Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-09-30
why THE PEoPLE.ARE DISGUISED

why THE PEoPLEAR DISCUSSED
We are occasionally asked if condi-
tons in Virginia under the ssOrgani-
zation" are as bad as we have described
them. We unhesitatingly say they
are WORSE, FAR WORSE. We re-
call the denunciations of the Malone
regime. How bitter they were. and
how those denominations came from
some of the mouths that today are
shut tight under some worse conditions
than even the Malone regime laid on
us. The Malone machine did clean
the Augean stables, and several gentle
men in high station in the Democratic
party either went to the Penitentiary
J or the Insane asylum. The Malone
regime did reduce the State debt, or
laid the foundation for its reduction;
the Malone regime did not create lot
of new offices, even though it had a
chance to. 1t did some things, indeed
many things, which were not credita-
BILE to any set If politicians. Our pres
ent governor was on the 'inside" then
and we have recently heard of things
he knew of and that he did then.
which are now most M flioIious IN
4 some eyes,
The people rose and ousted the Ma
hone regime, more because of their
close affiiia ion with the negro than,
because of their bad handling of the
1 affairs of the State. Had that regime
gotten further from that rock it would
have lived longer. 1t gave its enemies
that red flag to fly, and that lawful
crime" to shout about, and on it they
won.
But our present administration whilst
in way free from that breaker, has
done SO many things calculated to
bring 1t into disrepute, and indeed dis
grace, that it can point its finger of
scorn at no set of politicians gone be-
fore, save the Underwood Military des-
potism. The State is now in the
clutches of FEW MEN. They are
not men of brilliant intellects, far
from livery ordinary, indeed mediocre.
All are we'll fixed in office, however,
and drawing salaries way beyond their
value to State or Nation. They are
not men of force in their departments,
that is in the Office they fill, indeed
they are very small when they are.
among MEN. One never hears of
them except about election times or
when voting for tariff. But they have
wonderful power of combining their
resources. With them, "United we
stand, divided we fall" is Their motto.
They are organizers from away back,
they have their lieutenants in every
part of the State, they secretly work
out their plans. The maps are made, /
the work LAID out, and each is sent
upon his mission. Not one of them
has ever committed single act of
craftsmanship. Not one ever made
speech worth while remembering, save
in one notable instance. One of the
greatest among them did, in 1896, pre-
side over gold caucus in this very
town one night, and then it is said We
hemently denounced silver and silver
advocates, and in terms almost dra-
matte foretold what would happen the
next day under his strong right arm,
and what HE, himself, would do in be-
half of Gold on that-the next day.
The next day. Oh, shall we recall it
here, and he leader of our party ?
Suppose we do, lest we forget. The
next day he appeared before an assem-
bled convention of Democrats right
here in Staunton, and in spirit of
deep humility, of admitted penitence,
Of great meekness, he asked forgive
ness of that assembled body, whose
temper he then understood, and in an
attitude too unsightly to be described
he rolled over the tail board into "the
Silver band wagon" This speech, the
only one he ever made worth remem-
bering, is remembered both by his Sill
yer and his Gold friends.
Money is always plentiful with them.
1t is the general belief that this is fur
nished principally by the corporations
and trusts. It is also the general be-
lief that the Republican party and all
that party stands for, is better served
now by those in office than it could
possibly be were the State Republican,
hence no effort is made of Sc rious
character to turn down any of those
now at the head of affairs, especially
in Congress. The stip", it is said, has
been given, and has been obeyed
through the State generally. They all
are ready to bolt the National ticket
when it suits them to do so, or if not
bolt they can sulk. In the 9th district
there is an effort being made to beat
the only Republican in the State in
Congress, but let it be remembered
that the Democrat who has ssdared" to
run is not an organization man. Those
in power have built up an office trust.
They have created new offices, increas-
ed salaries, wasted money, increased
taxation, been guilty of nepotism, and
done SO many things discreditable that
the rank and file of the Democratic
voters are disguised. They do not want
to bolt, or become irregular, or resort
to severe measures, but they are nau-
seated. And the corruption at Norfolk
has made them more 50. This is the
straw likely to break the cancels
back.
| LET IN THE LIGHT
In the Norfolk contest, when the
BOOKS were called for, both sides