Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-02-04
the REFEREE SYSTEM.

They are greatly disturbed about the
referee system for making Federal sp-
pointments in the South. OF course,
we mean the Southern Democrats. |
They say there is something vitality |
wrong in this method of making APP
pOiEtments. We suppose there is, as
It bars Democrats from securing office |
under q Republican administration.
The very cordial reception that Presi
ient-elect Taft has been receiving in
Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina
snd his very aIniable and polite acknowl-
edgemept of these social attentions has
aroused hope once more among certain
Democrats that their voices will be
heard when Mr.. Taft makes his ap-
pointments at the South. This is moth
iag more than repetition of what oc-
Irred after Mckinley and Roosevelt
made visits to some of the Southern
cities subsequent to their elections.
heir earnest declarations in favor of
the ooliteration of all sectional ami
mosities and expressions of admiration
FOR the intellectual and material prog
TESS Of this section were seized upon by
the Democratic politicians as promises
that they would be looked to, rather
than to local Republicans, when Federal
appointments were to be made. Per-
aaps Mr.. Roosevelt did make a few
plumbers in that direction. Will Mr..
Taft do likewise? We opine not. We
should think that he will pay due re-
Yard to the wishes and properly regard
the suggestions of the million men at
ne South who supported and fought
'or him when he was a candidate and
for the principles he so ably expounded
20 the people. Among these he will
nd an ample number of intelligent ad-
,isers and thousands of good men az
capable and worthy of holding Office al
che best Democrats.
But The Democrats say this referec
.ystem is wrong. When did it become
50? Did it not obtain under both of the
administrations of Mr.. Cleveland? WhC
we're the referees then? Were not tn,
Democratic Congressman the referees
for their respective districts and the
United States Senators referees for thu
State at large? In Virginia did thes,
Democratic referees select cleaner ant
better men for office than have tn,
Slerlps and other Republican referees
n Virginia? OF course mistakes ar,
frequently being made in the selection
Of men for office Have not our Demo
cratic friends in Virginia made yer!
serious mistakes both in State and Fed
aral appointments? Have they eve
sbardoned their most ardent principle
TO the victors belong the spoils,
Certainly not, judging from the wa.
hey have appropriated nearly every
Ching in sight by a thorough referee
gstem that was established through tn
making of the new Constitution. Evel
ne selections of the judges are referee
% the Democratic representatives il
he Legislature from the various couE
1es. This was shown when there re
Gently became a vacancy in the judg
snip of this judicial circuit. The Hon
Iartin Williams, of Giles county, wa
he referee who selected Fulton Kegley
# Bland, for the place. Then tn
crcuit court judges are referee
or selecting various county and distric
ulcers.
We would like to ask how the Presi
lent would be able to determine who t
appoint to Office in all the States of tn
Union without the assistance and ad
vice of referees? Who shall thes
-eferees be, men of his own party o
men who are not only hostile to it bu
Who are likely to be hostile to ever.
solicy of his administration?