Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-11-05
Friday. Nov. 5. 1909.
RESULTS OF THE ELECTION

RESULTS OF THE ELECTION.
The election of this week for Cover
nor and other State officers was full o
surprises. The whole political atmos
phere was clouded, and has not as We
cleared. The organization got through
with its work. It labored heavily
however, and has been in sad strait:
ever since, because of the fear that this
may be the beginning of the end. II
is useless to deny that it has received
a sad blow. Majorities have been cut
here and there, and things are omi-
nous. Think of a Republican candi-
date almost carrying Staunton. The
thought is staggering. Yet nine votes
changed from Mann to Kent would
have done the work and Staunton for
the first time in the history of that
party would have gone Republican.
Let us now look for some of the causes.
In the first place Judge Mann was
regarded as an artful dodger, and as
promising all things to all men. In
this community he was the weakest
possible candidate who could have
been named. Nobody cared for him,
and he was only mentioned because he
occupied the position of candidate.
In the second place it is believed here
that Judge Mann's hackers played this
town false on the Wet and Dry ques-
ton, and this showed heavily in the
vote.
In the third place the manner of
Mr.. Floods introduction here when he
spoke few weeks ago was the worst
possible break that could have been
made, and put such foul taste into
the mouths of real Democrats, to say
nothing of others, that they would not
swallow the pill, coated as it was with
such hypocricy.
In the fourth place Mr.. Floods
speech was untimely, not on a high
plane from an intellectual standpoint,
and offensive to many.
In the fifth place the Hon. Carter
Glass was rung in. This was bad in
many ways. Mr.. Glass has not any
very great number of admirers over
here. Why we need not divulge But he
came here full of vituperation, abuse,
denunciation, and with a hand gren-
ade filled with the bad odors of fam
lily feud, which he proceeded to throw
at Mr.. VIM. P. Kent, the Republican
nominee for Governor The thing did |
not burst and destroy this Mr.. Kent,
but it greatly hurt and crippled one of
the same name over in Lynchburg,
and the slime in the bomb oozed out
and got all over Mr.. Glass, and will
possibly never wash off. When states
man undertakes to become the medium
through which slime is to be purveyed,
simply that he may render the State
some service, he has entered upon q job
which is laborious and dangerous, and
for which he gets no thanks, and in
doing which always loses reputa-
lion. Then, too, the bomb, which the {
chinese would call by another
name, was held under Mr.. Glass
vest until just before the election when
ne dextrously made what in f
loot ball is called "the forward
pass" 1t failed to work and he and
his conductors were penalized therefor.
The holding back of such attacks until q
ne moment of election and then a
bringing them, is always regarded as C
rlcky. 1t was so regarded in this case, a
md hurt the intended victim less than :"
he bomb thrower. -
We could name many more reasons
Or the city's Republican vote, for it in W
eality went Republican. The fact Oh
hat change of only votes was nee v
ssary to give Kent a real majority,
oes not change the fact that some II
hing has happened hereabouts which l.,
as sent Staunton over into the Re- l.
ublican fold. Of course the conduct v
"a
things right here in Staunton has q,
ad much to do with it. Yet every b.
love made outside as well as inside
'nt things from bad to worse, and ac- V
tally gave the town to an indepen-
ent candidate for the legislature.
his has cause. The wise of course 6
'e 1t. The less wise are beginning TO