Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1908-03-27
Praises Scott County Ballot
Times-Dispatch. }

Sir, a citizen of this Conn |
monealth is accused by his political
and personal enemies of being unfit
for position To which he has been
appointed by the Chief Executive OF
the State, as has been done in the
case OF Judge Rhea, IL would seem
more than fair for the Legislature To
grant investigation OF charges ema- /
mating from such "A source. 1t would
also seem more than fair To give full
weight and consideration To the part
isan and biased testimony, voluntarl-
~ offered in support of such charges,
at a cost OF some So 600 To the State.
Now, when all of these things have
been done and Il legislative commit
tee of honorable men render unanal-
nous verdict of not guilty, and when
all but one of the eleven members of
the committee recommend coniirma-
ton OF the appointment, and when
the Legislature itself, after reading
the testimony, overwhelmingly de-
clares the charges to be slanderous,
after all this consideration has been
given and verdict rendered under
oath, is il reasonable for fair-minded
newspapers and people who desire
the Investigation To reveal the truth
to accuse three-fourth of the Legisla-
ture Of sitting its conscience and
selling out It's constituency !oT party
loyalty? VIII any one be influenced
TO indOrse such conclusion? Why
did not these newspapers and people
present To the committee, AT it's long
and many sessions, the evidence
that would Justify the action they
clamored for? Any fair-minded per-
son mast conclude that they did not
want decision based ON facts and
that their motives for defeating the
aspirations Of Judge Rhea were based
on political and personal prejudice
and the hope Of political advantages
TO them and their friends resulting
from his defeat.
The people realize the importance
of filling all positions with honor
able and capable men, but they will
not mis- axe the cry of fraud and the
bringing of charges for sincere
motives and for evidence itself.
The people are understanding the
purposes so well planned by this at
tack upon the Governor and his ap-
pointee.
II charges unsustained by proof can
disqualify "A citizen for holding an
Office Of responsibility, then the
time Will soon come when none who
values his reputation will put him
self ia position to be thus sIandered.
The liberty that some newspapers
and some people take OF scattering
insinuatiOns and indorsing charges
simply for political advantages has
reached alarming proportions in the
political arena of our united white
people.
The people demand some proof OF
unfitness, before they viii disgrace n
citizen and declare him Disqualified
for Office because his usefulness has
been impaired by unproyen charges
brought TO damage the officer rather
than protect The Office.
The Scott county ballot was no
stranger ia other sections of Virginia
i'm those days of reconstruction.
The Democratic minister Of the
gospel, as well as the Democratic
layman, approved Of the favorable res
suits it brought 10 the Democratic
party.
This is an outgrowth of and a con-
tinuation of real war, and was sub
stituted for the rifle l:id down at
Appomattox, to shield the homes and
firesides inherited from our fore
fathers against domination of black
ma orities, whether led by black
men, carpetbaggers, or white Vir-
ginians.
The action of the minority i'm this
case does not appeal to ne as show
ing love for the Cox ernor like unto
that of jonathan and Davld,'' as
has been so recently and dramatically
proclaimed.
G. II. NERLETT.
linking, Va, March o, 1908.