Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-12-02
KEEP OUT OF The EIGHII"

- A~e, mas SoAon oACepuOuS 70 our
recent editorial in which we advised
that the Republican members of the
General Assembly take no part in the
fsctional fight Of the Democrats over
the question Of Statewide prohibition.
In the last issue of the Republican he
published communication COMBATING
our views, and making some fearful
prophecies as to the fate that will be-
fall the Republican party in the State,
and in the Ninth District particularly, il
the Republican members decline to help
the Anti-Saloon League pass bill sub
hitting the question Of Statewide pro
hibitien to the people. While we have
great regard for Brother Hartman as
man and a citizen we do not regard him
very highly as a political prophet. In
politics he il too much disposed to be
led away from his bearings by any sin
gle one idea that for the time impresses
him. We recall the fact that in 1896 he
was as much excited over the free sill
yer idea as he is now over the State
wide question Then he thought that
the Republicans were doomed to des-
truction because they did not subscribe
to the fallacious doctrine of the Nebras-
kan. Acting upon that belief, he SUD-
ported the Democratic candidates. Bry-
an for President and Williams for Con-
gress. he did right to follow his con-
science, but his conscience led him into
error, an error which he openly con-
fessed in the Republican mass meeting
held at TazeweIl last July. He prom
ised then that he would stand by the
party wherever it led in the future.
Why now intimate that he and others
will not act with the Republicans If
they elect to stand by their time honor
ed doctrine Of local optionI
Brother Hartman says that because
we do not mix much with Statewide
Republicans, we do not know that Mr..
Ratliff's vote in this county ran ahead
of the State ticket on account of the
respective positions taken by him and
his opponent on this very question.
And Mr.. Hartman says: perhaps for
the same reason you do not know Of
any Tazewell Republicans who voted
for Judge Mann because Capt. Kent re-
fused to answer as to what he would
do if such statute were presented to
him as Governor.
We mix ali we can with Republicans;
but certainly do not know that Mr..
Ratliff, who got 81 more votes than
Captain Kent. in the county. on &c
count Of the respective positions taken
by him and his opponent on the liquor
question, ran ahead of the State ticket.
But if Mr.. Ratliff's position on that
question did operate in his favor and
against Mr.. Baber, then the conclusions
drawn by Brother Hartman are decided
~ erroneous. MIR. Ratliff was nominat-
ed and stood upon the Republican plat
form adopted at Newport News, which
declared for local option, while Mr.. Ba-
Der, the Democratic candidate, said he
would not oppose Statewide measure.
f his party desired to submit it to the
people.
Nor do we know that ''dyed-in-the-
WOOL Democrats scratched their legisla-
i've candidate on account of his att. |
Jude on the liquor question, and that
Republicans voted for Judge
Mann because they were afraid of
capt. Kent" Upon the contrary we
Ieny that such things happened at the
ecent election. And we wager that
lot one such Democrat voted for Mr..
satlif for such reason. We also deny
hat one rock-ribbed Tazewell Republi-
an voted for Judge Mann. Only a
Republican, of variable con-
cience and judgment, would have voted
,r ouch a patent hypocrite and discred-
ed candidate as Mann. That the
zuor question played no part in the
ection in Tazewell is proven by the
lct that Senator Lincoln, Republican
for Lieutenant Governor, re-
lived nine fewer votes in the county
an did Capt Kent.
Brother Hartman ssbs sA&t Capt Kent Il