Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-07-22
REPUBLICAN OPPORTUNITY.

Never in the past twenty-five years
has such an opportunity been presented
for the Republicans to win in Virginia
The results of the election last Fall
showed that the business men of the
State were no longer to be frightened
or influenced by the narrow, partisan
appeals that had kept them in line for a
political machine for which they had no
respect.
The contest between Judge Mann and
Mr.. Tucker has served to increase and
intensity a spirit of independence
amongst the Democratic voters, and
thousands Of them are preparing to
cast their fortunes with the Republicans
at the approaching election for State
officers. AL they ask of the Republi-
cans Is that good and capable men be
selected as the candidates of the party
and that the candidates be placed upon a
conservative, business platform. When
the Republicans hold their State con-
vention, on the 18th inst, they will Sc
lect clean, courageous and able men as
their candidates; and the result at the
general election in November will as
tonish the machine.
The character of the present candi-
dates of the Democratic machine is dis
gushing many former staunch Demo
Gratis; and it is nc unusual thing to hear
Democrats declare that if Mann is nom
mated they will bolt and vote the Re-
publican ticket. And the apprehension
that he will be the Democratic nominee
has caused many Democrats to announce
that they will not participate in the pri-
mary. Even the Statewide prohibi-
ton contingent of the Democratic party
is becoming dissatisfied and Disguised
with Judge Mann as a candidate; and
they have less liberation for Mr.. Tuck
er. 1t looks like Brother Cannon will
be unable to keep the temperance and
prohibition voters in line for his dis
credited candidate. We hear that the
prohibitionists are talking seriously of
having an independent organization and
making an Independent fight with their
own candidates in the gubernatorial and
Legislative contests. Heretofore they
have been pretty solid for Mann; but
recent developments have clearly shown
his duplicity as public man in the past,
and make real honest and earnest tenn
perance people believe he is now play
ing a double part on the liquor ques-
ton.
Then, the people have been enlighten-
ed by Mr.. ]. Thompson Brown as to the
conditions that have obtained in the De-
partment of Agriculture. He has bold
Jy presented an unanswerable statement
as to the inefficiency and untruthfulness
of the present Commissioner of Agri-
culture, who is now the machine candi-
date for reelection. And the recent
election of county and city superinten-
dents of schools demonstrated that par
tisan politics controlled the delibera-
tions of the State Board of Education.
The people, Democrats as well as Re-
pubaicans, are becoming awakened to
the fact that Democratic machine rule
is not only very expensive but terribly
nuclean and incapable. They see that
the Ofice-holder's trust is struggling to
retain power and prevent the light be-
ing turned on. Of course a golden OPP
portunity is furnished the Republicans
by the dissatisfaction, dissension and
suspicion that prevail in the Democratic
ranks. With good and true men to lead
them and with resolute and unceasing
assault upon the many weak points in
the lire of the enemy, the Republicans
ought to win in November.