Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1909-07-23
An Important Consideration.


The Lynchburg News i'm comment
ing on an editorial which appeared
i'm this paper under the caption,
Are They Democrats?" calls atten-
ton to a matter of great importance
to the Democratic party. We give
below the editorial in full:
Our contemporary here nails down
a very true and timely proposition.
Not SO very long since the editor of
lhis newspaper was surprised to
receive letter for publication from
friend who has been an ardent. nm
compromising, lifetime Democrat
announcing that i'm the event n GER
tain aspirant for Democratic guber-
material honOrs was nominated ne
would see the candidate clustering i'm
the tornents of hades ere voting for
him i'm the general election. So vehe-
mently and passionateIy indeed. did
our corTesondent express himself.
that We hardly thought he was i'm
the proper frame OF mind TO indulge
in argument upon the merits of his
position Our impression has been
and Is, that he is partisan either of
Judge Mann or Mr.. Tucker and was
diligently at work i'm his favorite's
behalf, Our friend would probably
he much offended If told he had no
right TO be regarded rs "A virginia
Democrat, and certainly no right TO
participate in the approaching pri-
mary. But IL SO informed wouldn {
he be told the truth? In our iudp-
ment he forfeits all claims to regu-
lar Democratic standing, the moment
he makes up his mind that under
certain conditions he will bolt the
Democratic ticket; and he represents
In his present status the class of
voters who our SOdthW west contemno-
rary does not regard as good Democ
rats.
The remarks of the Clinch VaIIv
News remind us of the suggestion
previously urged in these columns
that the party authorities of the state
should issue IA formal statement os IN
the nature of the primary's obliga-
ton. Strange as il may seem the
binding force of this obligation is not
the subject of rs universal accepto-
tIon as 1T should be. The case occrus
all too frequently that a voter parti-
cipates in nominating candidates and
yet reserves the right TO vote against
the nominees named. We have i'm
mind gentleman of more than or
binary intelligence and of thoruughIv
unlmpeachable character who voted
In primary last spring for deIepat
TO the Roanoke convention, and sub
sequently supported Taft for the
Presidency, under the very honest
impression that his participation in
the primary did not operate 10 affect
MIN in his relations TO the nominees
oil The Denver convention. His mis-
take, we say, was honestly made.
liai he before the primay election.
however, been confronted with an
authoritative Official statement from
Chairman Ellyson as To the meaning
oil the primary's obligation he would
doubtless either have declined 70
vote for delegates To Roanoke or cas-,
ms ballot for Bryan, ore or the
other. Ibis case is cited simply rs AN
example 10 show the need for formal
explicit Interpretation of the duty of
primary voters. Therefore, let The
otateChairman speak out and inform,
The Virginia electorate that a VOTER
buys his right to participate i'm the
primary in the coin OF an implied
promise that ie will support the
tlcket thus nominated from top TO
bottom. We again submit the sug-
gestion to Mr. Ellyson bespeaking his
careful and favorable consideration