Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-02-21
ANOTHER FRAUD IN THE 9Th
DISTRICT.

ANUTHEk FhAuU IN IhE yin
DISTRICT.
We have before US an envelope ad
dressed Editor of THE SPECTATOR.
Staunton, Virginia. mailed in Bris-
toll, Tenn, Feb. 13. This envelope
contained copy of our last editorial
on the Noel-Rhea controversy before
the Legislature, printed IN our issue
OF the 7th. as we'll as the following
| etter which seems to have been writ
ten for publication, so we print it as
nearly word for word, spelling, gram
mar, punctuation, ETC., as we are able.
We print this classic also. because its
writer seems to dwell at the Southwest
| Virginia Institute:
Southwest Virginia Institute,
| Bristol, Va. Tenn.
| Feb 18th, '0S
| Mr.. Editor:
| Your first opinions were best and
corrext; yoy don't, know the Judge,
| IS we'll as we south west We, people
do: Was impossible for the republi.
cans to use fraud methods, when the
election machinery. was controlled en-
tirely by democrats; Most of the
charges against Rhea Wre proven by
| the best democrats in this section;
and Senator Noel is upheld and streng
then in the opinion of all good people;
If Rhea is indicated of the charges
| will be because the cOmmitte was q
farce; and bis appointment, will be an
insult and an injury to the to the PEG
pie, and disgrace to the Governor and
legislature: Rheas position in the
local option election in this city last
April, that was not referred to in the
inves tigation; being the champion and
editor of the whiekey men, is sufficient
to render Rhea. unit for the appoint
ment on the Corporation Committee
of the state of Virginia
INDEPENDENT VOTER.
We have often seen, and frequently
heard the Independent Voter express
bis views. His custom usually Is to
shoot from ambush. Most of the SO
called evidence against Judge Rhea
seems to be forthcoming from just
such sources. This, too, is in keeping
with the Noel tactics. We have great
respect for any man bold enough to
speak out on public questions, but
speaking out means coming out into
the open, and singing his name to &C
cusations. We have respect for an
honest man always, a brave man al.
ways, man of patriotic views always,
a man of sincere convictions always,
let him belong to any creed, party or
calling, but we have little respect for
that so called Independent" fellow
who hides behind presudonyms, and
breaches morality from an invisible
pulpit. He is generally deceitful.
cowardly, hypocrltlcal, self righteous,
if not always wolf in sleeps cloth
ing. He is too good often to associate
with the masses, often traitor in
camp, running with the hare and hold.
ing with the hounds, slick proposition
like Paddy's flea, when you think you
have your finger on him, he is not
there. In this case he writes an anony-
mons letter attacking the character of
another person, and thereby loses his
Owl.
We do not know anything of the
Southwest Virginia Institute, Bris
tol, Va. Tenn, +" the point from which
the aforesaid anonymous communica
ton seems to emanate, but certainly
everybody about it ought to know that
writing anonymous letters Is consid
cred among enlightened people very
base and cowardly. If the writer
should prove to be member of the
faculty we trust be does not teach
either spelling, grammar or morals.
Whoever be may be and what position
soever be occupies there, if any. we
recommend that he be placed ia the
infant class, and sent to Sunday school
since no person q years Of age at an
Institute, but ought to have more
education, and more moral culture.
The State has done much for it's
voters, but of course som sthipg is left
to the voter himself. But suppose t @
should prove not to be voter at all,
he would find himself in list less
creditable than the other two, list
Mr.. Roosevelt has arranged and
marked "The liar list" Mr..
Noel needed this party in his business.
Here was lieutenant he overlooked,
here is badly neglected fraud in the
9th district, Mr.. Noel did not bring to
light.