Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1910-10-21
Will Hardly Take Action

" Harrissonburg, Va, Oct s.
For the third time in five years Post
master Charles NJ. Keezel, of Har-
rissonburg, is under investigation On
the charge of "pernicious political
activity An inspector from Wash
ington is here examining into the re-
cord and behavior of Harrissonburg' $
postmaster in connection with the
recent district convention at Char
lottesville, when Mr.. Keezel's activ-
ity, in the opinion of the Insurgents,
partook of RIGHTEOUSNESS.
1.-The anti-organization members
have never yet been able to make
out case against Mr.. Keezel, but
they believe that they have it on him
this time. News Item.
We predict that all the bouyant
hopes Of the insurgents or anti
organizations Republicans in the
Seventh District, about "landing"
Mr.. Postmaster Keezell, and putting
him out Of business on the ground of
his alleged ''pernicious political ac-
tivity' will go up in smoke, for the
| u. S. u. O. D., as it is at present
organized, is one at least of the great
departments of this government, that
not only tolerates, but encourages
this sort of thing.
Mr.. Frank ii. Hitchcock, the Post
master General, who directs the
affairs of this department he
isn't engaged in raising slush funds
and managing campaigns for his par
ty-is himself bitter partisan, and
SO slong Is he is in charge, no relief
such as the Seventh District 'insur-
gents are fighting for, will be
afforded. Mr.. Hitchcock is really
the political Director General of the
Taft administration, and he divides
his time, as emergencies seem to de
mand, between acting as chairman
Of the National Republican Commit
tee and Postmaster-G General.
He really runs the Republican par
ty and the PostofIice Department, Of
ten at the same time. and he is al
legged TO have said recently that he
hoped soon to get rid of some of the
burdens of politics, SO that he might
give more attention. to official mat
ters.
There is Il strong suspicion that if
Mr.. Hitchcock really wanted to" bag"
any postmasters for offensive parti-
sanshipH or ''pernicious political ac-
tivity, - he could do some business
through his inspectors and special
agents down in this section of the
State, but you will not hear of any
thing of that sort, so long as the
present regime obtains.
1t is believed that all the higher
officials, from Mr.. Hitchcock down to
Mr. Slemp, know OF these conditions.
but we may rs we'll expect the Clinch
River to turn backward in its course
and flow up the mountain sleeps. as
that they, or either of them. will
take any action.
We have come upon strange days
in the life of this great nation.
Here we have the vast army Of
officials under one department. work
ing tooth and nail against the nomi-
nees of the Democratic party, and in
the interest of the standpatters -
of which Mr.. Hitchcock is one of the
chiefs while another great depart
ment peremtorily discharges a faith
full old SOuthemer, who wires that if
certain alleged land crooks get "a
square DEAF they will go to the pen
itentiary.
The latter is the case of Col. John
5. Mosby, of Virginia, brave old
Confederate officer, and a faithful
Republican, who is now Ion the out
side looking in" because he threat
ened to do his duty as he saw it.
We shall always believe there were
political reasons" for Col. Mosby's
discharge, and there are political
reasons for permitting the Federal
oifice-holders of this country to use
their positions in endeavoring to de-
feat Democratic candidates for Con-
gress.
1t is generally known that many
of these officials are "perniciously ac-
tive in the present ninth district cam
paign, but it is eqaully true that the
people are aroused, and will not long
er permit petty political bosses to
dominate their affairs.
They are going to elect Henry
Stuart to Congress, and smash every
cog IN Siemp's big state and district
machines.