Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-05-07
POLITICAL ISSUES.
Iwestmoreland Inquirer. J


Nothing is so demoralizing to the 4
business interests of the State and ia
tion as political issues that affect
commerce and labor. This is proven by
the tariff issue, for which a special ses-
sion of Congress has been called. Po-
litical issues are simply confusion to the
average voter. How many can distin-
guish what is meant by valorem duty,
specific duty, etc, as it relates to their
personal benefit? These questions must
be left to the ability of the Congress
men to settle. Yet, as lorg as these
questions remain unsettled business is
at standstill. and the average voter
has to suffer in consequence thereof.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch. some
days ago, suggested injecting into the
gubernatorial campaign of Virginia
issues that can be only settled by cap
able AID trustworthy representatives;
but If used as vote catchers serve only
to embitter one class against another,
when in reality each are dependent
upon the other for general prosperity
This cannot be accomplished where the
employer advocates one thing and his
employee another. the same rule applies
in relation to the classes. To be
prosperous relations must be mutual;
and all laws entrusted to the loyalty
of the representatives you send to the
legislature or TO Congress.
| In uiax.r nf aho,a ,,,o ..Lo :.~..o
with the Times-Dispatch in trying to
force the oyster question as an issue in
this campaign. 1t is not a statewide
question, but one of local nature, ex-
tending only in the tidewater section of
Virginia, whose representatives can be
easily overpowered by representatives
from sections where this industry does
not affect. 1t seems that the sole OBJ
ject of our esteemed contemporary is to
burden the oystermen with taxation in
order to get additional state revenue
AS to more fully developing the oyster
industry, that matter can be best solved
by those actively engaged in it. The peo-
pie in general, who live in tidewater,
Jared better before the oyster question
entered politics, and the only logica
way to settle that question is to enact
wholesome laws for the benefit of tn.
tidewater section, and stop using thii
as political issue. Only those who ar,
broad-minded enough to understand tn,
actual conditions in the oyster sectio,
are capable of drafting such laws.
What does a representative from Shen
andoah Valley, or the mountain district
.. of Virginia know about what is bes
I, for the people who expose themselve
to the dangers of the sea in persuanc
of their vocation? Much less can b
expected of the voters in those section:
Leave the poor oysters out of the is
: sue lest it should possess typhoi
germs.
After that paper suggests the oyst,
question as an issue, it asks what Il
candidates can suggest in the way
equalizing taxation? 1t is true that
many cases taxes are returned erron
ously, and unjust, but this question
solely in the hands of the assessors,
the case is in the oyster commission
" imposing fines upon illegal dredgers,
the collection of rentals for the oyst
bottoms. So it is unnecessary to bri
either issue into the campaign for &c
:, ernor or representatives to the legis
:. = ture. 1t is not in the personal pow
20 of either to remedy these evils if tn
- exist. The execution of the law in
y. impartial manner is the essential re-
" edy.