Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-04-15
Friday. April IS. 1870.
A POLITICAL OUTRAGE.

The first niger in the political wood
pile has crawled out. He lay hidden
there until April 4th, then he made a
feeble effort to get from under the de-
bris, but grew faint hearted and with
drew. On the 18th he sauntered forth
into the world unrecognised at first by
many who helped create him, and his
hideous form is before as.
The NIGaER, is the position of assis-
tant attorney or especial counsel, J"
created in the most stealthy manner
At the very last moment of the legisla-
tive session, and now given to Speaker
Byrd. 1t is usually just at such mo-
ment that political jobs are pushed
though. That is the psychological mo-
ment of their creation, and the politi-
cal schemer awaits it with interest,
just as the pickpocket waits for rush
in the crowd. To what are the tax
payers of Virginia now treated We
clip from the press of the 18th:
Richard Evelyn Byrd, Speaker of
the House of Delegates, has been APP
pointed by Gov. Mann as counsel for
the educational institutions, hospitals
and governmental departments of the
State. at a salary of 81, 900 year, for a
term of two years. The appointment
was made on April 4, butt did not be-
come known until yesterday.
How will the taxpayers who saw
the ground raked and the taxes in
creased to get more revenue, receive
the information that $4,000 of their
money is to 60 to line the pockets of
political favolite, who the record shows
left the Speakers stand and took the
floor to help work the trick ? Will
the people of Virginia ever be convinc-
ed of the necessity of this office? If SO,
why was it not created in the broad
light of day? Will they ever believe
that it was not shell game worked
by political gamblers? If so, why
did the Governor make the appoint
ment on the 9TH and not let the secret
out until the 18th? If $1,000 was al
lowed by the law, why didn't the Gov
ernor give it ALL to his appointee?
The public will believe that he was
afraid to do it, just as he was without
the nerve to announce his appointment
until SEVEN days after he made it.
This trick has appalled, many DEM
ocrats. Its audacity has made them
hold their breath. Filled to overflow
ing as it is with all that has degraded
politics in Pennsylvania and New
York, reeking as it does with the
stencil of graft, the public stands
agast. There is no apology that can be
made for it, it is absolutely inexplica-
BILE from any standpoint of public ben
eft, or public or private morals. This
outrage will from this moment until
the statute books are wiped clear of its
slime and stencil, receive outspoken
and unstinted denunciation. No pow
er but death should estop every tax
payer from open, persistent and deter
mined war on such filthy work, even
if it must be broken down by change
of political parties.
The recipient of this office did not
have the nerve to let it be created in
the broad light of day. The Governor
did not have the nerve to announce the
appointment when made. He did not
have the nerve to give the whole salary
allowed. The creation and conduct
of this affair savors of political coward
ice and chicanery, of corruption and
graft. 1t is an outrage that will re-
ceive in time terrible rebuke.
The full dinner pail has been in cold
atnrQ0o NVar ulor Nnhndu would