Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1910-03-10
A SHAME AND A DISGRACE.

Visitors of William and Mary College.
They have been silent, well knowing
that silence gives consent to a most
outrageous insult to the time honored
institution, the alma mater of Thomas
Jefferson and many other distinguished
sons of Virginia. Heretofore men have
been appointed as visitors to such insti-
buttons as William and Mary because of
their honorable prominence in letters or
the affairs of State. The newly installed
Governor of Virginia has changed that
custom, and in this one instance has
made the appointment a reward for po-
litical vice. The character of w. d.
Smith, of Scott county, is well known
to our readers and to the reading pub
lie generally Of the Commonwealth. He
has gained unenviable notoriety as
crooked politician, as the deviser of the
infamous Scott County Ballot" and as
a disgusting witness in the Rhea inves-
tigation.
While the Hon. ]. B. Richmond was
a member of the Constitutional Con-
vention he protested against the reap
point of Smith as superintendent of
schools in Scott county and denounced
him as a ballot box suffer and manipula-
tor of election returns. In support of
these charges he published IL the col
unns of the Richmond Times Dispatch
number of affidsvits made by reputable
citizens of that county. This ought to
have driven Smith from the councils of
his party, but it did not He was con-
tinued and still continues a member of
the State Democratic committee as well
; as member of the Ninth Congress
ional District committee. His already
} notorious record was made more en-
] phstic by his conduct and demeanor as
E witness at the investigation of Vim.
E F. Rhea when he was appointed men,
e Der of the State Corporation Commits
r sion. The hundreds of Virginia citizens,
i. except the partisan members of the
: machine, turned with loathing from the
a witress, Smith, whose supreme effort
r was directed to an evasion or suppress
: sion of The truth. Judge Mann, now Gov
: ernor. was member of the committee
s or jury Il at sat upon that trial or in
t veetiga'ion and heard and saw Smith
e testify. And, yet, he has defied decent
sentiment by endorsing Smiths reap
e poin ment as superintendent of public
schools in Lis county and by honoring
d him vi appointment as a visitor to
t William and Mary College, the former
pride Of Virginia and the second Oldest
college in the United States.
1t will he remembered that Governor
Swanson was also a witness in behalf
of Judge Rhea at the investigation, anC
that Swanson declared that: Party
service is badge of honor
We are now informed, by the appoint
ment of Smith as superintendent OF
schools and as a visitor to William and
Mary, what kind of party service" the
distinguished leaders of the machine
consider "a badge of honor"
We would like to know what the
Times Dispatch, the News Leader, the
Richmoi d Journal, Petersburg Index
Appeal, the Lynchburg News, the Nor
folk Virginian-Pilot, and last, but not
least, what does Bro. Williams of the
Roanoke Times think of this last honor
b stowe upon the discredited and noto-
rious Scott county politician. He was
made more notorious and disreputable
by the exposures that Mr.. Stuart made
at the Rhea investigation, and, yet,
Smith remains as one of the managers
of the campaign of Mr.. Stuart, being
still member of the district committee,
and having been prominent figure in
the Bristol convention that nominated
Mr.. Stuart for Congress.
The Democratic newspapers now ex-
ultingly proclaim that all fractional diff
ferences in the party are to be put aside
for the support OF Mr.. Stuart, that the
lion and the goats are to lie down to-
gether. How will Mr.. Stuart's hon.
Orable friends relish lying down with
Smith and the other fellows of his class
that brought disgrace upon the party
as the servants of w. F. Rhea?