
the germ. Saunders, the Democratic
candidate for Congress, is now claiming
his election by 81 majority. This is a
small claim to make after Floyd county
had been torn violently and dishonesty
from the Fifth, with the expectation
that the district would thereby be made
Democratic to the tune of two thousand
or more. And this little claimed ma
Jority of ninety-one was only obtained
by the use of some of the tricks that
were used when Rheaism was rampant
and dishonesty triumphant in the
Ninth. We hear that a complex and
mysterious ballot intended to confuse
Republican voters was used in certain
counties of the Fifth; and the name of
lunatic, confined in the Western Hos
pital at Staunton, was printed on the
ballots. This mans name was sent
from Franklin county, where he was
claimed to be resident, and the home
county of Judge Saunders, the Demo-
cratic candidate. Of course the print
ing of this mans name on the ballots as
q congressional candidate could only
serve to confuse the voters. That could
have been its only purpose.
Republicanism will continue to be a
conquering and unconquerable force in
the Ninth, and we hope in the Fifth.
These two districts have been honestly |
Republican for the last twenty-five |
years. They have never been carried
by the Democrats during that time, ex-
cept by the use of dishonest election
laws and methods.