Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-02-18
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY Is. 1909.
POLITICAL CONDITIONS IN VIRGINIA.


very peculiar political conditions are
now found in Virginia so far as the
Democratic party is concerned. 1t is
difficult matter for some of the Demo-
Gratis to determine whether the Machine
is being controlled by the Anti-Saloon
League or whether that organization is
mere side-show for the Machine The
Machine has selected for its gubernato-
rial candidate William Hodges Mann,
and the Anti-Saloon League has practi-
cally done the same thing. Of course
Judge Mann and Mr.. Cannon, who dom
mate the League, deny that this is
true, but the circumstances surround
ing and facts connected with Mann's
candidacy refute completely the decla-
rations of the two shrewd politicians.
In other words the people do not believe
what Mann and Cannon say, and this
unbelef is fully warranted. Of course
when speaking of the people we mean
those who are not followers of the Ma
chine or the blind subjects of Mr.. Can
non.
With the combined support of the
Machine and the Anti-Saloon League.
which is now recognized by intelligent
observers as a political asset of the
Democratic Machine, there is no doubt
but that Judge Mann will be the next
Democratic candidate for Governor of
the State. AS surely as a Democratic
primary is held, Mann will win at that
primary.
The anticipation of the nomination
and election of Judge Mann is giving
much concern to large number of the
more respectable Democrats. They arc
greatly Inundated at the prospect Of
having to support q man who, at the
very beginning Of his candidacy, is
forced to undertake to explain his very
questionable political record. And many
are unwilling to accept as satisfactory
the recent explanation he has given out
for publication. They are not prepared
to accept his explanation of why he took
his seat in the State Senate with Ger.
tificate that was tainted by fraud MOI
are they ready to submit to his apology
for his dual record as a railroad attor.
ney and State Senator. They naturally
ask why he thought it necessary to re-
sign his railroad attorneyship before he
last offered as a candidate for the State
Senate, if his services to the railroad hac
not previously confiicted with his du.
ties to the people as their representa-
tive.
Then Judge Mann's attempted expla-
nation of his connection with the inves-
tigation and confirmation of VIM. F.
Rhea as a member of the State Corpor-
alton Commission is both Elusive and
insincere. 1t is well known that before
he accepted an appointment to sit as
one of the committee of investigation
he had, in the State Senate, publicly an
nounced Rhea's innocence and demand
ed his confirmation without an investi-
cation. Do honest men consent to sit
as judges or jurors in case which they
have already prejudged and in which
they have publicly expressed an opin-
ion? Besides, during the progress of
the Rhea investigation Judge Mann
msde an indellible record as q partisan
advocate of the accused, and manifest
ed every disposition to shut off the
light rather than turn it on. His con-
duct was 80 unbecoming as to provoke
the criticisms of the Democratic press
and arouse the disgust of many honest
men who witnessed it. This is the man
that the Machine and Anti-Saloon
League have determined to make Gov
ernor of Virginia. Will it be done?