Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1910-01-13
WHAT WE MEANT.

Al TIE urSC issue OF the Roanoke
Times under the editorial management
of the brilliant and forcible writer.
Alfred B. Williams, criticism and in
quiry is made of our editorial of last
week about compulsory primary.
The Roanoke Times says:
''What on earth does the Tazewell
Republican mean by editorially telling
members of its party that they should
res'os attempts to enforce the proposed
pri' airy election law by legal or "revo-
lutl. nary" methods? Doesn't the Re-
puh"can understand that talk of this
kim IS the very thing likely to anger the
do" inant party and urge it on to the
verv action the Republican resists so
viole ntly?''
After expressing its belief in the pri-
mar system, the Times declares. 1--WE
do not believe in examining down reluc-
tan Threats distssteful dose, however
firm ly we may hold our own good opin-
ion of it."
THIS declaration of the Times is
YER reasonable Interpretation of our
adv &c to the Republicans of Virginia
to resist the enforcement of a conpul-
So, Urinary law by the use of lawful
ano evolutionary means. That was
wi we meant. If the Times 10 ayerse
TO aiming a distasteful dose down
the -hroats of members of its own
pa -, in the name of common
SEN. why should IS 1e startled if the
Virginia Republicans should announce
the Intention to resist by lawful and
reFolutionary methods the proclaimed
intention of the Machine to cram a
deadly poison down their threats?
Tie Virginia Republicans have been
patient and long suffering. No politi-
cal organization in any republic has
ever been subjected to such outrages
by corrupt and constituencies political
Mac aine as have the Republicans of
this State. The present Democratic
orga nization has been constructed on
crime and usurpation. Some of its
work has been brszenly proclaimed
revolutionary, but criminal usurpa-
ton is a more appropriate name.
1t gained and has held power for more
than quarter of a century through the
enactment of series of election laws
that, according to the previous utter
ances of the editor of the Roanoke
Times, put a premium on perjury.
forgery, theft and all possible crimes
against an honest ballot. These vicious
election laws were followed and SUD-
plemented by the making of constitu-
ton that has nearly destroyed the cleo
torate of Virginia. In the manner of
making this constitution the Democrats
outraged precedent and basely violated
their pledges. The result has been an
almost total overthrow of our republi- |
can form of government and the estab- |
ishment of an oligarchy that has con-
stantly been enlarging its usurpations.
The Legislature which sat in 1908 was
the plant tool of the oligarchy, and de-
voted all its energy to the upbuilding of
the Machine. A crime was committed
by the dismemberment of the Fifth
Cong ressional District, a crime which
no Democratic paper in the State has
ever been bold enough to defend.
The proposition of MIR. Byrd for a
compulsory primary law is the sugges-
ton # an outrage that outmeasures
any that has heretofore been inflicted
upon our people by the Virginia De-
mocracy. Its purpose is to give the
Machine authority to select not only the
Democratic candidates, but the candi-
dates Of the Republican party. 1t
means death to party freedom and pax-
~ sovereignty. Is
For wrongs and crimes less than those
the Democratic party in Virginia have
done during the last twenty-five years.
the fathers proclaimed the Bill of ,
Rights and framed the Declaration of ,
indie sendence.