Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1909-03-31
SO FAR. SO GOOD.


las the Nirginisn-P Pilot rightfully
assumed in the beginning.
No asplrant for political honorS
could on any ground =, all lenabI,.
decline, when asked to do so, to
inform his possible constituents
what his attitude would be, if cleo
cd. toward any subject of public
moment. nor would any commun-
ity, in any degree alive to its own
interests and entitlements in the
premises. give serious considera-
ton To- the claims uf any candidate
who should arrogate To himself the
privilege which certain cfficious
newspapers asserted for Judge
Mann OF deferrinU until after the
election y plain answer to plain
question concerning concrete
issue which is almost certain Ia
confront in practical shape who
ever may be the next Governor of
Virginia.
We are told that the bridge
would not be crossed until reach
ed; that the pressing of such Al,
interrOgatory was offensive 10 the
verge of insult; and that q direc,
repiv would be inconsistent with
the Sc'f-respect of a worthy postu
liant for favor. To all of which ~,
made the response that the Gaze
chlSm WAS proper one: that re-
tusal To satisfy the query pro
pounded would amount to contrmn,
of the pr"ple and party whose
support Was sought; that Ia stand
mute would be a forfeiture OF pub
lie confidence; and. finally, that
there wa~ No rooin for evasion and
no time for delay-that reply
should, must and would be forth
coming.
The catechists persisted. Mr..
Tucker promptly met the specific
demand with a formal exposition
OF his views ON Local Option and
State wide Prohibition. And now
Judge Mann has followed suit. ex-
planning that his failure to do 50
earlier was dictated only by q
reluctance To anticipate 10y partial
statement the opportunity for a
full and formal deliverauce. If he
ever thought himself to be endowed
with the prerogative of reticence
as against the public demand for
enlightenment on his present or
contingent relation 10 Prohibition
by legislative act, he has learned
the emptiness and impolicy of such
a pretension; and we commend to
several Over-Zealous journalistic
champions of the gentleman from
Petersburg and Nottoway a little
less readiness in future to forestall
the utterances of their favorite.
At this writing we are not con-
cerned with the existing and pro-
spective differences of opinion
between the two contestants for
the gubernatorial nomination.
There Is time enough to analyze
their respective pronouncements
and commitments and to examine
their comparative consistency with
Democratic theory and practice.
For the present it suffices that this
paper has measurably contributed
to explosion of the baseless and
pernlclons notion that the full con-
fidence of all candidates does not
belong to the people whose suf-
frages they are asking. 1t belongs
to and behooves the people to know
to what use in all probable contin-
gencies the power will be directed
which 1t is theirs to bestow. He
vino Is the applicant for situation
must have 30 reserve from his ten
fativc employer.
Ere the pending canvass shall
nave closed there will be other
q h"rie~. pithy and pertinent, to
sid : a in The candidates for
t":t"'i~ a"l..Haiions in the Gift of
50 ihm cratic voters: and these
- "li3 ~!i' uld be- but must and
80 q" ais~cr.ri Norfolk Vir-
gini.n PIpi
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