Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-11-03
Entered at the Postoffice at Stanton
Va, as second class mail matter.
friday. November 3 1911
A REVIEW OF THE SITUATION

AS tuc ClOCIAOA oPPAOoSASS ~ w
gins to appear to the onlooker more
and more as if the regular Demo-
cratic legislative ticket will repeat its
usual victory at the polls.
AS a matter of fact the whole
spirit of the Independent campaign,
the plan upon which it is being
waged. is calculated only to engen-
der bitter feeling and discord and
should not receives! encouragement.
What is the real necessity Of this
Independent movement? There
seems to be no general or extensive
demand for a change elsewhere in
the State.
The records of the Democratic
party on liquor legislation, although
perhaps not perfect is by no means
amenable to such harsh criticism
and reproach as is being now indulg-
ed in. The local option laws are
fair and are truly in accord with the
cherished principle of Democracy
local self-government. The Mann
Law and the Byrd Law, enacted by
the Democratic legislature, with the
hearty endorsement and approval
of the temperance leaders of the
State. draw the reins even more
tightly on the liquor interests. And
while, perhaps, these statutes, like
other work of mans hands, are not
yet perfect, the Democrats have
shown that in response to popular
demand they are endeavoring at
every session of the legislature to
perfect the alw and it would seem
that they are to be safely trusted to
do so.
There does not seem upon close
inquiry to be anything worthy OF
serious consideration in these
charges of extravagances made by
the Independent candidates against
the Democratic legislature in general
and Its finance committees In parti-
cular OF course, no man or set OF
men are entirely without fault, nor
must men in public life expect to
be free from criticism. The few in
stances cited of increase in salaries
and the like cannot honestly be call
ed extravagances. So far as the
mere statement goes its unfairness
is at once apparent. Any necessary
salary increase at any period might
with equal force be called extrava-
gance. 1t is not attempted to prove
that these increases have been I'M
necessary. This in fact cannot be
done. In truth the very material
growth of the State, together with
the increased cost of living is ample
reason for the relatively small in
creased expenses of running the ma
ehinery of government.
Let the voter and tax payer re-
view calmly what the Democratic
party has done in recent years. 1t
has given us a pure electorate and
delivered the citizenry from the
shame and blot of corrupt elections.
This does not perhaps strike one
with much force in this section of
the State where elections have al
ways been fair and clean, but the
contrast between present and for
mer conditions in other sections is
most striking and forcible. Owing
to the practices obtaining there be-
fore the operations of the new con-
stitution, the standards of the in
dividual character were becoming
lowered deplorably. All excuse for
a continuance of this condition has
now been removed, and throughout
the State Virginia manhood has re-
gained its political self respect. This
is the work of the Democrats, not
so-called Independents"
The revenues of the Common
wealth have increased enormously
under Democratic rule, and this
without any increase in the tax rate
on Individual holdings. The tax as
SCISSORS books are proof positive of
this. Lands are valued still at from
one-third to one-half of their real
value, and pay taxes accordingly,
while the special or privileged" in
terests are paying their fair share of
expenses of government. The rail-
roads and other corporations are
now for the first time contributing
their fair quotas on an equitable
basis Of valuation. More than this,
through the fundamentally OF that
valuable bureau, the State Corpora
ton Commission, they are being
compelled to give the humblest citi-
zen, shipper or passenger, complete
and adequate facilities in exchange
for the valuable franchise given by
the people. The Democrats who
have held the reins of government
for years are to be credited with
this, not any Independents"
1t only requires a cursory, though
honest, scrutiny of the Democratic
record on the subject of pensions to
convince any one that there can be ]
no fair reproach here. Under Demo-
cratic legislation the appropriations |
for pensions have increased from |
$4,000 in 1888 to over 100000 in |
1910. This is a record of which the |
State itself, irrespective of political |
afiliation, may well be proud. OF |
course there are some sporadic COM
plants. There always are, no mat
ter how much may be done. But |
may not the Democratic party be |
safely trusted, in view of this hand
some showing, to make even more |
complete provision for the old SOL
der and his dependents? The most |
ordinary impulses Of gratitude it
would seen should dictate its con.
tinued support from the Confederate !