Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-02-12
THE MACHINE" BUGABOO.
Something That Might Brighten
Children But Not Men.
Iron Culpeper Exponent.l


In this connection we note that the
Richmond newspapers. in their news
articles, appear to be endeavoring to
create the impression that the Stuart
eople are going en- masse over to the
Tucker camp. And yet these same
newspapers are loud in their protesta-
tons against what they are pleased to
term machine politics. What better
example of machine politics could there
be than the fact of the followers of one
man, upon his withdrawal. going en-
masse over to another man? Do the
Richmond newspapers imagine that
they can successfully lead any such
movement as that? They should be
ashamed of themselves for entertaining
such poor opinion of their fellow
citizens.
Congressman Carter Glass, of the
Lynehburg district, is certainly pulling
a lot of free advertising out of the
situation. One day the papers saw he
Will be a candidate. and the next day
we are told that he will not be. And
since Stuart's withdrawal, Mr.. Glass
SAID on Tuesday he would, within two
days, let the people of Virginia know
whether or not they would have the
opportunity to make him their COVER
nor. 1t was kind of him not to keep
them in suspense any longer than the
period of two days. At this writing
"wednesday we are inclined to believe
that the gentleman from Lynchburp
will be candidate. Certainly he has
nothing to lose by shying his castor
INTO the ring. His candidacy would
really be joke And it is said that
he threatens to run on a statewide
prohibition platform. This would be
more than a joke. For, since when
have the people of Virginia been led to
look upon the gentleman from LYNCH
burg as an advocate of statewide pro-
bition?
lFrom Petersburg Index-AppeaI.1
Some of the Virginia newspapers are
reviving the cry that the. Organization
and the candidates for Office are mimi
cal to the primary system. That is the
same old cry that was raised against
Senator Martin in two elections, not
withstanding Mr., Martins repeated
declaration that it was immaterial to
him whether the primary system or the
convention should be adopted to decide
his candidacy His enemies were just
morally certain that they could wine
him out of existence as factor in the
politics of Virginia if they could only
get him before primary. Well, they
got him before the primary, and the
result was, he scored an overwhelming
victory. The same is true of the Or
with big o. The people
Of Virginia are with the Democratic
organization, for it is the child of their
own loins, it is the embodiment of their
own wishes and aspirations. No mat
Ter how the test is made, the Demo-
rats will be found standing by the
organization, and if in some Inflated
lour the members of the organization
'hould prove false to the interests of
ne people, at the proper time and in
ne proper manner the voters of the
Democratic party will make change
n the personnel of the body and keep
N loyalty standing by the organization.
any newspaper or any individual
'nows wherein the organization has
zen derelict of its duty or false to the
interests of the party, the charge
mould be specifically made and proved ,
n proper investigation. But why
eep on nagging and disparaging the {
rganization by yelled insinuations and
ague charges? State the facts or
maintain decent silence. l'o"" o.,