Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1911-06-02
The Viewpoint of the Other Side
[Lynchburg News.1

The News position with reference
to various questions involved in the
present senatorial campaign has been
repeatedly stated and emphasized. We
have been especially explicit and pro-
nounced in outlining objections to the
plan involving Republican participa-
ton in Democratic primaries, which
the State Democratic Committee has
recently refused to prohibit, and also
in taking stand against machine con-
troll of the Democratic party. Amaze.
ment having been expressed by some
of our friends at the present tIrn of
affairs in the Democratic party, The
News has been at pains to present
the views of those who stand for
these conditions, and who argue to
sustain them-this largely for the
purpose of clearly developing the act
ual and sympathetic viewpoint of the
"other side," and thus enable the
public to the better understand what
is to be attempted in the primary
election next fall. We have repro
duced, for example, lengthy editor
ial from the Danville Register on
the subject of permitting Republicans
to take part in Democratic primaries.
We have also twice published an ed
itorial from the Roanoke News en-
dorsed by the Roanoke Times i'm
which the famous statement was
made that the Republicans of the
Fifth would like to "Help Claude
OUT in the approaching Democratic
senatorial primary. These two news
papers are the leading Martin and
Swanson advocates in the State. In
order to further enlighten our readers
as to the manner in which the action
of the State Committee is viewed and
construed by these with whom we
have the misfortune to disagree, we
today present for their consideration
two editorials taken from the Clinch
Valley News. Our Clinch Valley con-
temporary is published at Tazewell.
1t is an able and influential newspa-
per. Both for it, and for the es-
Unable gentlemen who control and
direct it, we entertain high respect
and high regard. No amount of differ
ence in opinion between that journal
and ourselves could abate the very
cordial esteem in which we hold it.
We know that whatever the views of
our friend they are honestly conceiv-
ed, honestly entertained and fearless
ly expressed. With all the more re-
greet and concern therefore do we now
note that the Clinch Valley News
not only clearly apprehends the direc-
ton in which Democratic politics in
Virginia are drifting, but that it puts
in its oar to accelerate the movement.
In its issue of Friday that newspaper
says:
LET THE REPUBLICANS COME
IN.
IL man presents himself for
membership in church he is not
compelled to prove that he was con-
verified to the faith twelve months,
six months, or even six hours pre-
viously. His word is taken. He is adj
mitted, promising to do the best he
can in the future to live up to and
faithfully perform the duties of his
new relationship. And this is sensible
and correct. There would be no sense
or reason, it seems to us. in turning
an applicant down because of the re-
cent date of his conversion, unless his
past record had been such as to make
him an undesirable member. Is not
the principle about the same, which
would prohibit Republican from
voting in Democratic primary for
the reason that he did not vote the
Democratic ticket at the preceding
election? If man wants to vote in
the Democratic primary, and under
stands and so declares along with all !
the rest of us, that he will support
the ticket so nominated, at the polls |
in November, upon what grounds of |
reason or common sense, should he be |
denied or kept out? Such a policy is
a declaration virtually, that the DEM |
ocraIic party In the State wants no |
recruits or growth. 1t seems to us
that the State committee was wise in
refusing tn prohibit Republicans who
pledge themselves to vote the ticket
nominated, from voting in the Sep
TENDER primary. The history of re-
cent campaigns shows that a large
number of Republicans have been de-
serting the ranks of the old party.
and let nothing be thrown in their
Wayne stumbling blocks. The mis-
sion of the Democrats is to sinners
as well, and for goodness sake, if the
sinners have repented and want to
come, give them the glad hand"
1t seems to US that answer to the
above is too obvious to require stat
ing. Certainly the church analogy is
most unfortunate for ifc nro;ooto |