Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-18
OPPONENTS PRINT ATTACKS
Republicans Charge Extravaganza
in the State Administration.
CAMPAIGN OF UPHILL WORK
Lack of a Slogan to Stir the Masses
Serious Handicap to Those Try
ing to Gust Party in Control.
pecial From a Stan Correspondent.

Special From Stan Correspondent.
RICHMOND. Va, September 1S.-Ae
joyous intervals In every four-year po-
litical period sections of the democratic
press of Virginia engage in lively ana
spirited denunciation of the democratic
administration and machine up to within
three months of election day, and then
all hands turn to in violent clamor for
of that organization In power.
This year, additional spice has been
lent to this performance by a large sec
tion of that same press. prior to the pri-
maries, denouncing the present democratic
candidate for governor as utterly unfit for
the nomination, bringing Specifications Of
the articles Of indictment, but once nomi-
mated. now engaged in pointing out what
a shame 1t would be to defeat him.
All. we'll. you say that's the way of
politics; fight 1t out In the preliminaries.
but stand together at the polls. But, see
what fix 1t leaves the poor voter in In
this case; here he is, ''all het up with
righteous Indignation against the demo-
cratic candidate. aroused by the scathing
press attacks upon that candidate, and
now he is required to vote to put him into
the Office for which the democratic press
declared him unfit.
That looks as if the poor voter were
being stacked up against a pretty hard
proposition. 1t is. take this alleged unfit
democratic candidate. or stay at home. or
vote for republican. U-m-m. the last
alternative is rather bitter for the Vir-
einia democrat of the old regime 1t is
all well enough for the young fellows, the
new crop, the 'progressives, who
hearken to the preaching of national re-
publican doctrines and banker for the
heshpots of materialism but to the old
boys a singed democrat is preferable to a
full plumaged republican
The moment the old-line democrat be-
gins to show signs of real weakening on
his party and casts a glance askance at
whispers to him, Remember readjuster
days and the party of reconstruction"
Thereupon your old-line democrat snorts,
expectorates violently and looks around
for mint julep to take the taste out Of
his mouth. It's all off then.
Present Virginia Republicans.
That is to say, that is the way it has
been up to recent years. The republican
party Of Virginia Of today is not what
1t was Of yore. Candid democrats will
admit as much. The militant section Of
the party. leaving out the negro, who is
q liability and not an asset. since his
vote does not often count, is composed
of. young and progressive men. The or
ganization is clean and we'll intentioned.
These white republicans are not 'cyar-
pet baggers.' either. They are to the
manner born. The head of the ticket is
the son Of a man who was democratic
lieutenant governor of Virginia In this
decade. The rank and file of the white
organization are Virginians, with a stake
in the land. They are making a fight
which must command admiration, the
more SO because of a certain element Of
immediate hopelessness in it.
AS outlined to me by the leaders. the
efforts of the republicans aim at two
principal objects:
First-An appeal to the voters for the
enhancement of the material prosperity
of the state through the espousal OF re-
publican national policies.
Second-To convince the voters that the
domination of all branches of the state
service-civil, judicial. administrative and
educational-by an alleged machine
the second head, the charge of alleged
extravaganza is the principal count.
The main handicap under which the re-
publcans labor in these efforts is the
tionary issue. There is no slogan to stir
the masses. The democratic majority is
so large it would take a popular revolt
to overturn it. What is there to incite
a revolt, the practical politician asks?
1t is realized that there is nothing soul
stirring in the appeal to republican ma
tional policies; appreciation of them is a
process of education, clogged by time.
Appeals to crushing the dominating
party on the ground alleged is. in the last
analysis. demand. for the substitution
of new political convictions for those Of
lifetime, for reasons which may not be
acceptable to the rank and file Of demo-
Gratis as sufficient. 1t is uphill work
for the republicans; the democrats have
only to stand pat
Democratic Criticism Reprinted.
The republican campaign committee has
got out a ffteen-page. closely printed
pamphlet, containing excerpts from demo-
cratic editorial utterances all over the
state. They question Judge Mann's record
in the Confederate army. attack his record
in the legislature, alleging his affiliation
With corporate interests. impugn his sim
cerity as temperance advocate and hint
at secret backing of the liquor interests.
They charge him with one time affiliatinS
with Malone, assail the legality Of his
election as state senator and strike at him
In many directions. All these attacks.
mind you, are from good, rock-ribbed
democratic newspapers. 1t is true they
were delivered before taking him as
candidate of the party.
One of the minor charges / will single
out for quotation: He would not support
an amendment to the liquor law compen-
ing the railroads of the state to pay
license of S4OO year for the privilege OF
selling liquor in dining cars, but he did
vote for law compelling passenger In
day coach to ask permission of the con-
ductor before he could take drink, while
allowing the man in the dining car to
drink without asking the consent OF any
body
Eth, sirs yon was a hard blow at the
rights of the plain citizen. That Vir-
ginia gentleman, sab, should not have the
right to take swtg from MS own mask.
nor cen extend the hospitalities of the oc-
casion to his neighbor across the aisle
without consulting the mnion of a cursed
corporation were hard lines. indeed.
The Liquor Question.
OF course. the inevitable liquer question
has to come up. 1t is the Banquo's ghost
of every politician south of Mason and
Dixon's line. However. thanks to SONS
very lively side-stepping. 1t does not fg-