Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-11-19
Friday, Nov. 10. 1909.
THE ORGANIZATION DENIES.

who is who in the Democratic 'Organ-
ization" in Virginia just now. There
is a well known Big Four which is
supposed to constitute nearly the
whole Organization" These are said
to be Senator Martin, Governor Swan
son, Congressman Flood, and Speaker
Byrd. Usually everybody takes his
cue from these, and all matters OF I'M
portance are of their inspiring. The
question now seems to be who is to be
the organization candidate for Cover
nor at the expiration of Judge Mann's
term. Just at present nobody seems
exactly sure; some think 1t is to be
Glass, some Flood. If it be Glass, then
Glass must not be the free lance he has
been credited with being. He must
get down on his Bonded knees more
cheerfully and oftener than he has
been doing. Somebody is giving Glass
credit for having won the last battle,
or if not the winning of it, that ne
played most stupendous part, with
out which disaster might have overtak-
en- Judge Mann. One of the feats OF
course is, that he threw the "bomo''
which burst under Mr.. Kent just be-
fore the election, and according to the
opinion of some, tore him to pieces
politically, giving his opponent an
easy walk over. Other great and good
things are accredited to Mr.. Glass by
somebody. But what think ye OF
this?
ave regret that certain Democrats
saw fit to revive the long-forgotten
scandal in reference to Mr.. Kent. Ii
was unnecessary, and it was cruel. Ii
was also unfair, because it was not
given definite publicity until the last
DAYS of the campaign. 1t is enough 10
say, in dismissing it forever, that IL
was not originated by the official Dem
ocratic organization, nor was 1t ap,
proved, we believe, by the masses OF
the Democratic voters"
The above is from an editorial in the
Winchester Evening Star of the Sth,
edited by the Hon. Richard Evelyn
Byrd, which we are told is the official
organ of the Organization. Mr.. Glass
is undoubtedly man of ability, mar
of resources, a politician of experience
and tact. But that he should 60 owe
the Big Four and work political stunts
of such Importance as the one Their
mentioned, is hard to comprehend
The stunt was bound to reflect on tn
Organization if failure, and redount
to it's credit if success. How ther
could an humble worker in the ranks
like Mr.. Glass undertake so heroic ;
play, in the face of the captains with
out having gotten the signal iron
them? Now we are told that he dit
not get orders from headquarters t.
make the play. 1t was therefore mad
on his own initiative. Wonderful,
true! Evidently the Organization
does not want to bear the odium o
the attack. Not that it may not hav
been legitimate if made in season, be
cause the public and private life OF
politician are,or should be,ope books
but made, as the attack was, on tn
very verge of the election it was regard
ed as TRICKY, and far be it from tn
Organization to do anything OF tina
kind. Hence we see the apology, in
deed the flat denial that the attack wa
ordered, or to use the words of the edi
tor that it was not 'originated by thu
official Democratic organization. M
wonder the organi cation is so quick tt
stand from under. The attack, as WI
said in former editorial, was regard
ed as tricky, and hurt the perpetratol
more than the intended victim. We
do not believe after the tactics display
ed and the low limit chosen by Mr.
Glass in that affair, he could ever be
Governor of Virginia. The Organiza
ton may therefore have sought his
destruction by his own hand knowing
the effect such an attack would have
They may have submitted to his ust
of the celebrated "hand grenade" in
order that he might thus commit pc
litical suicide. Who can tell =?